DAILY LOBO new mexico
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thursday January 31, 2013
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
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Senate OKs space law by John Tyczkowski news@dailylobo.com
New Mexicans are one step closer to having the world’s first working commercial spaceport in their state. Senate Bill 240, the Space Flight Informed Consent Act, passed unanimously in the Senate Wednesday morning. It heads to the House next, hearing date to be determined. The New Mexico spaceport is located in the Jornada del Muerto desert basin just west of White Sands Missile Range and has been rented out to Virgin Galactic for use as a commercial launching area. The starting price for a space flight around the Earth is $200,000 per person. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces), clarifies liability in tort claims issues brought
see Space PAGE 3
Juan Labreche / Daily Lobo Daniel Ferus, right, restrains Lulu while Jack D. Nimble chops off strands of Lulu’s handmade dreadlock extensions. Nimble and Ferus put on a series of fetish art performances Saturday night at Evolution Nightclub as part of a show called Triskaidekaphobia. The show’s theme was confronting phobias. See full story on Page 8.
Voters may get to pick regents ‘Our regent positions are treated as political plums’ by Barry Massey
The Associated Press SANTA FE — Voters could elect some members of the governing boards of New Mexico’s largest universities under a legislative proposal that supporters say will lessen the influence of politics over higher education. Two constitutional amendments introduced in the House on Wednesday would overhaul the selection of boards of regents for public colleges and universities. The governor currently appoints regents and they serve staggered terms. “The fact of the matter is in many cases our regent positions are treated as political plums,” said Rep. Jeff Steinborn, a Las Cruces Democrat who’s sponsoring the measures with other lawmakers. University of New Mexico Regent Jamie Koch opposes revamping the current regent system. “What they’re talking about doing here really keeps the governor from having the opportunity to make the changes in higher education that the governor might want to do,” said Koch, a Santa Fe businessman named to the board by former Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson. “The governor
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Daily Lobo volume 117
issue 91
loses control over higher education and I don’t think that’s right.” Koch’s term expires at the end of 2014. One legislative proposal would require lawmakers to establish minimum qualifications for the regents of four-year universities and colleges, as well as the New Mexico Military Institute, the School for the Deaf and the New Mexico School for the Blind & Visually Impaired. It also would significantly change the boards of regents at the two largest universities — the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University. A second proposal would establish an independent nominating commission to recommend people to the governor for appointment as regents. The commission would be similar to bipartisan panels that screen applicants for judgeships and make recommendations to the governor for possible appointment. For NMSU and UNM, voters would elect three regents and the governor would appoint two. There also would be one faculty member on the board — named by the governor from candidates recommended by the faculty — and one student regent, who would be selected by fellow regents from recommendations of the student body. Candidates for the elective regent
see Regents PAGE 3
Video shows life of farmed animals by John Tyczkowski news@dailylobo.com
Students may rethink going to their favorite restaurant for a green chile cheeseburger after Wednesday’s demonstration. The Farm Animal Rights Movement’s “10 Billion Lives” tour truck showed up in front of the SUB on Wednesday. FARM paid students $1 to watch a graphic four-minute video on food-industry practices that involve abusing chickens, turkeys, cattle and pigs in factory farms. The video’s title, “10 Billion Lives,” refers to the number of animals slaughtered each year for food. FARM is a nonprofit organization and all the funding for its campaigns comes from donations. “There’s a lot of cruelty involved with your food,” said Andy Tabar, the tour operator in charge of the North American leg of the tour. “We show fully legal industry practices in the animal industry, from raising to slaughter.” Students watched the video at stations in the side of the truck Wednesday. Some students were unaware of the practices depicted in the video. “I thought it was very informative, we really don’t know where our food comes from or what happens,” said Joe Garcia, a graduate student studying educational leadership. “Awareness is important.” “I knew about bad practices we had, but I never knew the full extent,” said Omar Torres, a mechanical engineering major. “I feel like (the video) is slapping you in the face. But if
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Homeward bound
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William Aranda / Daily Lobo Gaetane Pierre Louis, 19, left, and Ajasha Silver, 18, stand in shock as they watch a video that shows the cruel treatment of farm animals. The nonprofit organization Farm Animal Rights Movement is on their 10 Billion Lives Tour across the United States. you don’t see it or talk about it, you don’t get it.” But not all students were taken by surprise regarding the video’s content. “I had known about this, I took a culinary class in high school, and they showed us a video like this then,” said Tania Delgadillo, a biology major. “I’m stopping eating meat now.” Tabar said the focus of the tour is to expose industry practices and convince people to stop eating meat. “We’re not focusing on legislation or reforming laws,” Tabar said. “We’re trying to bring everyone into the vegan lifestyle and end the demand for animal products.” Though the video focuses exclu-
sively on land animals, Tabar emphasized that marine animals should not be forgotten. “The level of abuses is the same for fish, and it’s sometimes worse,” Tabar said. Tabar said a presentation at Texas Tech’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources resulted in some students thinking twice about their majors. “We got mixed reactions,” said Tabar. “Some animal science students dismissed us, but some said, ‘I’m changing my major after viewing this.’” The 10 Billion Lives video and more information about FARM’s truck tour can be found at 10billiontour.org.
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