Author Archives: Abe Villarreal

More than 70 students representing different Mexican universities arrived to Western New Mexico University on Sunday, November 22 as part of a four-week intensive English program. The students are members of the second class of Proyecta 100,000; a Mexican funded scholarship program supporting thousands of Mexican students and professors in American-based English language programs. WNMU’s Language Institute is facilitating the courses for the participants who are learning English in several levels. “After last year’s experience with more than 100 Mexicans on campus during the winter season, we felt prepared to take on this exciting program and are thrilled that WNMU was once again selected to be sent students,” said Manuel Rodriguez, Director of the Language Institute. The participants represent universities from several Mexican states including Chihuahua, Sonora, Puebla and Mexico City. “There were many students who wanted to return to our campus for a second...

A familiar hang out spot for generations of alumni will officially become university property after a recent land donation by the family of Judge J.C. Robinson including Tree Rock. The public is invited to a dedication ceremony on Friday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m. Tree Rock has been a landmark of the main campus, located above the Muir Heights housing area, and visible to most campus residents, the large tree and the surrounding land has been property of the Robinson family until now. “Although I did not attend WNMU, I know many people that have and Tree Rock is a special place for so many students,” said Judge Robinson. “When the opportunity came to donate the land I knew that this would be a special gesture on behalf of four generations of Robinson families in Grant County.” A walking trail has been created from the upper Muir Heights parking lot. The ceremony will take place at the base of the tree. Refreshments will follow the...

A panel of experts on the history of Japanese internment camps during World War II, including three former prisoners, will speak at Light Hall auditorium on Monday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. Free to the public, the presentation will feature photographic slides and video clips, live readings from a diary kept by Lordsburg prisoners, and a Q and A discussion. Presenters include Sam Mihara, former child prisoner of a Wyoming prison camp; Dr. Nikki Nojima Louis, former child prisoner of Minidoka camp and daughter of a prisoner in two New Mexico camps; Herbert Tsuchiya, prisoner of the Minidoka camp; and Victor Yamada, New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League board member. The event will cover the internment of 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, and the American government’s removal of these people from their homes into prison camps in remote parts of the United States. The majority of the prisoners were first generation immigrant men aged over 50 who had lived in the...

An exhibition of the work of Ella Sala Myers, who died at the age of 16 in a plane crash, opens on Thursday, November 12, 2015. Ella’s parents and curators of the exhibit, Jennifer Douglass and Brian Myers will speak at Western New Mexico University’s Parotti Hall at 6:30 p.m., followed immediately by an opening reception at 7:30 p.m. at the McCray Gallery, adjacent to Parotti Hall. The exhibition runs through January 7, 2016 at the McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art on the Western New Mexico University campus. A successful Kickstarter campaign, “Somewhere In Between, The Work of Ella Sala Myers,” helped raise the funds for high quality, large scale prints to be made of her photographs. The exhibition is envisioned as a journey, a story that unfolds by moving through the gallery into different spaces. The show will also include Ella’s words and videos. Ella was an accomplished artist, writer, musician and composer. Just before her death she had received numerous awards...

November is recognized nationally as Native American Month. To commemorate this designation, the Native American Club at Western New Mexico University has planned a week of activities open to the public beginning November 9. The Native American Club, which has its own center on campus, will be hosting an open house, Indian Taco sale and a traditional meal event. All events are open to the public. The University Bookstore and Miller Library will be showcasing Native American literature throughout the week. Monday, November 9 Indian Taco Sale, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at “The Circle”. Free to WNMU students, $6 a plate for public. Tuesday, November 10 Native American Mural, 1pm, Student Memorial Center parking lot. Saba, an artist from Las Cruces, will create a mural and sell items. Native American Center open house, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The center is located in the MEChA Building, next to Campus Police. Wednesday, November 11 Movie Night, 7:00 p.m.,...

Western New Mexico University is hosting its next In Your Community event on Saturday, November 7 in the National Guard Armory Building in Santa Clara, NM. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free to the public. Santa Clara residents will be honored for their leadership in the community and the event will also include free food and live music. Family friendly games will be available. The WNMU Mariachi Band will entertain attendees with a special performance. WNMU In Your Community events occur throughout the year in different communities. If you would like your community represented with a free information table, please contact...

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, El Paso Branch will offer a presentation to WNMU students and the public on Thursday, November 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 pm. in the Global Resource Center Auditorium on campus. The presentation will cover monetary policy and the role of the Fed to influence employment, monitor jobs, to stabilize prices and the availability and cost of money and credit, include reserve requirements, discount lending and open market operations. The Federal Reserve Bank is divided in 12 districts; the Dallas district oversees all of Texas, the southern two-thirds of New Mexico and about half of Louisiana through its three branches, in El Paso, Houston and San Antonio. The presentation is organized by the WNMU School of Business. For more information contact Dr. Francisca Reyes at 575-538-6326.       Western New Mexico University has served the people of the state of New Mexico and its surrounding areas as a comprehensive, regional,...

It was several years in the making before Kaity Ellis met Ranger, a multipurpose service dog and new lifelong partner. The pair is now inseparable. Ellis is a junior from Deming, New Mexico. She was born with several disabilities including the inability to walk. She is legally blind. “Ranger gives me so much independence and a lot more confidence in myself,” said Ellis. “He opens doors and picks up my phone.” Ellis is a well-known student at both Deming and Silver City campuses. For the last two and a half years she has become a familiar face, recognized by most students for her efforts to raise awareness about people with disabilities and her leadership position with the Associated Students of WNMU. Since being matched with Ranger in March, she is reenergized to bring change to the process in acquiring a service dog. “When she was six years old, we started looking for a dog,” said Phyllis Connor, Ellis’ grandmother and caretaker. “We were turned down...

Western New Mexico University has launched a new emergency alert system allowing university employees and students to receive text alerts during emergency situations. The software system, called Rave Alert, was launched with a test alert to users on Monday, October 26. More than 4,000 users received a short text message notifying them of the testing and giving them an idea of future alert notifications. “In light of the ongoing safety concerns at universities across the country, we want to have every tool at our disposal for keeping our students and employees safe while on campus,” said Isaac Brundage, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The system is used by several universities in the country and has the capability of sending text and email messages, allowing responses from users and reporting data. All university employees and students have been opted in to receive notifications; however, they can opt out and are responsible for updating their...