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New Mexican poet Jimmy Santiago Baca will read from his work in Light Hall Auditorium at Western New Mexico University (1000 W. College Ave.) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2018. As part of a Literacy Link-Leamos Poetry Program, Baca will also do a reading at the Grant County Detention Center on Friday, March 2, and those who attend the talk on campus can purchase one of Baca's books for an inmate at the jail. "Mr. Baca is an inspiration not only to our university and the community but also to everyone. A harsh beginning in life does not have to define who you are and what you can become. It's rare to see someone who celebrates life more than Mr. Baca through his contribution to education and social justice. He is an example for us to follow," said Dr. Wen-chi Chen, Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Department, which is co-sponsoring Baca's visit along with the Humanities Department. Baca first began writing poetry as a young man in prison. At age 21, he'd been convicted on...

Eric Lowe, who is the current editor of "The Mustang" student newspaper, wrote about the need for donations that students can take to the Dominican Republic when they participate in Student Life's upcoming Alternative Spring Break. Below is an abbreviated version of his original article, which you can read on "The Mustang" here. In March, five students and one staff member from Western New Mexico University's Department of Student Life will take an Alternative Spring Break in the Dominican Republic. For the second year, a group of students will spend the week out of class performing community service projects while immersing themselves in another culture. "The students are feeling all sorts of emotions. They're nervous to fly, excited to be in another country, anticipating trying new things, and ready for all the surprises the week may bring," Warren said. In order to pull this off, students need support in support of donations from Western New Mexico University's staff,...

Western New Mexico University will celebrate women in STEM with nightly demonstrations and presentations from Monday, Feb. 26 through Thursday, March 1. From speakers and roundtable discussions to scholarship giveaways and tours of campus science facilities, the event showcases Western New Mexico University faculty, students and alumni. All talks begin at 6 p.m. in Miller Library on campus (1000 W. College Ave.). Each is preceded by a 5 o'clock presentation or demonstration by local female scientists and followed by a recruitment event with food and a Women in STEM Spin Trivia game, where attendees are entered for a chance to win a scholarship. Dr. Manda Jost, Western New Mexico University biology professor, will give public tours of Department of Natural Science labs Monday, Feb. 26. She will also be part of the research showcase, which includes natural scientists Dr. Lynn Haugen, Dr. Jan Frye, Dr. Corrie Neighbors, and Dr. Kathy Whiteman, in Miller Library. During her talk...

The 7th Natural History of the Gila Symposium is Feb. 22-24, 2018, on the Western New Mexico University Campus (1000 W. College Ave.) in Silver City. The symposium's 41 presentations and three field trips are free to attend. Presented by scientists and conservationists, the talks will highlight research done on the Gila Region, land management and policy in this area, and education in southwest New Mexico and southeast Arizona, while the field trips will focus on archaeology, geology and ethnobotany. Garrett VeneKlasen of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation will give a keynote presentation in the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center auditorium on Thursday afternoon, and Friday morning's keynote is by Dr. Esteban H. Muldavin, who is Director of the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program. Seven authors, including Western New Mexico University Professor Emeritus Sharman Russell, will do readings during a Creative Voice session from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, in Miller...

For The Mustang student newspaper, 18-year-old Western New Mexico University freshman Bridgette McGallicher penned an article about the recent service-learning trip a few students took with Student Life organization Mustang Cares. Read Bridgette's full story here or check out the abbreviated version below. The Western New Mexico University Department of Student Life recently teamed up with an organization called Rancho Feliz to help families across the border in Aqua Prieta, Mexico. There, the team experienced three days full of excitement. While building houses for needy families, they mixed cement by hand for foundations and raised walls. They also visited a drug rehab center and helped the community by cleaning an abandoned Jewish cemetery that was filled with trash. When asked about the trip, Jayden Jones says, "I learned to be grateful for what you have, even if it's nothing." Gloria Umutoni, another student on the trip, explained that she wanted to go just to...

For the 36th year in a row, Western New Mexico University students are offering tax help to seniors and low-income families here in one of New Mexico's most rural and underserved areas. This free service, called the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and supported by Tax Help NM, is for people whose household income is $54,000 or less and for those who are 65 years or older. The Tax Help NM volunteers - Western New Mexico University business and accounting students by day - are certified by the IRS and are trained to help taxpayers identify tax credits. "The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program benefits our students and community," said Dr. Laurie Barfitt, the Western New Mexico University faculty member who sponsors this program. "Students can walk out of here with their degrees saying that they've done 50 to 100 tax returns already. The community benefits because they don't have to pay for this service as long as they meet the requirements." Local certified public...

Nearly 40 Western New Mexico University students and public citizens attended Congressman Steve Pearce's educational talk about business in New Mexico on campus Monday. The members of Delta Mu Delta, the international business honor society, hosted the event and asked Pearce to speak from a business owner's perspective since he and his wife owned and operated an oilfield services firm in Hobbs. "The idea was for students to listen to a professional and learn from his experiences so they can use his knowledge in their own futures," said President of Delta Mu Delta Vladimir Gnilozubov. "For students, it was nice to hear from him." Pearce, who is in his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, spent time getting to know the audience - Western New Mexico University students from Mexico and Hawaii, local business owners, and interested citizens - and took a few questions. He said he started his first business at age nine. "Early on, I found revenue and expenses need to...

Reporter Anna Daggett wrote about WNMU's Adult Education Services recent awards and new partnerships for The Mustang. Read an abbreviated version of Daggett's full article below. On Monday, Jan. 26, three individuals visited the Roundhouse in Santa Fe to receive the New Mexico Adult Education Association's Outstanding Student of the Year Award from New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron. Of these three individuals, two have decided to continue pursuing their educations at Western New Mexico University, according to WNMU's Adult Education Services Director Debbie Maldonado. WNMU's Adult Education Services also experienced some changes and growth at the end of 2017. The program entered into a new partnership with the Rainbow Housing organization. This national organization offers life assistance to those living in two different housing areas of Silver City and provides educational opportunities to low-income families in Grant County. Other services offered...

Multidisciplinary artist Angela Ellsworth will speak and have her work on display at Western New Mexico University on Feb. 8, 2018. Members of the public are invited to enjoy the free lecture, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in Parotti Hall, and then view the "Between Them" exhibit in McCray Gallery, which opens at 7:30 p.m. Ellsworth navigates the disciplines of drawing, sculpture, installation, video and performance, exploring subjects like illness, physical fitness, endurance, religious tradition and social ritual. Her interest is in merging art with daily life. "I saw Angela's 'Seer Bonnets-a Continuing Offense' exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe and was struck by her fearless interpretation of controversial social topics," organizer Faye McCalmont said. "She explores women's lives throughout history in amazingly creative and provocative ways. I wanted to bring the 'Bonnets' exhibit to the McCray Gallery, but it turns out that each one is extremely heavy and...

As part of Western New Mexico University's celebration of Black History Month, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum will be on campus. Black History 101 Mobile Museum Founder Khalid el-Hakim will bring 150 original artifacts representing slavery, politics, Jim Crow, science, religion, education, music, sports and civil rights. One of Black Enterprise's 100 Men of Distinction for 2017, el-Hakim acquired this archive of memorabilia over 25 years while he traveled the nation, shopping at antique shops, flea markets, estate sales and auctions. The collection includes documents signed by Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. The Black History 101 exhibit and lecture runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, in Miller Library. Other Black History Month events at Western New Mexico University include "Tribute to the Little Rock Nine," a presentation by Dr. Carlos Richard of Oregon, and a free screening of "Baltimore Rising,"...