News

Tax season has arrived and with it comes Tax Help New Mexico. Western New Mexico has offered the program in partnership with the state for over 30 years as a free service to low income filers. School of Business students work as volunteers at the WNMU site, one of the states’ 48 locations. All students are accounting or business majors that can also use their experience as a three-credit course. Student volunteers are required to pass an exam testing their knowledge of tax preparation prior to working for Tax Help. The free service is available for people with annual family incomes of $54,000 or less, with an exception for people who earn more than that due to Social Security income. To have a tax return prepared, individuals must have an original Social Security card, a picture ID, W-2s from all employers and a bank account with routing number for direct deposit. Housed in Light Hall room 120, tax preparation is offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00...

Rose Mapendo, a nationally recognized peace activist and humanitarian, will deliver a lecture on Thursday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Light Hall. Mapendo will share her dramatic life experiences including her time in the violence engulfed Democratic Republic of Congo during the 1990 when she was imprisoned with her family. Her harrowing experience included the nighttime arrest of her entire family by government agents, the execution of her husband, the birth of their twin sons in prison, and grim negotiations with prison guards to save the lives of her children. Mapendo emerged from her experiences as an advocate for forgiveness and reconciliation. Today, Mapendo is a global activist for peace and reconciliation and an in-demand motivational speaker. Her work has had a significant impact and encourages world and local leaders to revisit the manner in which they enforce justice. Mapendo has been honored by the White House and in 2009 was named Humanitarian of the Year by...

Several campus events throughout February will commemorate Black History Month at Western New Mexico University. The events, open to the public and free of charge, will celebrate culture, food and music. Friday, February 5: NMSU Gospel Choir performance, 6:00 p.m., Global Resource Center Auditorium Thursday, February 11: Women’s Lecture Series: Rose Mapendo, 6:30 p.m., Light Hall Tuesday, February 16: Movie Night: Bessie, 7:00 p.m., Light Hall Wednesday, February 17: Soul Food Lunch, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Mustang Dining Hall, cost for non-meal plan individuals is $8 per plate Thursday, February 18: Trivia Night, 7:00 p.m., Life Lounge Tuesday, February 23: Movie Night: Winnie Mandela, 7:00 p.m., Light Hall Wednesday, February 24: History of Hip Hop Music Session, 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Mustang Dining Hall Thursday, February 25: Blues & Mancala, 7:00 p.m., Life Lounge The music session will take attendees through a historical retrospective of hip-hop...

Western New Mexico University will be celebrating 123 years of history with a special Founders Day celebration on Thursday, February 11. The day marks the commemoration of the university’s inception by the New Mexico state legislature. Originally known as the New Mexico Normal School, WNMU received its current name in 1963 after being renamed several times. The birthday party begins at 1:23 p.m. in the Miller Library. An exhibit of memorabilia and artifacts showcasing university students and events through history will be on display. Birthday cake and drinks will be served. Attendees are encouraged to wear purple and area alumni will win prizes if they bring along items from their time on campus. For more information, contact the Office of Communications at...

Western New Mexico University plans to develop a unique student-mentoring program if at least $133,000 is raised through a matching campaign initiative with The State of New Mexico. The State of New Mexico has made available $400,000 to help WNMU provide the mentorship and research opportunities, if the university raises $133,000 before March 1. For every $1 raised, the State will provide $2. “WNMU has the opportunity to expand student leadership opportunities to students in areas that are very important to the future of our country,” said Dr. Jose Herrera, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Seniors studying in STEM-H programs, which include science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health fields, will become mentors to other students, if the campaign is successful. The student mentors will provide academic mentoring and tutoring, as well as access to research to underclassmen. “With the generosity of our community, a successful campaign will help us...

The Office of Student Life is hosting the NMSU Gospel Choir for a special Black History Month event. Free to the public, the performance will take place on Friday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Global Resource Center auditorium. The NMSU Gospel Choir performs throughout the state and region. With over 30 members, the group is composed of faculty and staff from New Mexico State University. The group recently performed at several holiday events in December and at breakfast ceremonies honoring Martin Luther King Jr. “We are really excited to have the choir on campus,” said Jessica Morales, Director of Student Life. “We want our students exposed to culture through music and art in as many opportunities as possible.” The performance will kick off Black History Month events on campus that include movie nights at Light Hall Theater and a Soul Food Day at the Mustang Dining Hall on February 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The NMSU Gospel Choir is under the direction of...

John Abbott has been crisscrossing the country, sizing up wall space and sharing his perspective through text-based painting, in two new solo exhibitions New York and Chicago. “I am interested in the relationships between reading and looking,” explained Abbott, assistant professor of painting and drawing at Western New Mexico University. The exhibits recently opened in two American cities known for art, architecture and powerful messages. Abbott jumped at the opportunity to showcase his work, which he believes can be inspirational to students attending WNMU. “I would like WNMU students to be empowered so that they can go on from here and accomplish whatever they want,” said Abbott. “It is my aim to bring the excitement and openness of my studio practice into the classroom.” Abbott earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from WNMU in 2002. He returned to Silver City as a professor, more than a decade after graduating. Abbott earned a Master of Fine Arts degree...

Junior Kenzie Rinehart (Deming, NM/Deming ) landed on the First-Team, while three other Lady Mustangs in junior Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ), junior Tessa Jones (Truth or Consequences, NM/Hot Springs ) and sophomore Lucy Benning (El Paso, TX/El Paso) were named to the honor roll as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Academic Teams were announced Monday. Rinehart, from Deming, N.M., bolsters a solid 3.90 GPA and is majoring in accounting. This is the second straight year for Rinehart on the academic list after making honor roll last year. She has played in 14 games this season tallying 16 points, a block, six steals, six assists and 12 rebounds. She scored five points in a game twice this season versus Black Hills State and this past Saturday against Chadron State. She snagged two steals against Western State, had four rebounds against Black Hills State and two assists against Western State. Gutierrez holds a 3.32 GPA and is majoring in medical technology...

International juggling champion Mark Nizer, one of the world's foremost practitioners of the unique form of entertainment, will take over the stage at the Fine Arts Center Theatre on Thursday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m. Mark Nizer has opened for scores of celebrities. He's been the featured entertainer at extravaganzas ranging from community theatre presentations to galas held at world-famous venues such as the Lincoln Center in New York and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. D.C. Nizer’s act includes launching a handful of ping-pong balls some 20 feet into the air. He makes music with computer gadgets that enable him to bounce a ball on his head and have the bounce register for the audience as a plink, a thud, a boink or some other sound effect programmed into the gizmo. Nizer is the winner of the prestigious International Juggling Championships, which recognize raw skill, business acumen, musicality, comedic excellence, showmanship and other all-around...

Todd Denny, M.S.W., will be implementing a series of innovative rape prevention workshops for Western New Mexico University students, faculty and staff during January and February. The planned prevention programs will be innovative and sustainable, including experiential workshops and male bystander training. “Most campuses offer one shot education programs,” said Denny. “That doesn’t make sense and doesn’t work. Creating long-term behavioral change occurs through prevention programs that are engaging, ongoing and include men as allies, a critical component in preventing campus inter-personal violence and rape.” Denny has been planning the workshops since the fall semester, developing curriculum based on specific needs to the WNMU campus, working with several university departments to coordinate the initiative. “Our comprehensive strategy will empower the campus in developing a sustainable interpersonal violence prevention program,” said Denny. Four...