News

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...

Western New Mexico University will be offering a free flu vaccine clinic on Friday, October 30 in the School of Nursing Building. Members of the public as well as university students and employees can take advantage of this clinic offered for two hours beginning at 8:30 a.m. Participants, if applicable to them, are requested to bring their Medicare, Medicaid or insurance card for review. The WNMU Student Health Services office is partnering with Grant County Public Health to provide this clinic. For more information, contact 575-538-5318. Press option...

Junior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) and sophomore Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) were named to the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Academic First-Team as the Western New Mexico University volleyball team led the conference with 11 total players on the list that was released Thursday. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must carry a 3.30 cumulative grade points average and must have been an active student at the institution for at least two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters. The First-Team was voted on by the league's sports information directors. Joining Rich and McGhiey was seniors Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala), Barbara Soranzo (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Mestre Santa Barbara), sophomores Kelsie Bailey (Albuquerque, NM/El Dorado), Opal Drapeau (Denver, CO/Bishop Machebeuf Catholic ), Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley), Taimane Passi (Honolulu, HI/Iolani),Taryn Schriner (Dayton, NV/Dayton ) and...

Ian Harvie, a comedian and actor whose most recent work includes starring in the Golden Globe award-winning TV series Transparent, will perform live at the Fine Arts Center Theater on Thursday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. Free to WNMU students and $15 per person for community members, the performance will be a funny and educational night of comedy touching on gender issues as seen through the eyes of Harvie, a transgender person. Harvie was the opening act for comedian Margaret Cho before beginning his television career. He eventually turned cross-country headliner and became a groundbreaking transgender comedian. In 2014, Harvie performed in his first live standup comedy special, Ian Harvie Superhero. Praised by critics, Harvie has been referred to as the most unique stand-up comic in the country by Frontiers Magazine. His comedy special, Ian Harvie Superhero, was selected by over 25 film festivals worldwide and won several awards. Harvie’s performance will be the headline...