News

TRUTH, Locally Filmed, To Premier At Light Hall Theater

By

The premier of TRUTH, a movie shot in and around Silver City, will premier at Light Hall Theater on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. The movie’s director Michael J. Cramer, along with producers and cast members, will attend the premier and be available for a Q&A session following the screening. The movie includes scenes filmed at Fort Bayard Medical Center and on the Western New Mexico University main campus, including classroom scenes inside Harlan Hall. WNMU students and community members appear as extras in the film. TRUTH follows a diverse group of college students who stumble into a top-secret facility hidden in plain sight somewhere deep in the mountains of the Gila wilderness. Unbeknownst to them, the hospital was ground zero for a large-scale test of truth serum based on an inert virus ten years earlier; a test that went disastrously wrong, forcing the closure of the facility. The students fight against time to prevent the deadly virus from affecting...
Read More

Seven Seniors Change Course Of Program For Lady Mustangs

By

Most years a senior class might consist of a few players, some that have come through the program all four years or have transferred in for a couple years. When it comes to the 2014-15 Western New Mexico University women's basketball senior class, all seven have come to WNMU with different reasons at hand, but have all been on the journey together. A journey that has helped change what Lady Mustang basketball is all about. "This is an important group in our programs history, prior to these young ladies arrival we had went through some lean years, now the mentality and expectations have changed, we expect to win," Head Coach Rusty Kennedy said. "Replacing these young ladies will be a daunting task, they are all outstanding students, great people and what they have done in restoring the competitiveness of this program cannot be understated." Just three years ago, the WNMU women's basketball program was in transition. A winless 2011-12 season was witnessed and experienced by only...
Read More

Black History Month Panel To Discuss Policing

By

The recent controversies on policing in New Mexico and racial profiling throughout the country will be the topics of discussion at a forum titled Guilty Until Proven Innocent on Tuesday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Miller Library. The panel will include members of the community representing different facets of the law enforcement perspective. Panelists include Isaac Brundage, WNMU Vice President of Student Affairs; Francesca Estevez, District Attorney of the sixth judicial district; Dr. Andrew Warren, professor of criminal justice; and Waldo Winborn, WNMU campus police officer. Estevez’ experience includes a 17-year career as a prosecutor. She served as a deputy district attorney before being elected to District Attorney in 2012. Prior to being a WNMU patrolman, Winborn retired as a sergeant with the New Mexico State Police. His experience includes a 24-year law enforcement career. The event includes refreshments and light food following the panel...
Read More

Rural Social Work Institute Impacting Region

By

Social workers are all about helping others and in 2012 an institute was created to help extend the reach and impact of the social work community in Grant County. The Institute for Rural Social Work (IRSR) was created by Dr. Bob Rickle, professor of Social Work at Western New Mexico University. Since its inception, the institute has partnered with several organizations to provide training and to gather information on local communities. Last summer, IRSR was a major sponsor of the 39th annual National Institute for Social Work and Human Services, which took place in July at the Silver City campus. “IRSR is dedicated to providing research, evaluation and technical assistance to rural social service agencies to build and sustain community capacity,” said Rickle. “An important aspect of the IRSR mission is to give back to the communities serviced by the organization in the form of student scholarships.” Scholarships were awarded in Lordsburg and Deming earlier this...
Read More

Senior Duo Lead Mustangs On and Off Court

By

It's a tough decision no matter where in your life you are. Should I stay home? Should I go to college somewhere out of state? Is this school the right fit for me? Both Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) and Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) had to face those decisions looking at a school they both heard about in different ways and finding out if it was the right fit for them. The path to Western New Mexico came different ways for both of them, but ended the same. Scott suffered an injury during his sophomore season at College of the Canyons out in Santa Clarita, Calif., while Castrillo had a close friend back home and uncle-in-law that knew of Coach Jeff Law and thought it would be a good fit for him. Coach Law has seen both players come to WNMU and provide immediate impacts for the team. "We will miss Marcos tremendously. Not only has he come to Western and grown into a fine player, leading us in many categories, he has become a strong all around...
Read More

Human Services Degree To Be Offered Beginning This Summer

By

A degree in Human Services has recently received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to be offered as an associate degree through the Department of Social Work at Western New Mexico University beginning in the upcoming summer session. The decision to develop the new degree program was prompted by a shortage of frontline human services workers in state agencies and non-profit agencies. “This program will strengthen agencies providing human services in WNMU’s areas. We look forward to this pipeline to a larger pool of professionals in this field, and a better educated workforce,” said Dr. Beth Walker, Department of Social Work Chair. The Health Resources and Services Administration, a division of the US Health and Human Services Departments, has called for colleges and universities to partner with communities to train, recruit and retain human service professionals, especially in rural areas. Training for the human service field includes learning interpersonal...
Read More

Tax Help New Mexico Program Returns To WNMU

By

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. 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 $53,000 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 the MEChA Building on the WNMU campus, tax preparation is offered Monday through Friday. The service will be...
Read More

Call For Entries: Juried Student Art Exhibit

By

The Department of Expressive Arts is calling on WNMU students to enter artwork into this year's Juried Student Art Exhibition. February 18 is the only day which artwork can be entered.  Participation Eligibility: - Open to all WNMU students enrolled for Summer, Fall 2014 and Spring 2015. Must be registered Spring 2015. - Artworks must be original. - Work previously exhibited in the McCray Gallery does not qualify. - All submitted works must be ready for display: matted and framed, mounted and hanging directions if applicable. Small works that require security must be in its own case arranged for exhibition. All works must fit through the 6' x 6' gallery door and not exceed 150 lbs. All work must be for sale. - Sold works must remain for the duration of the show. - Artwork too fragile to display or unfinished is not eligible. The McCray Gallery and Gallery Director reserve the right to determine whether artwork can be exhibited. Delivery of Artwork: Wednesday,...
Read More

WNMU To Celebrate 122nd Birthday!

By

Western New Mexico University will host a Founders Day celebration in honor of the university’s 122nd birthday on Wednesday, February 11 from 1pm to 2pm. Visitors are welcome to enjoy birthday cake and live music at the University Museum. The musical talents of WNMU international students will entertain guests. “We always take a moment in February to reflect on the history of our university and the special place it has in the hearts and minds of alums, students and community members,” said Abe Villarreal, Director of Communications. WNMU was established by legislative action on February 11, 1893. In its 122-year history, the university has had four names and has grown from a teacher’s college to a comprehensive institution offering over 70 fields of study. “We want community members and former students to visit us at Fleming Hall to enjoy birthday cake and tour the University Museum’s permanent display of WNMU history,” added Villarreal. The WNMU Museum...
Read More

Regents Meet In Santa Fe And Approve Audit, Honorary Degree

By

The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents met for their annual first meeting of the new calendar year in Santa Fe on Thursday, January 29. The January meeting occurs each year in the capital city to coincide with the activities of the state legislature and to allow board members to hear updates on higher education initiatives by cabinet makers and other statewide leaders. Regent members listened to presentations by Dr. Dan Lopez, President of the Council of University Presidents (CUP); Dr. David Lepre, Executive Director of CUP; Dr. Barbara Damron, NM Higher Education Department Secretary Designee; David Abbey, Legislative Finance Committee Director; and Clayton Abbey, New Mexico Independent Community Colleges Executive Director. In regular business, the Board approved the university’s financial audit report for the 2013-2014 year. The audit was considered unqualified, meaning that the independent auditor found the university’s financial statements sound and free...
Read More