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AES Facilitator Laura Verploegh-Calhoun administers a test that will determine if two middle schoolers will need services for gifted students. (Photo by Liz Lopez)

Background on Gifted Education

In the 1920s gifted education was established, and tests like the I.Q. test were used to identify individuals who possessed multiple exceptionalities or intelligence.

Today, Sierra Middle School AES facilitator Laura Verploegh-Calhoun explains that an Individual Education Program is different for each student child.

Professionals now use the Stanford-Binet, Frasier Talent Assessment profile (F-TAP), and other assessments to identify a gifted student.

After the student is found to be gifted, he or she is assigned an IEP, and a  meeting is held once a year (or more if requested by parents) with the student, parents, teachers, principal and AES Facilitator to determine what the gifted students individual curriculum will be for that year.

According to the U.S. Department of Education (2000), 2.96 million or close to 6 percent of the school-aged population are gifted children.* Since 1999, New Mexico is one of five states that recognizes gifted kids and protects them by law.

Two bilingual students take a placement exam for Advanced Education Services (Photo by Liz Lopez)

Problems with giftedness

“Gifted kids may act out by being frustrated and resenting because they are at a higher level than their peers,” Verploegh-Calhoun said. These students may feel that anything they do is never good enough and are extremely self-critical, which can lead to low self-esteem and depression. Gifted students may also feel that school is not challenging enough, have difficulty obtaining friends who understand them, feel overwhelmed different or alienated. There’s also a social stigma with being labeled as gifted.

“A lot of people view gifted education as being elitist,” she said. “We are constantly teaching kids the difference between equity and equality because it can sound elitist. But we still have to recognize the difference,” Verploegh-Calhoun explained. “Students may not be understood by their peers, but they still need to live in this world.”

Gifted vs. regular curriculum

Melly Locke, who is a teacher of the science magnet program  (meaning, students take double the science requirement because they excel in and enjoy it) at Sierra, and Dave Anketell, who is the regular math and social studies teacher have their own opinions on gifted students. “Most of the kids we get are kind of geeky,” Locke jokingly acknowledges.

Students go over lessons in Dave Anketell's afternoon (regular curriculum) math class. Photo by Liz Lopez

“So we’re used to having AES students. We attract a lot of those students because they are attracted to these magnet programs.”

Five of her students took 9th in a National Science Competition recently, she shared.  ”AES kids are wonderful,” Anketell said. Very often it becomes an issue of social stuff. Can they work with someone that doesn’t get it as quickly?”

That is exactly what AES facilitators like Verploegh-Calhoun try to do with their students by working with them on an individual basis. “Students come in for a quiet place to work, and other kids like coming in just to play chess. They feel safe here,” she said.

Student profile

Meet Luisa Bannister. She is a gifted student in the 7th grade at Sierra Middle School, and on the morning I go in to meet with Laura Verploegh-Calhoun, she calls the student out of another class to talk with me. At first glance Luisa seems like any other student, but I could tell she was a little bit different. She rolls in her backpack and definitely “marches to the beat of her own drum,” as Verploegh-Calhoun says.

Luisa has her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, a comfortable long button-up purple sweater, pants and black boots. She carries herself much like an adult, speaks matter-of-factly, and looks irritated with my some of my “dumber” questions. Luisa tested into Advanced Education Services in second grade and got started with her IEP in third grade. Science and Language Arts are among some of her favorite classes and she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up, which is no surprise seeing how she has cats, gerbils, a dog and a hermit crab.

Most of her classes at Sierra are “clustered,” which mean she is grouped with other gifted students in other core classes. When asked if she feels different from the “regular” core kids or if she has friends who weren’t gifted, Luisa responded, “Sometimes things like maturity are differences you see with different kids.”

(Photo by Liz Lopez)

She also commented how two of her best friends are on different sides of the spectrum. One of her friends who is in AES as well loves to draw and read and the one who is not does not like to read at all.

Luisa is happy in AES because she is with other gifted kids.

“AES has been beneficial for me because it’s time for me to relax and have fun. Even projects are easier because here I apply myself and pay attention,” the student said. She plans to attend Alma D’arte, Charter School in Las Cruces for high school where she will be able to devote herself to singing, painting and cooking.

And her plans for the summer? She will be doing regular kid things like swimming, hanging out with friends, and reading. “I can get lost in that world; it’s a lot more entertaining than TV. Different authors that have never met each other have little things that are similar in all of those books that fit together.” AES doesn’t stop with Luisa once she leaves Sierra. She will be in that program until she graduates from high school.

*Information which contributed to this story

]]> http://www.nmsumerge.com/2010/05/23/las-cruces-kids-benefit-from-gifted-program/feed/ 0 http://www.nmsumerge.com/2010/05/16/bottled-water-%e2%80%93-is-it-worth-the-expense/ http://www.nmsumerge.com/2010/05/16/bottled-water-%e2%80%93-is-it-worth-the-expense/#comments Sun, 16 May 2010 22:12:47 +0000 ericamt6 http://www.nmsumerge.com/?p=3385

What do high levels of dissolved solids in your drinking water mean to you? (Photo by Erica Tinsley)

Story by Erica Tinsley

Recently, a friend of mine purchased a new brand water purifier. This water purification kit came with a small handheld tester called a TDS Meter. This meter tests all the total dissolved solids in a certain amount of water.

When using this device you will read the numbers in parts per million, ppm, which Bill Boyle, lab director at the Soil, Water and Agricultural testing Lab at New Mexico State University, said is just one of the basic units for water testing.

Why are numbers so high?

Out of curiosity my friend decided to test a few of the different types of drinking water we have available in the City of Las Cruces. These ranged from purified, tap and bottled water. The numbers in bottled water ranged from 13 ppm to 30 ppm, the numbers in the purified water ranged from 0 ppm to 20 ppm (depending on the type of purifier) and the tap water ranged from 200 ppm to 500 ppm.

So, what does having high numbers of dissolved solids in your drinking water mean?

Boyle said that the total dissolved solids this meter detects are common salts and minerals found in an area like Dona Ana County.

Water is a crucial commodity in life; from household activities to being the number source for living. (Photo by Erica Tinsley)

“Those are the different chemicals that dissolve into the waters; they are in all waters,” Boyle explained. He also said  tap water can be considered healthier than bottled or purified water because it still has these minerals the body needs and is rigorously tested for harmful materials.

The lab director also said  tap water is safe, and the only reason to worry about the cleanliness of your tap water is if the numbers of total dissolved solids range in the mid-to-high thousands ppm.

My friend drinks purified water because he believes it tastes better, and he thought it was healthier.

I began to wonder what types of water are consumed more commonly in Las Cruces and conducted a short survey of students on campus and found that out of the students I questioned most drank tap water for its convenience.

The one student who did drink purified water said she thought it was healthier, but after she heard Boyle’s information,  she said she would continue to drink the purified water because she liked the taste better. Two male students at NMSU who drank tap water said they drank tap water because it had easy access and was free, for the most part.

“As far as I’m concerned, bottled water (companies) get their water from the tap anyways,” John Cormier, student and water consumer, said.  One student said it didn’t matter to him either way.

“I don’t really care what’s in the water, as long as I don’t get sick,” Bob Hill, NMSU student, said.

But the bottom line is that Las Crucens’ tap water is perfectly safe. So drink up!

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Two local Las Crucens will soon be able to walk the entire downtown Main Street. (Photo by Erica Tinsley)

Shortly after the opening of new city hall, the city will undertake a new project within the heart of the city – continuing to work on reopening Main Street.

The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration agreed to give the City of Las Cruces $830,000 to finish remodeling downtown Main Street from Las Cruces Avenue north to Mountain Avenue. The state funding had been frozen since October 2009.

The news of the reopening of downtown Main Street brought smiles to some of the downtown business owners.

Positive reactions

The construction will be done from Las Cruces Avenue, north to Mountain Avenue on Main Street. (Photo by Erica Tinsley)

“I’m very excited! It’s been a long time coming – a lot of people have worked very hard to make this happen,” said Michael Beckett, owner of Coas Bookstore. Beckett said although the construction may cause problems in customers’ access to the store, he has nothing but positive feelings about the decisions being made in restoring this part of Main Street.

Jim Turrentine, owner of the Big Picture, said he believes this is also good for the community. Currently, many events are held in the downtown Main Street area, and Turrentine predicts the remodeling of the rest of Main Street will bring even more activities that will draw more people.

“This will kind of become what it used to be in the old days, which was the center of town,” Turrentine said.

One of the Main Street Downtown signs marks a renovated area. (Photo by Erica Tinsley)

Beckett agrees that the revitalization will also bring more life to downtown.

“There will be bookstores and restaurants and ice cream and everything else. It’s the start of something good,”  Beckett said.

Officials said the reopening of this part of Main Street will cost approximately $1.5 million including the state funding. Construction may start within four  weeks.

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Racers speed around the corner at the bottom of the course. (Photo by Chris Mortenson)

Every April on one Saturday afternoon, the hilly streets of downtown Silver City are shut down and transformed into a one-mile circular course for the criterion portion of the Tour of the Gila.  

The race has become very popular over the years, attracting racers from around the world – including Lance Armstrong for the second year in a row – who wish to try and tackle the five courses of the challenging race.

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Of the five race days devoted to the event, the criterion races are the favorite for people living in Silver City because they allow spectators to view a full day of racing, when they would normally only catch a glimpse of the race action on the other courses.

Categories

The day starts off with the 40 and over category who do 30 laps around the one-mile course, followed by the Men’s and Women’s 3, 2 and Pro categoreies. The pros do 40 laps (40 miles) around the course in under an hour.  

Not only do the serious cyclists get to have their hands at the race, but the local enthusiasts also test their abilities on course during the citizen races.  The citizen races are held before the Pros and welcome everyone from over 40 to 3 and up.  The winners of these races receive cash prizes, gift certificates and sunglasses.  This year’s citizen race had the first BMX bike win in the 13-16 category.

The Men's Pro start their descent down Broadway. Photo: Chris Mortenson

The course

The course is a one-mile circle.  The riders start the race in the middle of downtown Silver City on the flat section of Bullard Street, then head up College Street and around Cooper Street,. which has a steep uphill and downhill section. They next take a left onto Broadway, all downhill to a sharp turn back onto Bullard, where they sprint to the finish line.

This year’s race was the biggest, with at least 600 participants.  This event depends on more than 200 volunteers, who do everything from housing racers, to driving water trucks on the long courses, and helping out wherever they are needed. 

The New Mexico State Police and local fire departments are also on board to help the race run as smoothly as possible.  

The Tour of the Gila is a very important event for the town of Silver City.  It attracts people from all over who, in return, help out local businesses and Silver’s economy. 

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During these trying financial times, the last thing any student wants to see is a tuition increase. Associated Students of New Mexico State University President Travis Dulany explains why tuition is going up by 11 percent.

2010-2011 Tuition Goes Up

“The tuition credit ended up being 5 percent for both in-state and out of state students,” Dulany said.

And on top of this amount, the university raised tuition by 6 percent and student fees went down. So this blended ratio is what was reported by the university to be an 8 percent increase.

Former students are upset about the tuition increase because according to this press release in 2008, New Mexico State University’s Board of Regents had an agreement with the student government that says tuition at the university would never be raised higher than 6 percent from 2009-2014.

Cutbacks an option?

According to Dulany, both he and Regent Chris Anaya, “opposed such high tuition increases, and recommended that the university cut back in other areas and leave tuition at a lower rate.” He adds that technically the Regents did keep their agreement with the student government because they added a 6 percent increase, and the state handed down the 5 percent tuition credit on top of that.

“The main issue was we negotiated the cap and they obviously ignored it almost every single year,” Sean Bolen, a former NMSU student and ASNMSU senator, said. “You can see in the language that the aim is to keep the Regents honest and not have a blank check for tuition increases to pad their budgets with.”

 ”This is a standard way to report tuition and fees and is consistent with how data has been reported in previous years,” NMSU President Barbara Couture said.

“I was a senator for three terms from the College of Arts and Sciences and don’t like that the agreements hammered out with so much concern and energy expended by the student body was thrown aside as soon as the generation of senators and student governors (had) moved on,” Bolen said.

President’s Office comments on budget cuts

NMSU President Barbara Couture spoke at a Student Forum about the budget cuts April 13. She answered student questions and concerns about the recent 11 percent tuition increase.  

Couture had a panel on hand to aid her in answering questions: a financial aid officer, Interim Executive Vice President /Provost Jay Jordan,  DACC President Margie Huerta, and ASNMSU President Dulany were also in attendance among other university officials.

In a letter to all students of NMSU on April 1, 2010, President Couture states:

“On April 1, the NMSU Board of Regents approved a tuition increase for next academic year of 8 percent or $201 per semester for resident undergraduate students. Full-time, non-residents undergraduate students will increase 10.1 percent or $222 per semester for residents students  and 10 percent of $777 per semester for non-residents.”

Where exactly is the money going?

According to an Analysis of Tuition and Fees for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Funding requests for Fee Supported Activities: (click on table for closer view of figures)

This table indicates that several programs will see an increase in funding including Fixed Fee Unit-Operations for programs and buildings such as Corbett Center, athletics and KRUX.

Couture commented that the WAVE Program received a $5,000 allotment for a specific purpose that wasn’t continued for next year. She said the Aggie Transit is not going away. In the table above, the “student bus service” and “transit bus service” were consolidated and “the fee allocation adjusted to meet contractual obligations,” Couture said.

 

NMSU students ask their new president questions about tuition increases.(photo by Liz Lopez)

NMSU Deputy Chief of Police Stephen Lopez notes that the department is actually receiving more cameras. "This is the very first year any student has been provided for security cameras, and we are very pleased the student government leadership has seen fit to provide funds for this important purpose," Lopez said, adding that the cameras will be installed in high crime areas around Corbett Center and the libraries. 

"Funds generated from the (tuition) increase will be used to offset a reduction in state appropriations and to fund budgetary increases, including an increase in employee benefit costs and the establishment of a reallocation pool for strategic priorities that will be finalized through the budget cut process and tied to our strategic plan – 'Living the Vision,'" Couture said. 

As the traditional newspaper industry struggles to make profits, many media outlets have began to focus on the Internet for advertising dollars. But many in the industry are concerned if the Web will provide a legitimate way for media outlets to make money.

Jon Blazak, editor-in-chief of New Mexico State University’s student newspaper –the Round Up – explains why the publication will move to an online focus.

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The business

According to the Newspaper Association of America, the newspaper industry in 2009 recorded the worst year in decades.  The association, which tracks major issues affecting the newspaper business, estimates print advertising fell by nearly 29 percent in 2009.  Online advertising also fell, as the association tracked a near 12 percent loss.

Despite the low figures from the Newspaper Association of America, some publishers are optimistic about the future of the industry, particularly in online advertisements.

The New York Times reported recently that some publishers believe online revenue is growing this year. The article indicates online ads accounted for about 10 percent of all newspaper ad revenue in 2009.

Jason Gibbs, online editor for the Las Cruces Sun-News, said online advertising is a viable and growing source of income for the Sun-News.

“As more businesses and service providers realize the reach of Internet advertising, they are taking advantage of the options above and beyond the traditional print media,” Gibbs said.

Still, the local daily newspaper, which roughly tracks about 2 million online page views per month, is not immune to the economic crunch.

Affiliated Media Inc., the holding company of the Las Cruces Sun-News’ parent company, MediaNews Group Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 15, according to The Associated Press.

This is the national trend, as many daily newspapers have filed for bankruptcy protection and many stopped printing in 2009, including the Rocky Mountain News in Colorado and the Seattle P-I in Washington. The P-I is now a Web-only publication.

New trends

Some online news sites are reporting positive online revenues, in part because the sites are switching to a new business model. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, nytimes.com will implement a new model. According to the Times, online visitors will be able to access a limited number of stories free of charge per month, after which readers will be charged a flat fee for access to articles.

The Round Up, a student-produced publication at New Mexico State University, plans to unveil a new business model next semester. The twice-weekly 107-year-old paper, which employs more than 20 students, will switch its model to a daily online publication, nixing its Monday edition.

The plan, drafted by Jon Blazak, the editor-in-chief since summer 2009, will alter the news and production workflow, Blazak said.

The future and J-students

Many people are jumping online to read news. Web sites are now allowing people to customize their news feed. (Photo by Dustin Edwards)

“There will always be a need for strong journalism,” Gibbs said. “It’s a cornerstone of our society.”

Gibbs said the Sun-News looks for prospective employees who have a wide range of skill sets.

“A reporter may also be a photographer and a producer – reporting, shooting and posting a story to the Web,” Gibbs said. “The situation is not so much that we’ve hired more online people, we just have people with a greater range of skills and a willingness to take on more roles instead of being ‘just’ a reporter or ‘just’ a photographer.”

Gibbs said it is an exciting time to be a new journalist, as advancements in technology have created new possibilities for delivering news, including streaming videos, slideshows and audio online.

“Bring innovation and energy to the table – be willing to shake things up when necessary,” Gibbs advised journalism students. “But, above all, do not shirk the hard work of learning old-school journalism.”

After budget cuts were made across all departments in an attempt to alleviate the $600 million New Mexico deficit, one of the few certified organic farmers in Dona Ana County, Jeff Graham, is worried that he will lose his organic certification, managed by the New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission.

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Graham, owner of Mysterious Horizon Farms is among people all over New Mexico feeling the effects of state government cuts and a large tax increase.

What family farmers are facing

“The NMOCC will eventually have to reduce their staff and will no longer meet the federal requirements as a certifying agency; small farmers would be forced to look outside of New Mexico for an agency,” Graham said.

Nine acres of pecan trees are located on the Mysterious Horizons farm. (Photo by Jacqueline McCrief)

The budget of the NMOCC was reduced by 34.3 percent. It was operating on a budget of approximately $400,000 per year, which compared to other departments, is very generous.These changes go into effect for the 2010 fiscal year, beginning July 1.

Graham feels that small farms, which constitute a large portion of New Mexico’s agriculture, will not be able to afford the cost of becoming certified out of state.

“As an example, in Colorado, farmers there pay about $1,200. Last year, I only paid $300 for my certification here,” Graham explained.

Graham and his wife Mary grow 3/4 acre of mixed vegetables including varieties of squash, lettuce, pumpkins, another 3/4 acre of 75 medicinal herbs on rotation, and nine acres of pecan trees. The couple personally weed and maintain all of the crops.

Organic produce shortage?

Joanie Quinn, marketing and education director for the NMOCC, said that if the agency is forced to close, “this will decrease the availability of certified organic products, and particularly, local certified organic product.”

Flowers, like these Irises just starting to bloom, are also grown organically. (Photo by Jacqueline McCrief)

Graham wholesales herbs to Albuquerque, Silver City and locally sells his produce at Mountain View Market, Sunland Park and Toucan Market. He also does special orders online for out-of-state customers.

“Typically in the summer, we buy from him lots of fresh produce including jalapenos, bell peppers, different varieties of eggplant and squash,” produce manager of Mountain View Market Jason Joachim said.

“He’s a very familiar face around here and one of the few local producers that’s also certified organic,” Joachim added.

Produce that is termed “organic” is grown and processed under strict federal conditions that support economic and environmental sustainability. The elimination of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and artificial ingredients not only supports the well-being of the environment, but also your health.

Mariah Wright struggles to go up the ramp in front of Milton Hall. (Photo by Mindy Vasquez)

The last thing on a New Mexico State University student’s mind is how to get around on campus if he or she is disabled or becomes injured.

“The most difficult thing about getting around was the stairs and the inclines. There was no way to get around down a hill or up one or even the stairs sometimes,” said Virginia Kautz, an NMSU student, who was on crutches for six weeks.

NMSU is mostly accessible

NMSU Student Accessibility Services’ Coordinator Diana Quintana said NMSU is described as accessible, according to the American with Disabilities Act standards. She also said a few things need to be more accessible on campus, and incorporating sign language is one issue.

“I think we could use some improvements. Overall, yes, I think our campus is accessible,” Quintana said.

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility is the description of a building or site that meets the ADA guidelines, according to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines.

“We have a whole law for like ramps, elevators, doors and parking lots. It goes into everything,” Access Specialist for the State of New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability Hope Reed said.

“A lot of the handicap doors wouldn’t open, and it was difficult for me to get over the bumps on the doors. They also weren’t wide enough,” an NMSU junior Mariah Wright said.

Mariah Wright enters Milton Hall through the handicap door. (Photo by Mindy Vasquez)

There are ADAAG rules about cracks in the walkways or sidewalks.

“They call it change of elevation and it is a quarter inch to a half-inch maximum for the height and width of a crack. The cracks have to be perpendicular or left to right,” Reed said.

Difficult to access

While NMSU is up to all of the requirements, according to Quintana, students still find it difficult to get around on campus while they are injured or disabled.

“I was in a wheel chair for eight weeks, and going up the international mall was really difficult because I would always get stuck on cracks,” Wright said.

“The campus has slope and its work, but people can drive between those areas,” Reed said.

The ADAAG requires a minimum of one handicap parking spot for every one to 25 spots and six for every 151 to 200 spots. Their (Its?) requirements specifically show how many handicap parking spots are needed in comparison to regular parking spots.

“When there was a parking spot that was great, but often times I had to go to a different parking lot just to get a space,” Wright said.

“There could be a little bit more and a little bit closer,” Kautz said.

The ADAAG show that handicap parking spots may be provided in a different location, but only if that location is equal to or has greater accessibility, in distance to the entrance, than a regular parking spot.

Time and distance

Besides parking spots, students also have a tough time getting across campus to their classes within the 10-minute period between classes, Wright pointed out.

Distance is also part of accessibility, according to Reed. Accessibility has a minimum requirement of 250 feet between buildings and benches so that the disabled can rest if needed.

“The most difficult thing for me was getting to class in the time frame available between class periods,” Wright said.

“I was late a couple of times. A couple of my professors understood and a couple others didn’t. I got yelled at a couple of times,” Kautz said.

“My professors were really tolerant about me being late to class, but it still felt like I was interrupting when I came in,” Wright said.

Getting Assistance

“What we do is we provide memos – a memo that outlines that they are disabled and list the reasonable accommodations we provide for them. The instructor would have to decide from there,” Quintana said.

The NMSU Student Accessibility Services offer accommodations for students with permanent disabilities only.

Quintana said NMSU defines a student with disability the same as the ADA regulations, anyone with a permanent physical or mental impairment. She also said there is such a thing as being temporarily disabled, but “Our office isn’t responsible for those who are temporary disabled.”

“I didn’t know if there were rides for anything like that for people on crutches. I pretty much just gimped around, but I found elevators real fast,” Kautz said.

“I didn’t really receive any help except from a couple of random students and my friends,” Wright said.

“Tons, actually, a lot of students offered to hold my books. The people in the golf carts offered to give me rides sometimes. A lot of people offered a lot of help,” Kautz said.

Injured students on campus mainly seek help from other students since the department of student disabilities doesn’t offer accommodations to them. It is difficult for students to get around, but there are many things that make it easier.

Accessibility on our campus

When asked what was the easiest thing about getting around on campus with crutches Kautz said “the elevators and the automatic handicapped doors, plus the people opening doors for me.”

This ramp to the speech building is one of many accessible entrances on campus. (Photo by Mindy Vasquez)

“They should add more handicap parking spots and fix the international mall. Plus they should also fix the doors so they should open when they were supposed to … ,” Wright said.

“The only thing I would change is to have some golf carts to take people on crutches or wheel chairs around campus,” Kautz said.

“There are a number of different things that need to be reviewed. I plan on doing an inventory across campus,” Quintana said.

FREE Facilitator Katy Silva plays dead in front of Corbett Center. FREE hosted a “die-in” from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday to bring awareness to global maternal mortality rates. (Photo by Heather Lang)

In effort to bring awareness to maternal mortality rates in developing countries, a New Mexico State University club staged a “die-in” Wednesday near Corbett Center.

Members of the Feminists Reinventing Equality Everywhere lay clad in black under the trees between Monagle Hall and Corbett Center to represent women who have died due to complications in childbirth, said Katy Silva, a group facilitator. Silva said high maternal mortality rates in developing countries correspond to a lack of family planning, including lack of access to birth control and comprehensive sex education.

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FREE seeks action

During the “die-in,” the group passed out informational fliers, free condoms and stickers and encouraged passers-by to sign a petition. The petition, Silva said, is to hold developed countries that have promised family planning to developing countries accountable to do so.

“A lot of things were promised in regards to family planning, and we just want to make sure that happens,” she said.

Silva said access to birth control is important for all women and that she would have been unable to attend college without access to birth control.

Encouraging results

About 10 FREE members were seen symbolizing women who will die in childbirth worldwide this year. Facilitator Katy Silva said demonstrators joined throughout the event. (Photo by Heather Lang)

Silva said the demonstration received a lot of positive feedback, and by 11 a.m., the petition had already garnered about 50 signatures.

Silva said the group planned the demonstration out of concern over attitudes toward maternal mortality rates.

“Women are dying,” she said. “If it were H1N1, it would be an epidemic.”

Not just a problem in developing countries

Blanca Caro, a group facilitator, said FREE aims to educate the community about women’s issues, such as sexual violence, reproductive justice and sex education. Caro said the group advocates for “real” and comprehensive sex education, the lack of which is a problem in the United States and abroad.

NMSU visitor Jerry Winkley stops to sign the petition to increase family planning funding to developing countries. (Photo by Heather Lang)

“Luckily, throughout my high school education, it wasn’t abstinence only,” Caro said. “And I feel like I learned a lot, and I want younger generations to get the same education.”

Jerry Winkley, who said he was visiting a friend at NMSU, said he stopped to sign the petition because he thinks health is important and signing the petition could better his karma.

“You need to do what you can to help people around you,” Winkley said.

The “die-in” was held from 9 a.m. to noon.

According to an event flier, those who would like to sign the petition to increase international family planning can do so at www.feministcampus.org.

Artistic renderings of a train engine and a clock stand before an engineering building on the NMSU campus, where students have been preparing for competition. (Photo by Ben Scheer)

A water pump engine whines loudly in the ears of the students who are voluntarily tethered to it.  It emits an eardrum-piercing hiss reminiscent of an occasion when you are drifting away on your couch only to be summoned back to full consciousness by a band saw-operating neighbor, ripping into numerous two-by-fours to build a deck adjacent to your own backyard.

The grinding hiss belongs to a water distillation device housed in the college of engineering.

For months, a disparate group at New Mexico State University has worked through a problem whose solution is designed to help the environment.  According to the group, the device takes the current amount of water needed for a sample – about 10 liters – and concentrates it to 10 milliliters with the original bacterial count intact.  

Why they do it

Practically, this will allow for portable, in field sampling and would be hopefully desirable to the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the like. 

A group of student engineers work out the numbers together. (Photo by Ben Scheer)

On March 29, the team will present its creation to a panel of judges – a group comprised of industry professionals and representatives gathered every year for the last 20 at the Pan American Center.  The event is the 20th International Environmental Design Contest.

The group whose device is deemed the best will receive $2,500 per group and other tangible prizes via IEDC sponsors-Food and Drug Administration, State of New Mexico, Intel and others.  There are other, less tangible advantages to spending months bearing the time and toil it takes to form oral, written and physical presentations of environment-assisting mechanisms.

“It’s a networking thing for us,” Brekke Van Slyke, the NMSU team leader, said.  “We can talk to people from Intel and other places.  It’s an opportunity for us to show off.”

Van Slyke didn’t seem to have any reservations about working through spring break.   She seemed to think the opportunities inherent to the IEDC would make up for any lost-party opportunities.  

“They bring in industry experts from all over who judge the presentation.  It’s kind of like a professional review,” Van Slyke said.

Who’s at work

The volunteers from NMSU: a group of about a dozen engineering undergraduates who are hard at work in the days leading up to the 2010 IEDC– which happens to occur in the waning days of spring break..

More than six months ago, WERC, a consortium for environmental education and technology development, presented students from around the world with a series of tasks – the answers to which may have the power to change the world.

Some past prizes presented at IEDCs (Photo by Ben Scheer)

If the local design team is successful, it could have a big effect locally.  According to the Executive Director of WERC, Abbas Ghassemi, who holds a doctorate degree, the task the NMSU students chose to tackle was to develop “a portable siphon unit to concentrate pond water and bacteria into a more manageable sample.”

That is one of four problems, whose solutions will ultimately be presented at the end of March when science and engineering students worldwide will try to solve a few of the world’s woes.

Other tasks include:

• creating a photovoltaic system performance indicator (a component in solar energy systems)

• reduction of direct greenhouse gas emissions from a mine

• a green osmosis treatment system

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Opening ceremonies begin today, and the event will culminate on March 30 with a concert featuring Albuquerque rockers Asper Kourt, which maybe a nice treat for the students who denied themselves spring break in favor of a highly industrious last week of March.   The band did win in the“Best Local Band Headed for Stardom” category in Albequerque the Magazine, December 2009.