General News

ENMU Presenting Contemporary Dance Festival on April 29-May 1
by Scarlet Smith
Communication Services

Eastern New Mexico University's Department of Theatre and Dance will present the New Mexico Contemporary Dance Festival at 8 p.m. from April 29 through May 1 in the University Theatre on the Portales campus. Tickets are: $7 general admission, $6 Senior Citizens, $5 pre-college and $4 ENMU students with ID. Tickets go on sale April 21.

	(photos by Richard Salas; Photoshop magic by Dave Ortega)

“The festival brings together a diverse group of dancers and choreographers that reflect a wide range of ideas and aesthetic points of view. The program will present audiences with an eclectic range of dance and music,” said Ruben T. Ornelas, Festival director.

The dance concert will feature performances by dance ensembles from Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Santa Fe Community College (SFCC). Choreographers include: Bill Evans and Donna Jewell from the University of New Mexico; Joan Gonwa from SFCC; Debra Knapp from NMSU; Ruben T. Ornelas from ENMU; and Los Angeles-based independent choreographer Keith Glassman.

The ENMU performers include Jonathan Weems, Monica Macias, Chris Chavez, Sean Miller, Andrea Hake, Krystle King, Stephanie Bemis, Melanie Lucero, Janelle Leas, Patrick Cox, Jennifer Senn, Korey Williams and Portales High School students Carey Smith and Charles Britton.

Graduating theater and dance major Monica Macias said, “I consider myself an athlete as well as a dancer. The dance I am performing, 'Heart of Sky,' is definitely a challenge to my athletic abilities as well as my skill as a performer...Coming to Eastern has been an enlightening learning experience. In the time that I have been at Eastern, I have noticed the theatre department growing with more and more students getting involved and bringing many new styles of dance to the department."

Sean Miller, a theatre major from Albuquerque, said, "One of the dances I’m performing in, 'The Big Payback,' is both dance and theater. We talk, but the story is really in the movement. It’s very different than what I have experienced before...I chose Eastern for its theatre and dance department. I heard from friends in the department about Eastern's reputation in theatre."

Jonathan Weems, a graduate student in communicative arts and sciences, said, "'Bout,' the duet I’m performing, is about physical intimacy between men or the cultural restraints that keep men from demonstrating physical affection for each other. I am also performing a ritualistic dance, 'Volar,' about a man who becomes a bird... I have had the opportunity to see many wonderful performances at ENMU theatre. The theatre has given me the opportunity to express myself artistically." ”

For ticket information, call 505.562.2710.

Press Quotes

Heart of Sky
"Heart of Sky is dance about a person rooted to the earth who aspires to the heavens.” – Jack Anderson, New York Times

Volar
“In this dance, a man becomes bewitched by his own music.” – Jack Anderson, New York Times

Bout
"Keith Glassman was at his choreographic best when he blended dancing with wrestling, bragging and beer. This mixture took place in Bout, one of the works Keith Glassman and Dancers presented on Thursday night.

"Bout began with Ruben Ornelas and Mr. Glassman seated at a table drinking beer and mimetically progressing from friendly conversation to outright boasting. Jumping to their feet, they tried to both out-dance and out-wrestle each other.

"Most of the time, the men appeared to be boisterous buddies. Yet in addition to friendliness, their actions conveyed a sense of aggressive competition as well as a possibly homoerotic attraction, which neither of the macho characters Mr. Glassman created would probably dare to acknowledge. The fact that this pugnacious duet was
performed to a recording of courtly music by Bach added to its fun." – Jack Anderson, New York Times

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'Skull Wars Revisited': 5th Annual Cynthia Irwin-Williams Lecture Set for April 29
by Edmund Beacham
Department of Anthropology and Applied Archaeology

The Department of Anthropology and Applied Archaeology in association with the Mu Alpha Nu Anthropology Club will present Dr. David Hurst Thomas, Curator of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, Founding Trustee of the National Museum of the American Indian, member of the National Academy of Sciences, and author of Skull Wars: Kennewick Man, Archaeology, and the Battle for Native American Identity, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, in Room 112 of the Jack Williamson Liberal Arts Building.

His talk, as part of the 5th Annual Cynthia Irwin-Williams Lecture, is titled "Skull Wars Revisited."

The lecture is free and open to the public. There will be a book signing after the lecture.

For more information, call 505.562.2750.

Fourth Annual Blackwater Draw Atlatl Throw Set for Saturday, May 1
by Dr. David Batten
Department of Anthropology and Applied Archaeology

Eastern New Mexico University's Department of Anthropology and Applied Archaeology and Mu Alpha Nu Anthropology Club are sponsoring the Blackwater Draw Atlatl Throw on Saturday, May 1.

	(photo by Jillian Butler)

The competition will include a WAA (World Atlatl Association) Target Round and an ISAC competition (International Standard Accuracy Contest). The competition will be held at the Blackwater Draw Museum, US Highway 70, seven miles northeast of Portales, near the Greyhound Football Stadium. Registration and practice will start at 9 a.m., with the Target Round beginning at 10 a.m. The ISAC round will take place in the afternoon.

There will be categories for men, women, and children, and prizes for the top finishers in each category.

Don't worry if you haven't done it before; it's the process, not the prize. Bring atlatls and darts if you have them. There will be some available for loan and sharing if you don't.

This competition is NOT restricted to primitive technology. Atlatls may be made of traditional or modern materials.Some refreshments will be available for sale. Otherwise, bring a lunch, or plan on a trip into Portales for food. There are restrooms on site.

For those competitors and interested parties who stay over until Sunday, there will be a tour of Blackwater Draw Locality 1 (the Clovis Type Site) on Sunday morning.

For more information, contact David C. Batten, Department of Anthropology and Applied Archaeology, Station 3, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, NM 88130. The phone number is 505.562.2750, or e-mail david.batten@enmu.edu.

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The Suppport Senate will be in charge of "children's" games and the Professional Senate will be in charge of "adult" games for the Country Picnic. Dress for an active picnic.

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Two ENMU Students to Attend Global Institute in the Caribbean this Summer
Story and photos by Helena Rodriguez
Communication Services

Two Eastern New Mexico University students will set sail to the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean this summer, but it won’t all be fun in
the sun. Rosalind Curtis and Mickie Stowe have been chosen to participate in a two-week program designed to prepare students from around the world for challenges in Caribbean as well as global leadership positions.

Dr. Caryl Johnson, assistant professor of family and consumer sciences at ENMU, recommended the two undergraduates for the intense program which will run from May 24 to June 6 at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. Students will earn two-and-a-half hours of college credit from the institute, which will consist of lectures, reading assignments, laboratory exercises, classroom discussions, field trips and a leadership prospectus that each student will design and adapt in their given field.

According to Stowe, the institute is all about helping students to emerge as global leaders in their vocation of choice, with emphasis given to
multiculturalism in an increasingly diverse global economy. “Because of the Internet and better communication today, we need an even better global understanding, we need to understand other people’s cultures in order to do business,” Stowe said. “ENMU offers classes in global diversity in its business program.”

Curtis is looking forward to the global institute, saying, “I’ll be able to get a lot of insight because everybody will have different points of views,
coming from different parts of the world. Every culture has its good and its bad, its wealth and its poverty, and I believe we all have something to offer to each other.”

Stowe is majoring in family and consumer sciences with an emphasis in business. Following graduation, she wants to start a business in Portales of designing and manufacturing girls' Western wear.

Stowe recently received an outstanding achievement award in family consumer science. She considers herself a late bloomer, beginning her career in 2002 after raising two children. She and her husband also have a three-year-old granddaughter.

As for Curtis, 31, she is a single mother of three children ranging in ages from 8 to 13. Curtis is a sophomore from Post, Texas, majoring in multicultural studies. She eventually wants to earn a Ph.D. and teach at a college level.

After exploring careers in nursing, criminal justice, medical office and secretarial, Curtis believes she has found her passion now in multicultural studies and has been active in promoting multiculturalism on campus. She is the student director of the Office of African-American Affairs. In addition, she is an ordained evangelist and is active with Deliverance Temple in Clovis and is involved with an on-campus, nondenominational Bible study. As leader of the African-American Affairs Office, Curtis has been active in many cultural functions on campus. Her pet project with the office has been the Wusuta project in which the office sponsors a small impoverished village in West Africa. During Easter, the office did an outreach program with the Baptist Children’s Home in Portales.

Curtis and Stowe will take items that represent New Mexico and its cultures to share with people at the global institute. Stowe said they will likely take something like green chili and Native American jewelry. To help pay for the trip, Curtis has received a $1,000 scholarship from the University of the Virgin Islands.

Johnson said both women are also getting financial assistance from ENMU.

Faculty Emeritus Luncheon Set for Monday, May 3
by Noelle Bartl
Director of Development

The Friends of Eastern Foundation will host the Faculty Emeritus Luncheon at noon on Monday, May 3, in the Zia Room of the Campus Union Building. The Distinguished Faculty Emeritus awards will also be presented at the luncheon. This year's recpients are Dr. Robert Matheny, Dr. Everett Frost, Dr. Glenn McCoy and Dr. Patrick Rucker.

Members of the university community are cordially invited to attend the luncheon on a dutch-treat basis. Reservations can be made by calling the Office of Development at ext. 2412 by Friday, April 28.

Dr. Robert L. Matheny
Dr. Robert L. Matheny joined the ENMU faculty in 1972 as an Associate Professor of History. From there he went on to wear numerous hats at ENMU, including Associate

Professor of History, Dean and later Vice President for ENMU-Clovis, Vice President for Academic Affairs, ENMU President for six years, Professor of History, Director of Development, Retired Professor Emeritus of History in 1995, and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Matheny is currently a Resource Faculty member for the Department of History.

Dr. Matheny received both his bachelor’s in history/religion and master’s in history from ENMU and later his Ph.D. in history from the University of Arizona-Tucson. He has been published numerous times as well as editing and reviewing others published works.

In recent years Dr. Matheny has served on the following boards: Roosevelt County Community Development Board, Norwest Bank, Friends of Eastern Foundation, United New Mexico Bank, Boy Scouts of America, Portales Rotary Club and the New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch. His national-level service, state-level service and university service are exemplary and too numerous to list here.

Dr. Everett Frost
Dr. Everett L. Frost joined the ENMU anthropology faculty in 1970. He received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Utah and a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Oregon.

Dr. Frost published a joint-authored textbook in cultural anthropology and papers in Pacific research. He served as Chair of the New Mexico Humanities Council, President of the San Juan County Museum Association, Executive Board Member and Research Chair of New Mexico First, New Mexico Commissioner to the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, Chair of WICHE, and Chair of the North Central Association Accrediting Commission Committee on Restructuring Accreditation Expectations for Institutional Diversity Programs.

Dr. Frost was appointed ENMU President in 1991 until his retirement in 2001.

He is most proud of ENMU’s recognition by the Pew Charitable Trust as one of twelve universities nationwide with great excellence in undergraduate education.

Dr. Glenn McCoy
Dr. Glenn McCoy was a professor of religion at ENMU for 27 years. He came to Eastern from New Mexico Highlands University.

From 1971-1998 Dr. McCoy also served as Director of the Baptist Student Center and was Chair of the Department of Religion from 1983-1997. He has written dozens of articles for religious publications as well as several book-length studies.

While at ENMU, he served on the Graduate Studies Committee, Admissions and Standards Committee, the Athletic Committee, the Discipline Committee and the Library Committee. Dr. McCoy was also on the Council of Library Arts and Sciences for 15 years. He served as Faculty Advisor for the Student Senate and Alpha Phi Omega.

Since retiring from the Department of Religion in 1998, Dr. McCoy continued to teach Philosophy for five years, served as President of COPE for four years, and is a member of Meals on Wheels Board of Directors.
 


Dr. Patrick Rucker
Dr. Patrick Rucker taught for 25 years at ENMU until his retirement in 2001. In all his years at ENMU, he was a tenured professor, served as Acting Dean for two terms, and served as Chairman of Theatre and Dance for nineteen years.

Dr. Rucker’s teaching specialty was Theory and Performance. He received his BFA in Drama Education from UT-Austin, his MFA in Acting/Directing from the University of Oklahoma and then earned his Ph.D. from Texas Tech in 1982.

He acted in or directed a career total of between 150-200 productions on the educational and professional level. His honors include an ENMU Presidential Award for Excellence in Public Service, a Senate Award, Advisor of the Year, a University Spirit of Eastern Award, and New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Dr. Rucker has also been very involved in community organizations including serving as Past-President of Theatre New Mexico, Roosevelt Chamber of Commerce, Portales Noonday Kiwanis Club, American Heart Association-Roosevelt County Affiliate and High Plains Arts Council.

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ENMU Offering Weekend Workshop on Teachers and the Law
by Marc Schoder
ENMU Communication Services

Extended Learning will offer a workshop on "Teachers, the Law, and Public Schools for college credit from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on two Saturdays, May 1 and 8.The course number is EDF 593 and can be taken for graduate credit. Dr. Charles Waggoner will instruct the course.

The cost for the one-credit-hour class is $115. The course is a "down and dirty" consideration of the most common ways classroom teachers find themselves in difficulty with tort law issues. The various topics include freedom of expression, search and seizure, corporal punishment and zero tolerance.

Teachers will learn about various negligent acts that may place them in a courtroom rather than in a classroom.

For more information, call 505.562.2165.

Directors of Academic Advising and Freshman Seminar Named
by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

With the pending departure of Dr. Jerry Pyle at the end of June, his responsibilities have been divided into two separate positions: one to handle freshman and transfer advising and the other to assume the responsibilities of UNIV 101, Freshman Seminar. After an internal university search, the following selections have been made:

The new director of Academic Advising is Dr. Suzanne Balch-Lindsay, associate professor of history. The new coordinator of Freshman Seminar is Dr. Dann Brown, associate professor of agriculture.

"Dr. Lindsay has a well-deserved reputation for being an excellent academic advisor," said Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU president. She will provide the type of leadership that will continue the tradition of providing our students with the kind of direction they need to succeed in a challenging academic environment."

Dr. Gamble said, "Dr. Brown is thoroughly committed to our students' success. With his varied experiences in working with students, he will bring a wealth of knowledge to the position. He will provide outstanding leadership that will ensure the continued success of our Freshman Seminar program."

Dr. Gamble says that both positions are vital to the retention of ENMU's first-year students. "Although Dr. Balch-Lindsay and Dr. Brown will continue to teach in their disciplines, they are both committed to assisting our students in these two vital areas. We encourage all employees to work with these two fine faculty members in helping them fulfill their responsibilities in these areas essential to Eastern's future success."
(photos by Jillian Butler)

ENMU Facility/Equipment Manager Has Second Career and 'Man Stuff' Hobbies
Story by Tracy Chavez
(Photos by Jillian Butler)
Communication Services

Born in Puerto Rico, raised in Brooklyn, living in Portales. That’s only part of the story of Victor Babilonia, Eastern New Mexico University facility and equipment manager.

Formerly an Air Force officer, Victor had spent some time at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis. Ten years ago, after he retired while stationed in Florida, he decided Portales would be a good place for his family to live.

“My kid was about to start college and I needed another way to supplement my income,” he said.

Victor said he already had land in the area and decided to go back to college.
“I made a bet with my daughter,” he said. “I told her if I could do it, she could do it.”

Victor has been married for 30 years and has three daughters.

As equipment manager, his duties include taking care of all the health and physical education equipment. He also takes care of team uniforms, and repairs broken equipment.

“I’m also director of the Natatorium,” he said. Victor schedules the lifeguards and use of the indoor pool.

“My graduate assistant has been great. I don’t have to go the Natatorium; I just do to see if they need anything,” he said.

When he’s not working for ENMU athletics, he hunts for birds and fishes. These take him to Santa Rosa, Fort Sumner, Tucumcari and Conchas Lake. He said when he does not feel like driving, he goes to Oasis State Park.

“I do typical guy stuff,” he said.

As a 1994 Eastern graduate, Victor said ENMU is a place where students and faculty are able to have close contact. He earned his degree in computer information systems.

“People can get their schooling done here with fewer distractions,” he said. “It’s easier for them to stay focused.”

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ENMU Ag Department Forms Alliances
by Marc Schoder
Communication Services

Eastern New Mexico University’s agriculture department has formed alliances with Ag New Mexico and Farm Credit to offer internships.

“The internships were designed to show students what potential employment could be out there,” says Dr. Terry Ervin, chair of Eastern's agriculture department. "We had approached Ag New Mexico with the idea and the response was very positive,” says Dr. Ervin.

He adds that the alliance with Farm Credit is on-going and that it is open for agriculture students to apply. The first student to enter into the program with Ag New Mexico was Brad Hodges of Tucumcari.

“The response from Ag New Mexico is very positive; they gave Brad an office as well as let him join in on the meetings to get a true sense of what really goes on,” notes Dr. Ervin. “This program will show these students how to communicate with the producers, as well as show them that they are not in an ivory tower. The students should know and understand what the producers deal with on a daily basis.”

Brad Hodges has been offered an Ag Loan Officer position with Ag New Mexico after he graduates. “Depending on whether Brad takes the offer, this internship may lead to other potential employment opportunities for Brad after graduation,” says Dr. Ervin. "We have another student scheduled to take Brad's place as an intern after Brad graduates. What more could students ask from an education than to have a job when you graduate that will actually use your coursework?"
(photo by Jillian Butler)

From the Jungles of Micronesia to ENMU: Next Stop – Medical School
Story and photo by Helena Rodriguez
Communication Services

Loveleen James grew up in the jungles of Micronesia, an island about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia. And Loveleen figured she would have remained on this exotic island known as "The Garden of Micronesia," working in pigpens and helping her parents.

But this 22-year-old Pacific Islander from Pohnpei was then referred to a Talent Search program in high school, a program that she says changed her life and convinced her she could not only go on to college but that she could also become a doctor, the likes of which are much needed in Micronesia. An Internet search then led Loveleen to Eastern New Mexico University in 2001. She will complete her bachelor's degree at ENMU this month and then the 22-year-old Pacific Islander will head to medical school.

Loveleen is so eager to get a jump-start on medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in the island of Dominica located in the Carribean islands, that she has decided to forego walking across the stage at ENMU in May to formally accepther bachelor's degree in biology. She has arranged to take her final exams at the end of April so she can begin medical school on May 10, hoping to be a full-fledged doctor by 2010.

"I will not go through commencement at ENMU, but it doesn't bother me," said Loveleen, who is the student director for the International Students organization. "I'm used to going through life my own way. I have another set of plans set up for me and when an opportunity like this presents itself, I take it."

It has taken Loveleen only three years to complete her pre-medicine degree in biology at ENMU and she hopes to finish medical school a year early. She attempted to beat her father and finish high school in three years like her father did. High school ended up being a four-year stint, but Loveleen was not upset because it was through the Talent Search program that she got an opportunity to go to San Diego for a summer where she learned to speak english more fluently. She said the Talent Search program was designed for students who would be first generation college students and came from low-income families.

"The Talent Search program made me realize that there was more to education than just elementary and they motivated me in different ways," Loveleen explained. "The director of the program used embarrassment as a motivation tool for me."

During her senior year of high school, Loveleen decided to come to school in the United States and began praying about where to go to college. She was receiving applications from many colleges in the mail and decided that she would go to the school that had the easiest enrollment process. She specifically wanted to go to a small college.

"ENMU just asked for my transcripts and I was accepted," Loveleen said. "I then got in contact with Diana Cordova (director of Multicultural Affairs) at Eastern and she sent me scholarship applications and said they were ready for me to come to school."

At ENMU, Loveleen has been active with the Caduceus Health Society, which is a pre-med club, as well as with the International Student Club and the Baptist Student Union.

Loveleen said she is not sure what kind of doctor she wants to be. She said she would most likely become a general practitioner with specialties in cardiology or dermatology. One thing she is sure about, though, is that she will return to the jungles of Micronesia to practice medicine.

"I will go back home. They need a lot more doctors in Micronesia. That's why they are helping students get their education," she said.

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ENMU-Roswell to Hold 41st Commencement Ceremony on May 6
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Close to 100 graduates are expected to participate in Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell’s Forty-first Commencement Convocation, set for Thursday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Roswell Wool Bowl. Several local area bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates from ENMU will also be participating in the ceremony, in addition to bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates in the Social Work program through New Mexico Highlands University. Also attending will be members of the ENMU Board of Regents and Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU president.

Cadets with the Youth ChalleNGe Academy will serve as the Color Guard and the ENMU-Roswell Community Band will provide the music. The featured speaker will be Freddie J. Romero, Esquire and president of the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce. Jeneva Dearing, a Medical Assistant student who is graduating that evening, will also speak to graduates.

Romero is a native of Roswell and graduate of Hondo Valley High School, where he was the Class of 1974 Valedictorian. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from New Mexico State University and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the New Mexico State Bar Association, the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association, the Chaves County Bar Association, the George L. Reese Chapter of the American Inn of Court (Barrister), and the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association. He is currently a civil litigation and trial attorney with Cusack, Jaramillo, Romero and Associates, P.C.

Dearing, 20, is a wife, mother of two and a dedicated student. After she became pregnant with her second son at 17, she made the decision to change her life by educating herself. She earned her GED through ENMU-Roswell and chose to go to college to set standards for her future but it wasn’t easy. "I found myself battling everyday," she said. "I chose not to accept any help from my parents or friends because I was determined to show the world that after making mistakes, I can still reach my goals." Dearing has been attending ENMU-Roswell since the spring of 2002 and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average. She will receive an Associate of Science degree in Medical Assisting and a Certificate of Completion in Phlebotomy.

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New Mexico State Police Representative to Address GED Graduates at ENMU-Roswell on May 8
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Lieutenant Jerry L. Cottrell, Assistant District Commander D-3 of the New Mexico State Police, will be the featured speaker as the Adult Basic Education Department at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell holds its Fifteenth Annual GED High School Completion Graduation ceremony. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center on campus. About 35 students will receive GED certificates.

For adults who did not complete high school, the Tests of General Educational Development (GED) provide an opportunity to earn a high school credential. Since 1986, ENMU-Roswell's GED Testing Center has issued more than 3,000 high school equivalency diplomas.

A graduate of Del Norte High School in Del Norte Colorado, Cottrell entered the United States Air Force in1984 and completed service with an honorable discharge in 1988. He began the 47th New Mexico State Police Recruit School in August of 1988 and graduated in November of that same year. He was commissioned as a Patrolman with the State Police and assigned to Cuba, New Mexico from December of 1988 until December of 1990, when he transferred as a Patrolman from Cuba to Grants.

In May of 1992, he was reassigned to the State Police Narcotics Section and transferred to Farmington. Cottrell was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in March of 1995 and transferred to the Uniform Bureau in Grants. He then transferred from Grants to Roswell in May of 2000 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in August of 2001. Cottrell and his wife, Brenda, have three children – Melissa, Heather and Matthew. The couple also has two grandchildren, Isaac and Kami.

Cottrell is currently attending classes at Kaplan College while working full time and raising a family.

ENMU-Ruidoso Seeking Branch Status
by Dr. Jim Miller
ENMU-Ruidoso

Eastern New Mexico University is seeking to change the legal status of its off-campus instructional center at Ruidoso (NMSA 1978 14-21-A) to a Branch Campus (NMSA 1978 14A) through the Commission on Higher Education and the 2005 legislature.

Started in 1991, the Ruidoso Instructional Center has been one of New Mexico's fastest growing campuses over the past decade. The Instructional Center is located in New Mexico's 5th fastest growing community (2000 US Census). It serves the 4th and 6th fastest growing communities and the 4th fastest growing county (Lincoln) in New Mexico. Furthermore, the Center serves the adjoining Mescalero Reservation, and 14.9 percent of the Instructional Center's undergraduate enrollment is Apache. The Instructional Center is the largest provider of postsecondary education for the Tribe, enrolling 70+ percent of the Tribe's college students each semester.

The ENMU-Ruidoso Instructional Center is the sole remaining off-campus center created under NMSA 1978 14-21-A. The last Center to become a Branch campus was UNM-Taos in July 2003. [more]

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Banquet Slated for May 5: Scholarship Applications Available
by Helena Rodriguez
Communication Services

Eastern New Mexico University will observe Cinco de Mayo next week with an outdoor fiesta featuring live music and piñatas and an evening banquet featuring singing mariachis, a ballet folklorico, a guest speaker and awards.

The third annual Cinco de Mayo celebration begins at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, with an outdoor fiesta at the Dallan Sanders Memorial Plaza behind the
Campus Union Building. Lambda Theta Phi is sponsoring the event. Local Christian rap band, Divine Destiny, along with Spanish Christian singer, Lucero, will perform. During the fiesta, the public is welcome to participate in the breaking of three piñatas. There will also be a guest speaker and free sopapillas.

The third annual Cinco de Mayo Recognition Banquet is also slated for Wednesday, May 5, at 6 p.m. in the CUB Ballroom. Tickets are $15, with reservations due by Thursday, April 29. A Mexican buffet will be served. In additional, applications for the Monica Martinez Memorial Scholarship are being accepted through Wednesday, April 28. The scholarship is named after an ENMU student who recently died in a car wreck. Martinez was active with the Office of Hispanic Affairs, who is sponsoring the banquet, and was a founding member of the ENMU Ballet Folklorico. Two scholarships will be awarded to students based on academics as well as leadership. There will also be a dance from 9 p.m. to midnight. The dance is sponsored by up-and-coming fraternity Lambda Theta Phi.

Like other ethnic holidays in the United States, such as St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo has become more popular in the U.S. than where it originated. The event commemorates the May 5, 1862, defeat of French troops by a Mexican army in Puebla, Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, but according to Nancy Varelas, student director for the Office of Hispanic Affairs, Cinco de Mayo is important to the United States because thanks to the Mexican army defeating the French, France was not able to advance and defeat the United States as well. When they later invaded the U.S., the U.S. had built up a strong army by then.

Besides celebrating the historic defeat, Varelas said, “It is important to celebrate Cinco de Mayo to represent out culture. It helps us keep our Hispanic heritage alive and allows us to share the beauty of our culture with others.”

During the Cinco de Mayo banquet, 20 outstanding Hispanic students will be recognized, one from each academic department, and will be presented with medals. The students were chosen by chair people from each department. In addition, five more students will be named Outstanding Hispanic Students for exhibiting leadership roles in helping with on-campus Hispanic activities.

In addition to this, 10 awards will be presented to ENMU faculty and staff that have helped Hispanic students succeed in college. These honorees were chosen from the various academic colleges at ENMU.

During the banquet, El Mariachi Aguilar de Juanita Jaquez of Odessa, Texas, will perform, and Dr. Mary Ayala of ENMU will be the guest speaker.

The first 200 students who sign up will get in free to the Cinco de Mayo banquet. To make reservations or for more information, contact the Office of Hispanic Affairs at 562.2451.

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ENMU-Roswell Foundation Honoring Two Prominent Community Leaders Tomorrow Night, April 27
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Two of Roswell's prominent community leaders and philanthropists, Jodene Mulliken and Steve Henderson, will be the guests of honor at the Third Annual Foundation for the Future banquet, hosted by the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Foundation. The banquet will be held on Tuesday, April 27 at 6 p.m. at the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, 409 East College. "Harris Awards for Distinguished Service to ENMU-Roswell" will be presented to Henderson and Mulliken, who both have demonstrated a long history of support for the university and a long history of community service in Roswell.

The program will also feature a presentation by Frank Taylor, General Manager of the International Law Enforcement Academy. A special Staff Recognition Foundation Merit Award for Excellence will also be presented to Lisa Kelt, Computer Commons Supervisor at ENMU-Roswell. Barbara Merryman, pianist, will provide the evening's entertainment. [more]

Special Thank You

I wanted to thank each one of you who helped bail me out of jail today. Together we contributed $385 to MDA. (Yes, I gave money, too!) This was a wonderful group effort. MDA appreciated our donations very much, and I was thrilled that I was able to represent us so well. I was told that we gave enough money to pay half the cost of one child to attend summer camp. Summer camp is a life-changing event for these children. Thanks again for your generosity. – Deborah Bentley (Editor's Note: The CIA has requested a copy of Deborah's thumbprint.)

"I would like to thank everyone who helped make this year's Inter-Campus Softball Battle a success. President Gamble: Thank you for the financial help, as well as moral support and humming in a strike on the ceremonial first pitch. Dee Rogers:Thank you for hauling in that flaming pitch and participating in the fun competition between innings. Provost Armstrong: Thank you for giving your blessing to the ENMU-Roswell Blockheads making the long, scenic trip to ENMU-Portales. Ronnie Birdsong: Thank you for your graciousness in visiting with the players and others at the post-game meal and making everyone feel welcome. Kevin Blaskowski: Thank you allowing us to use your beautiful field and thoughtful coaching in getting everyone some playing time. Gail Humphreys: Thank you for the fun between-innings competition and assisting in getting things set up at the field. Robert McKinney: Thank you for the very entertaining public address announcing (even though you didn't feel well). You far exceeded expectations. Sia Poyer: Thank you for furnishing the umpires, equipment and making arrangements for the jerseys. Umpires:Thank you for calling a very fair game. Victor Babilonia: Thank you for rounding up the game jerseys for us. They were perfect. Jillian Butler: Thank you for an excellent job of taking photos. Sports Illustrated has already called about you. Donna Gutierrez: Thank you for assisting in making the arrangements for the game, for the extra photos, for making the long drive, and for the slap-hitting exhibition during the fun, between-innings long-ball competition. Dina Jenks: Thank you for the great photos. Joe Sedillo: Thank you for organizing the ENMU-Roswell team and getting them here ahead of schedule, and for all the tremendous effort you put into the event. Betsy Chavez and Wanda Newberry: Thank you for shagging the many balls hit over the fence, and to Betsy for participating in the between-innings fun competition. Blockheads and Goober Gulchers: Thank all of you who participated in the hot sun and never lost your cool. Ginger Creighton and Chris Mullins: Thank you for participating in the fun long-ball competition between innings and to the other participants who made it almost as entertaining as the game itself. Congratulations to Ginger for winning. ENMU Bookstore: Thank you for providing the gift certificate for the "fun competition" winner. Fans of both teams: Thank you for coming out to watch, and to the Roswell fans for making the long drive. – Wendel "The Commissioner" Sloan

If you would like to pubicize a special thank you to someone, e-mail information to monday.memo@enmu.edu.

Don't Forget

The Contemporary Dance Festival on April 29-May 1, and the "Skull Wars Revisited" lecture on April 29.

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Employee Briefs

Dr. Tamara Raatz recently had her lecture on Messiaen broadcast on the Turkish Radio (Radyo ODTU in Ankara). The lecture was presented at the Istanbul Spectral Music Conference in Istanbul,Turkey in November of 2003. The broadcast was aired on April 11, 2004, throughout Turkey.

Dr. Newton Hilliard, assistant professor of chemistry, taught the chemistry merit badge to a group of Boy Scouts at the recent El Llano Grande District merit badge fair held in Clovis. Approximately 50 Boy Scouts were in attendance at the fair.

Dr. John Humphreys, assistant professor of management, has authored an opinion piece, "Got Vision? Big Deal," that has been accepted for publication in MIT's Sloan Management Review. The article will appear in the Summer 2004 issue.

Candid Camera

'Inter-Campus Softball Battle' Was Epic (photos by Jillian Butler, Dina Jenks, Donna Gutierrez, Wendel Sloan and Kevin Wilson) The Blockheads (formerly the Fighting Tumbleweeds) of ENMU-Roswell

The Goober Gulchers of ENMU-Portales

90-Minute Dogfight in 90-Degree Weather – The Blockheads (formerly the Fighting Tumbleweeds) of ENMU-Roswell and the Goober Gulchers of ENMU-Portales played an epic nine-inning faculty/staff softball game at High Noon on Wednesday, April 14, at the Zia Softball Field on the Portales campus for the right to take home the President's Cup. After President Gamble threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Dee Rogers of the Roswell campus, the action was on. Over the next 90 minutes in 90-degree weather, the game became a knockdown, drag-out dogfight – but always with exemplary sportsmanship on and off the field. Members of the Blockheads were: Sam "The Slam" Martinez, Frank "Fungo" Gonzales, James "The Man" Mares, Trish "The Terror" Jones, Bill "Bam Bam" Jones, Paul "The Punisher" Sandoval, Joe "The Jolter" Sedillo, Richard "The Racer" Griego, Rollah "The Rocker" Aston, Arthur "Long Ball" Leible, Eva "Whallopin'" Whatley, and Peter "Hot" Stover. Members of the Goober Gulchers were: Wendel "The Commissioner" Sloan, James "The Jokemiester" Chacon, Travis "This Ain't T-Ball" McCorkle, Mike "I Hate Running Backs" Walton, Don "The Doc" Elder, Sia "I Don't Stop at Third" Poyer, John "This Ain't Chess" Kirby, Richard "Stone Cold" Stoneman, Josh "Treetop Swinger" Lynn, Cam "Son-of-a-Doc" Elder, Dan "Buzz Saw" Buzard, Emily "House of Pain" Partin, Danica "I'll Play for the Free Meal" Silva, Sarah "Will I Break a Nail" Boone, and coach Kevin "This Sign Means Hold-Up at Third" Blaskowski. Disclaimer: If you played in the game and your photo does not appear below, it is simply because one was not available.

President Gamble fires first pitch to Dee Rogers.	Sia "I Don't Stop at Third" Poyer	Bill "Bam Bam" Jones

Dan "Buzz Saw" Buzard	Peter "Hot" Stover	James "The Jokemiester" Chacon"

Eva "Whallopin'" Whatley	Emily "House of Pain" Partin	Trish "The Terror" Jones

John "This Ain't Chess" Kirby	Frank "Fungo" Gonzales	Josh "Treetop Swinger" Lynn

Rollah "The Rocker" Aston	Mike "I Hate Running Backs" Walton	Joe "The Jolter" Sedillo

James waits for the sign – '1" for a slow pitch and "2" for a slower pitch – from the catcher, Emily.	Paul "The Punisher" Sandoval	Danica "I'll Play for the Free Meal" Silva advises Sia on sun-shielding as he makes the catch.

James "The Man" Mares	Travis "This Ain't T-Ball" McCorkle	Art "Long Ball" Leible

Paul stopped every ball.	Sam "The Slam" Martinez lives up to his name.	Despite the offer of a free meal, the hometown umpires insisted on being fair.

Wendel "The Commissioner" Sloan	Don "The Doc" Elder (with his foot on the rubber)	Cam "Son-of-a-Doc" Elder

Chris "Country Mile" Mullins competes in the between-innings long-ball contest with her patented meditative style.	Donna "The Destroyer" Gutierrez demonstrates a unique slap-hitting style, apparently extrapolated from dealing with flirtatious guys.	Dee "It's a Beautiful Day in the Park" Rogers demonstrates classic power-hitting style.

Betsy "I Got Robbed" Chavez ponders what might have been if her swing-for-the-fences shot hadn't been stopped by an uninformed fielder.	The Champion: Ginger "The Crusher" Creighton tears up after her winning bunt rolled against the fence (and not the one behind the plate either).	Robert "Closet Comedian" McKinney, using his non-stop style, almost ran out of jokes a couple of times – but not quite.

Fans from Both Campuses

Turned a blind eye to the risk of skin cancer – and some to the game itself.

The Game Was a Lot Closer

Than the final scored indicated – and see-sawed back and forth until the final couple of innings.

The President's Cup

Was Presented to the Goober Gulchers – by Dee Rogers of the Roswell campus. With the win by ENMU-Portales this year, and the win in basketball by ENMU-Roswell last year, the all-time sports series between the two campuses is now tied at one win apiece.

Football Challenge On

For Next Year – Before they headed back to Roswell following the after-game luncheon, Eva, James and Donna – the Blockheads' official representatives – challenged the Goober Gulchers to football next year at ENMU-Roswell. (Mark Ribaudo, defensive coordinator for the Greyhounds, said he would play if the game is tackle. Before allowing the Gulchers to accept the challenge, the ENMU-P administration is running figures on Mark's concept to see how it will affect insurance rates. The ENMU-R administration is checking into discount rates on knee braces.)

2004 Spirit of Eastern Winners (photos by Wendel Sloan)

Support Employees – (L-R) Rosella Etchepareborde, Betsy Chavez, Alma Lyle Bilberry and (not pictured) Jerri Kent.

Professional Employees – (L-R) JoAnn Martinez, Diana Cordova, Bernita Davis and (not pictured) Janice Smartnick.

Faculty Employees – (L-R) Dr. Manuel Varela, Dr. Ray Fleischmann, Dustin Seifert and Geni Flores.

Mystery Photo Contest

Remained a Mystery – No one was able to identify the mystery ENMU employee "Cotton-Eyed Joeing" at the recent Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Conference in Houston. Guesses ranged from Susan Larson to Bob Hilgenfeld to Scott Smart.

Big DQ Blizzard Went Unclaimed (photo by Jillian Butler)

And Janice Cowen Was Shocked – That no one recognized her advanced dancing style. After waiting two fruitless weeks for a winner, when the pecan cluster blizzard began its final meltdown, the Monday Memo staff had no choice but to indulge.

Nice Turnout (photo by Wendel Sloan)

At Recent Academic Awards Assembly – There was a full house in the Ballroom at last Tuesday's Academic Awards Assembly. Numerous students were honored for their outstanding efforts at Eastern.

Buckaroo Scenes from Spring Fling (photos by Richard Salas)

Trash Talk (photo by Richard Salas)

AHORA and Many Other – campus organizations and individuals participated in the recent Community Trash Walk in Portales.

APO Bowl-la-thon Raises Money (photo by Richard Salas)

For Family of Monica Martinez – APO's recent bowl-la-thon in Clovis raised several hundred dollars for the family of Monica Martinez, a much-loved ENMU student who recently passed away in an accident in West Texas.

(photo by Richard Salas)

Show Me the Money – Keeping tabs on the funds raised at the Bowl-la-thon were APO's Kenna Stevens, Sayako Smith, Kim Hannah and Jessica Salazar.

Men's Soccer Has Tryouts (photo by Richard Salas)

New Team to Begin in Fall – New coach Richard Stoneman has been conducting tryouts for the new men's soccer team, which will begin play this fall.

Every Silver Rose (photo by Richard Salas)

Has Its Thorny Issue – to be answered during competition. Omega Delta Phi recently hosted the Silver Rose Pageant in the Campus Union Ballroom with 14 contestants as a fundraiser for the fraternity to go to a conference in Seattle, Wash.

(photo by Richard Salas)

There She Is – (L-R) The 1st runner-up was Celeste Holloway; the winner was Miss ENMU Sarah Brooks; and the 2nd runner up was Laura Neverez. The winner got a dozen roses and $200; the 1st runner-up received $100; and the 2nd runner-up netted $50.

Roswell: She's All Yours! (photo by Wendel Sloan)

But We Are Warning You: She's Certifiable! – We do hope that ENMU-Roswell knows what they are getting in new employee Donna Kittrell. However, despite her peculiarities, ENMU-Portales will miss Donna's party personality that we came to know and depend on. We'll also miss the free HBO she brought in with the plastic dish on her head. (We also hear that she did good work.)

(photo by Wendel Sloan)

By the Way, Roswell – We know that Wanda (even on a bad hair day) drinks tea – but you might want to send Donna's "tea" to one of your labs.

Students to be Disciplined (photo by Jillian Butler)

Not for Abusing Greyhound Mascot – but for having really bad hair day.

The Monday Memo is published by the Office of Communication Services Editor Wendel Sloan Monday.memo@enmu.edu 505.562.2253 Staff Writers Scarlet Smith Marc Schoder Helena Rodriguez Staff Photographer Richard Salas Jillian Butler ENMU-Roswell Contributing Editor Donna Gutierrez ENMU-Ruidoso Contributing Editor Jim Miller Technical Support ENMU Web Team