Untitled - NMSU News Center - New Mexico State University

Katie’s Law
KFOX 12/19/2012 6:07:17/7:07:01 AM: The U.S. House of Representatives passes an act... named after an NMSU
student killed in 2003. Katie’s Law is a proposed federal law that would provide funding to states to collect DNA
from felons. Katie Sepich was raped, strangled, and set on fire. A DNA collection helped find her killer. New
Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce urged the passing of the bill. "Dave and Jayanne Sepich, Katie’s parents, have
worked tirelessly first to get the bill through New Mexico and then to get it to the attention of the federal
government and the bill stands poised here on the floor of the House of Representatives today. Asking that we as
Americans and we as legislators take a stand on behalf of the families who have young daughters and young sons
that want to change the world." Similar laws have been enacted in 26 states..
Katie’s Law
KOAT 12/18/2012 6:10:58 PM: A federal version of New Mexico's "Katie’s Law passes the U.S. House. The
"Katie Sepich enhanced DNA collection Act of 2012", is named after an NMSU grad student who was brutally
raped and murdered in 2003. It's sponsored by Congressman Steve Pearce, and requires anyone arrested for a felony
to provide a DNA sample. Officials say the state version of the law has already helped link suspects to crimes and
has prevented them from hurting more victims.
Obesity study
KOB 12/18/2012 6:22:27 PM: An obesity study at New Mexico State University found some alarming results. An
online survey asked students and employees at New Mexico State about obesity and their lifestyles. So far, the
survey has found 47-percent of people call themselves overweight or obese. The lead researcher hopes to do future
studies to look at stressors in the environment that could cause weight gain.
Artesia Daily Press
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UTPA to join Western Athletic Conference
by Peter Rasmussen
The University of Texas-Pan American will join the Western Athletic Conference, ending 14 years without
membership in a conference with an automatic qualifier to the NCAA postseason.
The UT System Board of Regents unanimously approved UTPA’s bid to join the WAC in a special meeting
Tuesday. UTPA’s move to the WAC will begin in the 2013-14 school year.
The school will officially announce its affiliation in a 3 p.m. news conference Wednesday. WAC interim
commissioner Jeff Hurd is expected to attend.
Wednesday’s announcement should be a boon to an athletic department that has struggled with relevancy for years
without true conference affiliation.
With the arrival of UTPA Athletic Director Chris King in 2009 and UTPA President Robert S. Nelsen the following
year, there was a big push to find a legitimate home conference for the Broncs.
“We have basically been an independent for 15 years,” Nelsen said. “We are no longer an independent. It means the
most for our (student-athletes). Our students will now have automatic qualifying (AQ) bids and known rivals. I
think it is exciting for them.”
King was unavailable for comment.
UTPA has not competed in a conference with an AQ since it was booted from the Sun Belt after the 1997-98 school
year for being plagued by NCAA infractions. With no affiliation with an AQ conference, it has been difficult for
any of the team sports to advance past the regular season and compete for an NCAA championship.
In 2008, UTPA joined the Great West Conference, which turned out to be nothing more than a scheduling alliance.
The Great West was formed in hopes of one day being granted an AQ to the postseason in all team sports.
In January, a Great West contingent that included Nelsen made a pitch to the NCAA that the Great West be granted
an automatic bid. But in the following months, it became increasingly clear that the Great West would not be able
to hold on to enough members.
For an AQ, a conference has to be labeled a multisport conference or have at least seven teams in men’s and
women’s basketball and at least six in other sports.
UTPA had to look elsewhere.
Since joining the Great West, UTPA had always kept its options open. Earlier this year, the program submitted a
bid to join the Southland Conference, the best geographical fit for UTPA, but was voted down by conference
members. It is the second time the Southland bypassed UTPA.
In 2005, the Southland took Central Arkansas and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi instead of UTPA because the latter
would not commit to having a football program. Corpus is still without football.
Through the disappointment, UTPA remained determined.
“I’ve been very confident this was going to happen for quite some time,” Nelsen said.
And, finally, UTPA landed with a conference in flux.
“It is a league in transition because it will no longer have football,” Nelsen said. “It is a strong league with a lot of
history and lots of tradition.”
The WAC, though, is not your grandfather’s conference. It has undergone many changes because of conference
realignment and expansion.
When UTPA opens play in the WAC next year, it will join California State-Bakersfield, Chicago State University,
Grand Canyon University (in Phoenix), New Mexico State University, Idaho University, Seattle University and
Utah Valley University. New Mexico State has expressed its desire to leave the conference, and Idaho is leaving
after the 2013-2014 school year.
But an automatic qualifier will go a long way for the program and the school.
“We are trying to build school spirit and athletics is part of it,” Nelsen said. “Being part of a conference is really an
important part.”
The WAC officially invited UTPA in November and will charge an entrance fee of $450,000, which will be paid in
three annual installments of $150,000 starting July 1, 2013. According to the meeting’s agenda, UTPA will pay the
fee through a combination of “Athletic Department funds, institutional funds (reserves for auxiliary operations in
the bookstore and food services) and revenues generated through private funding, such as corporate sponsorships,
the Bronc Athletic Fund, ticket sales and other private revenue generation.”
Quay County Sun (Tucumcari)
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NMSU launches new obesity study of students, employees with survey
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — New Mexico State University researchers have launched a study to examine
obesity among NMSU students and employees.
Researchers recently developed an online survey aimed at finding out more on obesity and lifestyle factors of
students and employees, especially in southern New Mexico
So far, the survey has found that 47 percent of NMSU and employee respondents self-reported as overweight or
obese.
Susan Wilson, an associate professor in NMSU's Department of Health Science and the study's lead researcher,
says she would like to see future studies that look more closely at stressors in the environment and "culturally
acceptable versus ideal notions of weight and obesity."
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