St. Michael’s B200 is the Gender Neutral hall. Students who live here identify on every part of the gender and sexuality spectrum from cisgender male and female to transgender to non-binary.

A second incident involving a female student encountering an unknown male in a dormitory bathroom has steeled the resolve for enhanced campus surveillance. At the start of the 2015 fall semester, the campus will be monitored and recorded 24/7 by nearly 50 security cameras, according to Director of Facilities and Security Peter Romero. The new cameras are part of a two-phase plan, which Romero said was conceived last summer in response to the recent addition of the Higher Learning Center, and a marked increase in the student population. “I think this is a positive step to continue security improvements on campus for [everyone],” Romero said. Though campus surveillance has been a source of contention at some universities, students at Santa Fe University of Art and Design seem to be the new camera plan’s greatest champions. “Things have to change around here,” Jordyn Aquino said, “the safety of my peers is very important to me.” Aquino is a musical theater major and one of the camera plan’s more active proponents. After learning about the sexual assault that took place Oct. 2 in a dormitory bathroom and hallway, she posted a Facebook status on the Student Life page in which she solicited help to draft a petition for more security cameras. “It scares me and angers me that a sexual predator may be roaming our campus because we did not have the proper evidence to convict him,” Aquino said. The only suspect arrested in the Oct. 2 assault was released from police custody, and allowed back on campus, according to a previous Jackalope Magazine article. The second incident occurred on Oct. 30. According to a campus-wide email from Senior Director of Student Life Laura Nunnelly, “a female student contacted campus security to report an incident involving an unknown male in the female bathroom of King Hall.” According to the email, campus security was searching for the suspect, and the Santa Fe Police were contacted. No further information was available at the time this article was published. Familiar with the predation of catcalling while traversing campus property, Aquino said she would like to see cameras both indoors and outdoors on every entrance, exit, public space and courtyard, including “the hallways [and] stairways of dorms.” “I understand that this is controversial,” she said, acknowledging privacy concerns, “but [students] need to really consider … that there are victims living on our campus who are in a perpetual state of fear and discomfort because their attacker is still at large.” To some extent, photo major Forrest Soper agrees with Aquino. “I know that due to the recent incident on campus, many individuals feel unsafe and are pushing for the installation of new cameras,” he said, “and I have absolutely no problem with that.” However, Soper also said he has never liked the idea of surveillance, even if only used for the purpose of verifying criminal activity. In fact, when asked in an informal Jackalope-sponsored Facebook survey if he was for, against or undecided in regard to the new camera plan, Soper was the only student out 58 respondents to choose against—49 were for, and eight were undecided. “I have never felt that security cameras or surveillance systems made me feel safe.” Because he lives off campus and was not affected by the assault, Soper said he does not want to speak out against what other students may perceive as a means to reassurance and safety, and therefore, supports their desire for additional surveillance. David Roth, although he did not respond to the survey, also is an opponent of Aquino’s effort and the camera plan. When commenting on her petition post, he said cameras monitoring dormitory hallways would be an “invasion of privacy,” and that security should be more diverse and even-handed in their tactics when combating campus crime, e.g., offering self-defense classes, investigatory follow-ups on theft complaints and more student-ID checking. Though, agreeing with Aquino on one point, Roth said, “I do...

On Oct. 2, an unidentified male gained access to one of SFUAD’s on-campus dormitories, exposed himself to a showering female student, and then pursued her to her room, where she was forced to almost slam his hand in the door to prevent him from entering. A male student was arrested a few days after the incident and charged with indecent exposure. Charges against this student were later dropped and he was allowed back on campus as of Oct. 14. The same day, a second suspect was spotted by the victim, and described in an email from Student Life Director Laura Nunnelly to the campus community as “a Hispanic male, approximately 6’2” with light brown facial hair, thinning brown hair, frameless glasses…wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt, white basketball shorts with a green stripe, and white tennis shoes.” The incident, the first of its kind reported on campus since 2011, has shocked SFUAD students, faculty and administration, with many questioning what security measures should have been taken beforehand to prevent the assault. In the hopes of quelling some of the campus-wide rumors and concerns, the female student involved agreed to an anonymous interview with Jackalope. “It’s been stressful,” she says. “It’s very hard for me but I’m trying to figure everything out.” The interview took place shortly after the female student witnessed the suspect trying to access the dormitory on the morning of Oct. 14. “He looked really suspicious, he was just walking around, and it was at the same time (as the incident) this morning, at 8 o’clock,” says the student, clearly shaken and upset over the recent sighting. “I feel paranoid as hell. I carry pepper spray, a rape whistle, and a knife in my purse at all times.” When asked how she felt SFUAD administration had handled the incident, the student responded positively. “I feel really good about it, they’re doing a really good job, and they made me feel comfortable about the whole situation. They call me every day to see how I’m doing, security walks through my hall every hour, they have cameras in the hall now, and the door (the attacker entered through) cannot be opened.” The student says she feels “safe,” but “at night it’s really uncomfortable for me, I don’t walk anywhere, I drive everywhere.” Nunnelly also discussed with Jackalope security measures on campus, some of which were implemented before the incident, such as monitoring cars at the entrance to campus, as well as steps students can take to keep themselves safe. “We’re looking into putting in security cameras outside the residence halls, and we’re also asking students to be proactive,” Nunnelly says. “Please don’t prop doors, watch who you let into the residence halls, and if you see anyone suspicious, report it.” Rachel Shuford, head of Student Voice, also urged student safety and increased security around campus. “I have come to the realization that security NEEDS to be a higher class and needs to have more power on campus,” Shuford says in an email interview. Shuford also assured the student body that “the proper precautions are being taken, and the administration is doing their best to make sure that students can feel comfortable on campus again.” While the situation continues to unfold regarding the initial Oct. 2 attack, the victim of that attack asks the SFUAD student body to respect her privacy during this time, as well as increased vigilance around campus. “Please don’t prop any doors, because that’s how the guy got into my hall. Please do not spread rumors or talk about the incident if you did not hear it from me directly, because that in itself causes me a lot of stress. I want everyone to be safe and just know that it is being taken care of. Thank you all for the support, I appreciate...

SFUAD food provider Bon Appetit reassures students following roach incident.

Clothed in multi-colored and multicultural exuberance, the 2nd annual SFUAD Olympics ruled the day on Saturday, Sept. 27. Undeterred as dark clouds threatened the sunny afternoon, SFUAD students gathered on the quad, warming up in preparation for the trials ahead. Several teams chose to coordinate T-shirt colors, some even going so far as to stencil their team and personal names on the shirt. At the sound of a whistle, the teams scattered to opposite ends of the Quad to begin competing. “The teams rotate through the different events, they don’t all compete at once,” explains Keynan Johnson of the SFUAD Student Programming Board, clipboard in hand as he oversees two teams battling it out on the volleyball court. “It’s all about time, not points. The teams can choose which event to go to first, and the fastest wins!” Events took place on both the Quad and in the Driscoll Fitness Center, with soccer and basketball at the DFC, and inflatable obstacle course, team-legged race, water balloon toss, ski relay race, mini-bicycle race, tug-o-war and volley ball taking place at the Quad. As with the previous year, this year’s SFUAD Olympics was the brainchild of the Student Programming Board, or SPB, one of the most active and widely known student organizations on campus, specializing in student events. While walking around the Quad, various familiar faces of SPB such as Ramiro Leal could be seen monitoring the events. But there were some new people in charge of the Olympics this year, such as Meg Colburn, a freshman performing arts major who recently joined SPB. Colburn was thrilled to be so involved in planning and organizing events such as this one so early in her involvement in SPB. “It’s been really fun. I feel super included and like my opinion really matters,” says Colburn, sporting a Superwoman shirt with attached cape. Ten teams participated in this year’s Olympics, boasting such inventive names as the Sexi Mexis, the Kennedy Mean Girls, the Kennedy Boys, Las Pollas de Bangcok, team Din-Din, Steve, Team Oh Sh*t, the Hangovers and Team My-Anaconda-Don’t-Want-None-Unless-You-Got-Puns-Hun. A truly multicultural event that encouraged national and international students alike to compete, the Quad echoed all afternoon with team battle cries in both English and Spanish. “It gives students a chance to interact with new people and with their team. There is such diversity within each team,” says Cynthia Lukman of SPB. SPB members, students and volunteers alike were impressed with the shows of sportsmanship and lack of competition, happy that students were just enjoying themselves and not being overly competitive. “Everyone’s having a good time, there’s lots of good sportsmanship and team spirit,” says Donn Taylor, a volunteer. Keynan Johnson concurred, saying that “no one’s been overly competitive; it’s all been in a good, fun spirit.” “It’s a lot of fun,” agrees Daniela Larrea, an international student from Mexico who competed on Team Hangover. Students were also pleased with the diversity and fun nature of the competitions, many smiling and laughing when asked to recall their favorites. “I really enjoy the obstacle course,” says Charlotte Renken and Raven Twofeather of Team My-Anaconda-Don’t. At the end of the day, it was Team Las Pollas de Bangcock who took home top honors, followed by the Kennedy Boys in second place, and Black Team in...

ProjectPayAttention marks the latest social change initiative to come to SFUAD, this time prompting students to be more aware of their actions and words on social media. Following on the heels of online college safety program Think About It: Campus Clarity, which was rolled out in early September, PPA focuses on another national issue: social media bullying. “It’s a pledge to stop bullying online,” says Rachel Shuford, president of Student Voice. When signing the pledge, students swear to: speak up for others, choose their words wisely, track online behavior, inquire why, challenge yourself and spread the word. “We wanted to implement something where students know that they have the power to say ‘hey that’s inappropriate, you shouldn’t have said that,’ and it empowers the students and people to be able to stand up for themselves online and also for other people,” says Shuford. Originally started at Rutgers University following the suicide of Tyler Clementi after his roommate live-streamed Clementi’s sexual encounter with another man, the project soon spread to NYU, where resident assistants encouraged students to be more aware of what they posted online and said to others on a daily basis. According to the official PPA Tumblr page, more than 12,500 people have already signed the pledge. Now SFUAD is the latest to join the national conversation regarding online bullying and student safety. So far, more than 200 SFUAD students and faculty have signed. But student opinion of the initiative is somewhat divided. “It’s a good initiative, but it has to be dealt with carefully, because people may not take it seriously and can say things that fall on the wrong side of the line, and other problems can arise from that,” says Sandra Schonenstein, an RA who learned about PPA during Resident Assistant training. “There’s been a mixed response,” agrees Shuford. “There are students that are totally for it, and there are some students who are really confused by it, which makes sense, because it can be controversial and it was started by something that was severely controversial. But many people have taken it upon themselves to research it and learn more, and we’ve gotten a lot of positive results and no one has been openly rude or angry.” John Rodriguez, director of campus and residential life, was also thrilled by PPA’s ideals, specifically the involvement of faculty. “We all should practice what we preach, especially from a faculty and staff side. If we’re not living, eating, breathing this, how do we expect students to do the same?” Shuford stated that she does not believe bullying, either online or otherwise, to be an issue at SFUAD. “I don’t think it’s a problem, but I do think it’s something we should all learn to be a little more cautious about. We do sometimes have an issue with people speaking their minds without thinking about others, such as on the Student Life page. I’m not here to squelch anyone’s opinions, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to vocalize your opinion at the expense of another person.” In agreement, Rodriguez affirmed that to his knowledge, bullying is not an issue at SFUAD, but that it should be addressed before it could escalate to that point. “If just one of these initiatives helps one person or even saves one person’s life, then we’ve done our jobs. We just want everyone to be safe.” When asked how signing the pledge had affected her social media presence, Shuford said that the initiative has empowered her to stand up for others whom she sees being discriminated against around campus or online. She also urged students to sign the pledge, and then go by Mouton to pick up their complimentary PPA wristband, magnet, and sticker. “This is a great time in student’s lives to say, ‘think about it, talk about it, pay attention to what’s going on,” says...

For those in need of special parking accommodations, being able to access the handicapped spot in front of St. Michael’s Hall and other designated places around campus should be a little easier this year. Thanks to the efforts of SFUAD Director of Facilities Peter Romero and his staff, those who illegally park in these spots will be facing severe penalties. “We have new signs going up,” Romero explained. “The city of Santa Fe is imposing a $500 fine for violators, and we are instructing SFUAD security to call the police when they observe anyone violating the rule.” This was welcome news to someone like me. Having physical challenges, I have found SFUAD to be very helpful in accommodating my special needs. However, it has been frustrating to see how others abuse of the special parking that makes navigating campus a bit easier. It also seemed as if repeat offenders acted with impunity because the signs did not bear the standard warnings regarding fines, and I had recently emailed Romero regarding my concerns. When Romero called me a few minutes later, he informed me that not only were the new signs coming out, but thanks to some sprucing up, the spots themselves will be easier to detect. “If you notice, all the handicapped spots have been repainted.” Hopefully, the combination of spots being more recognizable and the threat of financial penalties will help alleviate the abuse in particular of the lone handicap spot in front of St. Michael’s Hall. The building’s main entrance is like a gateway to the rest of the SFUAD campus, with the post office, hallway to the cafe, and entrance to the dorms. Here, students wait for the shuttle and deliveries are made. Perhaps for some, the location—right by the door—is just too tempting. And, even though additional parking is right around the corner by Fogelson Library, security was called several times last year because of those unlawfully parking in the spot.  In our case, security was always quick to respond, but if it wasn’t a repeat offender, several minutes could pass before the car’s owner could be tracked down—and that’s if the vehicle was registered to a SFUAD student. When a student is rushing to get a meal before class every moment is precious. It’s not as if SFUAD has a PA system like Wal-Mart to simultaneously announce and embarrass over the loudspeaker,  “Would the owner of the beige Taurus, license plate ABC 123 please move your vehicle from the handicap spot? Thank you.” The same dilemma also has occurred in the on-campus apartments. Interlopers casually used the handicapped spot in front of my own apartment as a loading and unloading area for people and packages.  When asked to move, replies were given such as, “oh, I was only going to be here for a minute,” or “I didn’t know anyone disabled lived here.” Reactions such as this miss the mark. It’s not about who could potentially need the spot; it’s that the person using it, if only for a moment, has no right to be there. Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act states that the ratio for parking lots is one handicapped spot for every 25 regular ones, it was welcome news to learn that SFUAD of its own initiative is considering an additional handicapped parking spot in front of St. Michael’s Hall.  “We have more disabled students here this year,” Romero said. Shortly after our conversation, an email came out from Student Life. The message, from Romero, advised students of the guidelines regarding handicapped parking. There also was a reminder that there is ample parking all over campus and to “please plan accordingly in advance of your classes.” As SFUAD students head into the colder months, perhaps those who once took advantage of the handicap parking spots with no fear of reprisal will have second thoughts. $500 is a lot to pay to avoid walking a...

“The sky had never been so quiet…” Becca Spencer said as she recalled her experiences from Sept. 11, 2001. On the same day, exactly 13 years and 12 hours after the four planes crashed, SFUAD students gathered in the Visual Art Center courtyard to join together in honoring the lives that were lost. Sophomore Devon McNickelson hosted the event, at which students shared stories, had moments of silence and lit candles in an effort to pay tribute. “It was a very tragic day, and we just wanna dedicate our time to this to show our respect to the lives lost,” McNickelson said. For students who did not wish to speak, there was a table set up with paper on which memories and thoughts could be written. Information was provided on the exact flights, where and when they crashed, and how many people were killed. The event showed a true solidarity amongst the students present, and was a beautiful reminder of the unwavering love and support that often stems from...

The many genres of music, coupled with a beautiful spring weekend, made Quadstock 2014 a success.