OPINION: Top 5 best things about an in-person fall semester

By: Emma Trevino | Jul 25

 

With August quickly approaching, it’s time for a lot of us students to start thinking about the changes we’re facing with an in-person semester after the virtual semesters we’ve had in the past year and a half. Although some anxieties come with the territory, here are five things that you can look forward to as we say goodbye to Zoom.

1. Group study sessions at Zimmerman Library

If there’s one thing I learned from a year and a half on Zoom, it’s that studying for a test or working on a group project from the confines of my room is painfully difficult compared to the steady, bustling atmosphere of the comforting Zimmerman Library. 

Coping with back-to-school nerves after the pandemic

By: Megan Gleason | Jul 25

 

After over a year of attending online school in a global pandemic, students are facing anxieties about returning to an in-person education. Questions about vaccinations, masks, social distancing and more float in the air, but the Daily Lobo spoke with the University of New Mexico’s Student Health and Counseling center about how students can cope with all of the unknowns as we enter an in-person fall semester.

“The permeating anxiety will alter the atmosphere of the campus; it will just be a different environment,” SHAC case manager Margaret White said. “So I would say drop the expectation of normal, whatever that was, and embrace that this (environment) will be new, it will be different.”

Marginalized students at risk due to loose mask mandates

By: Annya Loya | Jul 25

 

As we gear up for a mostly maskless fall semester at the University of New Mexico, students in marginalized communities who are at a significantly higher risk than others during the COVID-19 pandemic are worried about the additional health risks that could affect them now that there is not a campus-wide mask mandate.

Going along with UNM’s “Bring Back the Pack” initiative, the University announced in early July that individuals who have been fully vaccinated have the option to no longer wear a mask on campus (except for the Health Sciences Center campus buildings); individuals that are not fully vaccinated will continue to be required to wear one on campus grounds, following nationwide CDC guidelines.

OPINION: “Space Jam: A New Legacy” works as a revival for a new generation despite poor reviews

By: Matthew Salcido | Jul 20

 

This review contains spoilers for “Space Jam”

Now that “Space Jam: A New Legacy” has been out for almost a week, we should be able to recognize it as the perfectly passable and outright fun family movie that it is. While watching it, I felt reassured that this wasn’t the terrible rehash that many feared but instead a natural revival of a childhood cult classic.

The concept of “Space Jam” would make anyone incredulous at first: this movie franchise is about a film production company pairing an all-time basketball legend with Looney Tunes teammates that are forced to play a basketball game with twisted physics. That is such an easy marketing sell that, to the uninitiated, it can seem cynical.

OPINION: “Black Widow” top-tier acting saves it from disappointing villains

By: Maxwell Minty McGrael / Daily Lobo | Jul 18

 

This review contains spoilers

Finally, after two years of no theatrical releases, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) returned with its 24th installment, “Black Widow.” This film is an action-packed spy thriller starring Scarlett Johansson as the title character. With well-acted protagonists and a heavy focus on family, it’s a genuinely good time from start to finish, despite some villain development problems. 

Soon after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow) is on the run when she receives the antidote to the mind control that she and the rest of the Widows have been subjected to. 

Albuquerque senior attempts to break Guinness World Record for her culture

By: Megan Gleason | Jul 18

 

For Albuquerque senior and retired nurse Hiddekel Sara Burks, breaking a Guinness World Record isn’t just for fun — it’s an expression of her culture.

Currently sitting in the Holocaust Museum is a nearly 4,000 foot long textile braid that still isn’t done. This long array of colors won’t be finished until Burks, founder of the National Braiders Guild, braids 6,000 feet and breaks the Guinness World Record for the longest handmade textile braid, which currently stands at about 5,217 feet. Burks estimates that she’ll finish in about six to eight more weeks, and will basket-weave all of the braids into a double helix.

Grow the Growers program supports farmers in the South Valley

By: Rebecca Hobart | Jul 15

Grow the Growers is a program in Albuquerque that provides farm training and business development education for emerging farmers, even amid the current historic drought. This program seeks to strengthen the food sector in the South Valley, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Historically, the South Valley has experienced a lot of environmental injustice, so it’s really important to keep the land that’s been in agriculture here in agriculture for the well-being of the ecosystem and community,” Alicia Robinson-Walsh, a manager for La Cosecha Community Supported Agriculture, said.

National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation receives $30,000 grant

By: Emma Trevino | Jul 13

 

On Tuesday, the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation announced that they had received a $30,000 grant back in March from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) to help support their Circo Latino program.

Circo Latino is an educational class for children and teenagers ages 7 to 18 to learn about the circus arts. The program has equitable tuition payments from participants, and this grant allows the department to create scholarships for those who can’t normally afford tuition.

 
“Spanish-language and Latin American culture are taught alongside juggling, stilt-walking, clowning, movement, aerial, mask-making, leadership, environmental stewardship, compassion, empathy, community vibrancy and healthy lifestyles,” the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs press release states. 

OPINION: The new “Gossip Girl” makes no sense

By: Emma Trevino | Jul 11

 

Last Thursday, the first episode of HBO Max’s “Gossip Girl” reboot premiered and it was … weird. While the hierarchical energy of its predecessor was evident, this new iteration lacked the charm and intrigue that gave the original version from 2007 its massive success.

The new series revolves around a group of friends that rule Constance Billard School for Girls, the same school that Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodson ruled 14 years ago. The highly exclusive private institution is riddled with money, drugs and frantic power grabs from anyone and everyone.

5 and Why: 5 best things to do over summer break

By: Megan Gleason | Jul 6

 

Lounging in the shade of the Duck Pond on a sunny Monday afternoon were two UNM students, Rose Hurlow and Margaret Glasgow, who agreed to let Daily Lobo readers in on their idea of the best five things to do over summer break.

As a second-year master’s student and a Ph.D. candidate respectively, both agreed that this summer is a time for relaxation. Listed below are their top five favorite activities this summer break. 

River Surfing

River surfing is an exciting way to explore different parts of the state, and Glasgow said they both enjoy surfing in New Mexico and Colorado. 

“It’s the desert and you can go surfing, which is kind of awesome,” Glasgow said.

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