Culture

Culture

Activists go without for topless equality

Robert Maler | August 24

It was 95 years ago that American women secured their right to vote. Today, another battle has begun: a campaign for topless equality. About 50 people gathered near the UNM Duck Pond on Sunday to celebrate Go Topless Day, an event that advocates a revision to Albuquerque’s nudity ordinance, which allows men to walk about the city without wearing a shirt, but outlaws the same act for women. Event organizer Andrea Runyan said the demonstrators had one simple goal, which was to promote equality in public toplessness.

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Culture

Movie review: 'American Ultra' underestimates the potential of its own story

Nathan Reynolds | August 24

Small-town American angst meets ultra violence in “American Ultra.” At least, that’s supposed to be the joke in the new stoner comedy. Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart are cute and convincing as characters Mike and Phoebe, a slacker couple whose mundane lives are upturned when Mike finds he might be something more than he thought. Mike is a nervous, unambitious guy who works nights at a convenience store and smokes heavily with his girlfriend, who is the best thing in his life. In one of the funnier recurring jokes, he tries to find the perfect time to propose to Phoebe.

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Culture

Sex-ed activist: Rape culture must end

Imani Lambert | August 21

Laci Green, 25-year-old sex education activist and YouTube vlogger, is taking down rape culture one college campus at a time.  Green, who recently received her degree from UC Berkeley on rape nature and causes, filled the SUB Ballroom with over a thousand students, staff, and interested persons Thursday night.

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Culture

Animation challenge offers $25,000

Skylar Griego | August 20

It’s about time sitting around watching cartoons all day paid off. Netflix bingers, closet cartoon watchers and artists alike now have the opportunity to tap into their inner children and receive a $25,000 award to advance their education thanks to the inaugural “What’s Your Nickfluence?” Animation Challenge. Kids' TV network Nickelodeon is teaming up with nonprofit organization Get Schooled to host an animation film competition for college students aged 17-24.

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Culture

Album Review: Mike Krol lays an egg with "Turkey"

Skylar Griego | August 19

The problem with some music is one can’t tell whether the musicians are satirical performers, which typically consists of musicians performing badly on purpose for some unfathomable reason, or if some insane person actually thinks what they’re producing is good music. This is the bewilderment listeners may experience while listening to Mike Krol’s newest release, “Turkey.” Named after the term used for a third consecutive bowling strike, “Turkey” is supposedly the mark of Krol “making it.” If this is making it, then music standards have fallen even farther than I thought.

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Culture

Guest column: Study abroad can be an opportunity for more than language, culture

Anna Maldonado | August 19

This past spring semester, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica at Universidad Veritas in San Jose. I was excited to find that there was a program like this offering courses in environmental studies that I could use for my major. I heard about these course options at the UNM Study Abroad Fair, where I discovered through a study abroad program called International Studies Abroad. Not only did I get to practice my Spanish and live in a Latin culture, but I was able to do this while taking classes in English. I took classes in ecology and environmental studies, Latin American studies and tropical architecture and design. Exploring nature was one of my favorite things to do during my study abroad. Class field trips and most excursions were included in the cost of the program. We got to visit ecological sites where we did species monitoring and observed exotic plants and animals. Costa Rica is home to a variety of frogs like the colorful red-eyed tree frog and some of the smallest frogs that can be found there are even smaller than a fingernail.

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Culture

Movie Review: Despite simple plot, 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.' nails action-comedy

Nathan Reynolds | August 18

With boxy German cars and stark, grey walls topped with barbed wire, the first 15 seconds of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” thrusts viewers directly into 1960s Berlin, the Cold War era, as Napoleon Solo, played by Henry Cavill, crosses from West to East. The opening images of the film tease with the aesthetic of the time, complete with grainy, hand-held images. But this spy thriller never fully embraces ‘60s kitsch: it chooses instead to transpose the imagery onto a glossy Hollywood star vehicle, with the occasional zoom, rainbow sun flare or split screen shot to keep the audience visually in the time period.

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Culture

Five and why with Jacob Lemon

Nick Fjoud | August 17

With another new semester beginning, finding time to delve into a new book might be troublesome. Jacob Lemon, a junior architecture major, said his solution is to switch between long-form narratives and less daunting short stories. The shorter stories help balance his schedule.

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Culture

A pick-me-up for those down on luck

Imani Lambert | August 17

As the weather begins to cool, people who are homeless and looking for a place to warm up now have somewhere to go for free hot coffee. The opening of a new coffee house, called Witch’s Brew, has brought an Italian concept to the table that will impact the community. The Kick Down Coffee program allows customers to pay for food and coffee for a person who comes into the coffee house, but cannot afford to make a purchase. “People want to help, and this way people can,” store manager Cory Minefee said. “If there is someone who is needy that comes into the coffee shop or any other place and asks for food, usually they get turned away.”

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Culture

Column: Good questions key to apartment hunting

Gary Gist | August 10

The excitement of getting your first apartment may cause you to overlook certain important factors. Viewing an apartment for the first time, you may overlook little problems that will become big issues later on. Here are some tips to help you find a great first place. Did you notice that the cars in the parking area for tenants have expired tags, or have no license plates at all? How long will you entertain your friends if all the parking is taken up by abandoned cars? How noisy is the crowd in this apartment building? Most managers like to show apartments around 10 a.m.; drop by on the night before to see how your potential neighbors behave. Being on your own for the first time doesn’t mean you must live in a place where there are no lights in the hall or on the stairs. Check the lights the night before.

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Culture

Five and why with Larissa Koza

Skylar Griego | August 10

With one week left to say goodbye to summer vacation, some may want to use this time to sit down one last time and watch their favorite movies guilt-free. Larissa Koza, an architecture graduate student from Brazil, said she loves to use her free time during the summer to watch her favorite action movies 
and musicals.

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Culture

Album review: R&B album unique with grunge tones

Skylar Griego | August 10

With the fall semester approaching quickly, students are hustling to get ready for classes and cooler weather. One of the most important items on the checklist is, of course, what music they’re going to study to. Fans of R&B and Jazz may find “Under the Savage Sky,” the newest release from Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, moving its way up their “must buy” checklists. “Under the Savage Sky” opens up with “Willow,” a fun, energetic song with heavy guitar riffs and deep, gritty vocals complete with background “oohs” and “ahs” to round out the sound.

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Culture

Being a Lobo: 11 universal rest stops on campus

Imani Lambert | July 20

In recent years, the idea of universal bathrooms has gained steam in the U.S., and talk of creating them at UNM has come up more than once at ASUNM meetings. So far, campus includes 11 such gender-neutral bathrooms, although most of them are a little difficult to find:

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Culture

Being a Lobo: 14 things every Lobo should do before graduation

Kevin Haaf | July 20

Personal achievement varies from person to person. If you’re at UNM for four years, you’ll wind up doing a lot of things to entertain yourself, and some will be more meaningful than others. Here are a few things every Lobo should do before graduation. Call it a UNM bucket list:

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Culture

Being a Lobo: Top resources for stressed students

Skylar Griego | July 20

Going to college can be rough. It’s time-consuming, brain-wracking and just all-around stressful. But the degree at the end of your time there is totally worth it. For those working toward that degree at UNM, here are some resources to help get to that light at the end of the tunnel.

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Culture

Being a Lobo: Top perks just for being a Lobo

Robert Maler | July 20

Attending UNM can often mean hard work, late-night studying and other sacrifices. All of that hard work, however, is balanced by the many perks of being a Lobo. Here are 10 of them, most of which are located within walking distance of UNM’s main campus:

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Culture

'Floating' therapy promotes relaxation and clarity

Kevin Haaf | July 13

There is no shortage of research on the positive effects of relaxation. Now one business lets customers find their happy place via floating. Enlighten Others specializes in holistic healing. Located a half mile southeast of the University, on Bryn Mawr Drive, the local business features hot yoga, massage therapy — and float tanks. Business owner Kenneth Pintor said he liked the idea of offering float tanks for relaxation because they create a distraction-free environment that facilitates a state of restfulness.

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Culture

Historical New Mexican women to be represented in mural

Imani Lambert | July 13

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment for its culture and artwork. Recently, Young Women United has joined together with various female artists to create a historically focused mural. Isabel Fernandez de Williams, mural organizer and contributing artist, has created multiple murals before in Las Cruces. This time the focus will be on women in New Mexican history. “In Albuquerque, all sorts of murals are up, but they are missing the female part — no murals representing female culture,” she said.

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Culture

Review: Rich lyrics strike spark in ordinary country album

Skylar Griego | July 13

Country boys and girls, grab your finest cowboy hat and a box of tissues and get ready to dive into the show. This is going to be a deep one. On Tuesday, the country band known as the Honeycutters will perform at Low Spirits Bar & Stage to show off music from their April release, “Me Oh My.” To give a preview of the material for their upcoming performance, this critic had the chance to listen to “Me Oh My” in its entirety.

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Culture

Program takes students on Enchanting adventure

Robert Maler | July 13

Summertime is when many students choose to take a well-deserved break from courses and relax. For those who have not been able to see all New Mexico has to offer, though, the 2015 Summer Getaway Adventures is an opportunity for students to discover the Land of Enchantment. Jim Todd, recreational services director at UNM’s Johnson Center, said the Getaway Adventures program is a great way for students to engage in outdoor activities. The schedule varies from year to year, but this year’s excursion includes rock climbing, fiestas, cultural feasts and art festivals, he said. Laura Montoya, coordinator for Getaway Adventures, said that in the 26 years she has worked at Johnson Center, the program has grown to the point that it is always busy.