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Culture

OPINION: Why I don’t want to get an MFA in creative writing

Nell Johnson | May 9

In a letter to a friend written at the peak of Virgo season, Anton Chekhov wrote: “Medicine is my lawful wife and literature is my mistress.” Wikipedia touts that he is “considered one of the greatest writers of all time,” Russian or otherwise. But he was never a student of the arts; he spent his days watching human beings fall apart and doing what he could to reverse the human condition, something that is temporary, painful, and disgusting to look at. I graduate this week and people are very curious about what I’m going to do with my dual degree in English and Russian. Most people assume graduate school is the immediate next step, but studying what, they ask?

Culture

UNM grad helps writers and refugees

John Scott | May 9

Hot off the release of the 2022 edition of “Limina: Nonfiction Review,” former editor-in-chief and University of New Mexico graduate Indica Simpson has been busy celebrating her hard work and looking forward to her post-graduation plans. Simpson, graduating with a bachelor's degree in international studies and a double minor in Arabic and peace and justice studies, left her home town of Fallon, Nevada with her heart set on studying medicine at UNM. After her first year, though, Simpson realized that this wasn’t the field for her.

Culture

Acclaimed student journalist graduates, inspires with determination and heart

Natalie Jude | May 9

After five years of undergraduate work split between Champlain College in Vermont and the University of New Mexico, Shelby Wyatt, formerly Shelby Kleinhans, is preparing to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in film production. The current winner of the Mark Holm photojournalism award, an annual award given to an exceptional Daily Lobo photographer, her work at the Lobo as a dedicated journalist and photographer will not be forgotten. During her three years at the Daily Lobo, Wyatt has had the opportunity to explore photographic and written journalism as well as, most recently, the position of multimedia editor. Like many other Lobo employees and alumni, Wyatt fondly recalls having “fallen into” journalism by way of the Lobo.

Culture

Eagle-eyed editor-in-chief ascends to professional journalism

Natalie Jude | May 9

After four intense years with the Daily Lobo, Megan Gleason is ready to move on from student journalism and step out into the world of professional journalism. Having served as a freelance and beat reporter, culture editor, news editor and editor-in-chief, Gleason is counting down the days until her graduation, when she will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music. Gleason began as a freelance reporter after a distasteful hiring process for the Lobo and “never would have guessed” she’d move up the ladder so quickly. “I initially decided I didn’t want to work at the Daily Lobo,” Gleason said. “But my sophomore year …

Culture

Award-winning photojournalist to graduate from UNM

Natalie Jude | May 9

Spring 2022 graduate Liam DeBonis began college with few clues as to what he wanted to pursue for a career. Following a random application for freelance photographer at the Daily Lobo, according to DeBonis, everything fell into place. Currently freelancing for the Albuquerque Journal, he is excited for graduation and the opportunity to focus all of his attention on his photojournalism career. “Honestly, school has kind of taken a back seat to my job as a photojournalist,” DeBonis said. “I’ve definitely put my heart and soul into the photojournalism aspect of my life.”

Culture

Outgoing sports editor juggles journalism, computer science, passion for sports

Natalie Jude | May 9

Matt Salcido, the outgoing sports editor at the Daily Lobo, will soon graduate with a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the University of New Mexico. Having fallen into the position of sports editor with no journalistic experience following a back injury, Matthew has learned quickly to translate his extensive knowledge of college sports into journalistic writing. “For a few years prior to beginning as sports editor I was a basketball coach … I ended up hurting my back and I knew I was going to have to take a year off,” Salcido said.

Culture

Graduating Daily Lobo designer dedicated to digital art

Natalie Jude | May 9

Joseph McKee, an art history major and retiring director of design for the Daily Lobo, is awaiting their graduation from the University of New Mexico this spring. Having joined the Lobo three years ago, McKee’s designs for the paper over the years trace the evolution of their design styles and abilities. “I started at the Lobo because I really wanted to work in graphic design. I thought it would be really fun and interesting. I really enjoy collaborating with people and I enjoy design, too … I was looking for some sort of community or club that I could join on campus and it worked out pretty well, I would say,” McKee said.

Culture

Graduating ASUNM president leaves lasting legacy

Zara Roy | May 9

As the curtains draw closed on the final undergraduate semester of 2021-22 for former Associated Students of the University of New Mexico President Greg Romero, he still maintains the same passion and love for the school as he did when he first began his term. Still, he is ready to graduate with a liberal arts degree and a wealth of leadership experience. Romero came into the University with the intention of focusing strictly on his academic pursuits with little time for putting himself out there, but this plan soon fell by the wayside when he joined Alpha Tau Omega his freshman and sophomore years.

Culture

McKinnon Poetry Contest winners navigate identity, origins through poetry

Nell Johnson | May 8

The three winners of the 2022 McKinnon Poetry Contest hail from different hometowns and academic disciplines, but their poems all explore personal origins and their impact. The contest was coordinated by department head Diane Thiel, and winning poems were selected by faculty judges. In first place was senior Benjamin Tabáček with “Homesick;” second, freshman Ariel Menendez with “La Chicana;” and third, senior Indica Simpson with “Résumé.” The McKinnon Poetry Contest is an annual event involving cash prizes, which are awarded thanks to an $100,000 endowment from UNM alumna Karen McKinnon. Thiel praised her giving nature in an email.

Culture

‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair’ is a creepypasta coming-of-age gem

Zara Roy | May 2

“We’re All Going to the World’s Fair,” directed by Jane Schoenbrun, is a dizzying, slow-paced horror that uses the language of internet urban legend as a springboard to showcase the supreme loneliness of adolescence. Released April 15, the film follows the reclusive Casey (Anna Cobb) after she embarks in an internet horror game called the “World’s Fair Challenge” and her subsequent mental decline. Clocking in just under 90 minutes, “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” completely defied my expectations of the formulaic and tried found-footage genre (although, to be fair, this film cannot be neatly classified as found-footage) and showcased the versatility of a genre I previously thought to be a one-trick pony.

Culture

Ukrainian student takes pride in her homeland

Maddie Pukite | May 2

The day before Russia invaded Ukraine, Yuliia Kashuba, an international student at the University of New Mexico from Ukraine, gave a presentation to her class about the fighting that had been going on in eastern Ukraine against Russia, explaining that it was not a full-on invasion, not knowing what would happen in the coming day. “No one deserves to be killed in this way. There's no reason. We used to live independent, we (were), like, pro-European country with our own freedom of speech, freedom of expression. You (could) be wherever you want in Ukraine,” Kashuba said.

Culture

Loboscopes: May general predictions

Zara Roy and Nell Johnson | May 2

The transit of several key planets into Aries this month — Jupiter, Venus and Mars — will precipitate a wealth of ideas and physical blessings. The sun remaining steadfast in Taurus until the end of the month should give flashes of inspiration some staying power, as Aries isn’t known for its follow-through. A Mercury retrograde will begin in Gemini on May 10, adding fuel to the Aries fire burning in the heavens. Beware of backwards movement, like reverting to old habits and communicating with those you’ve left behind. The reckless Ram running rampant across the sky will make this difficult. How will you manage? Read on for more specific advice.

Culture

The Kooks have lost it, parsed release disappoints

Natalie Jude | May 2

Just over halfway through the quartered release of upcoming album “10 Tracks to Echo in The Dark,” there seems to have been little improvement since The Kooks’ 2018 album “Let’s Go Sunshine,” a tragic release save for two half-hits: “Picture frame” and “No Pressure.” In their earlier days, English rock group The Kooks were fresh. Their unpredictable melodies pulled from post-punk and the best of indie rock. Since the release of their fourth album in 2014, “Listen,” though, they seem to be steady in their decline. The losses of members Max Rafferty and Paul Garred could be to blame for at least a portion of the slump, but with longtime members Luke Pritchard leading vocals and Hugh Harris leading guitar, these recent and absolute failures should have been impossible.

Culture

Andrew Callaghan broadens journalistic endeavors

Maddie Pukite | May 2

Some say journalism is a dying industry; local newspapers often only have a fraction of the staff needed and broadcast journalists are suddenly largely multi-hyphenates. Mainstream channels like CNN and FOX don’t necessarily appeal to younger audiences and show hyperpolarized depictions of the news. The answer to these issues, according to Andrew Callaghan of Channel 5 Action News, is independent, civilian journalism. “The best way to consume media is (through) firsthand clips,” Callaghan said. “You saw that in 2020 the George Floyd video was more powerful than any news anchor bit could have been. (It) reached more people … Just make sure you're not consuming, you know, propaganda and misinformation; just try to be aware.”

Culture

Environmental journalist paves way for truth, diversity in work

Megan Gleason | April 25

Walking along the river or basking in the New Mexico sun you can probably find Laura Paskus, a journalist who’s devoted decades of her life to reporting on the environment in New Mexico. Not only committed to exposing the scientific views of these topics, Paskus wants people to connect to their landscapes and communities. Paskus flourishes outside and loves “learning about the world around us.” Currently working as a correspondent and producer for New Mexico PBS, Paskus explores a variety of environmental-related work on the air. From studio interviews to field pieces, Paskus said the goal is to help people “understand things like climate change or community resilience.”

Culture

REVIEW: ‘The Northman’ takes viewers to Valhalla and back

John Scott | April 25

As I took my seat in a dimly lit theater on Friday, April 22, I thought my anticipation for acclaimed writer and director Robert Eggers’ latest work couldn’t be any higher. After having to sit through a series of previews that was almost entirely made up of sequels, though, an unflinching, brutal and thoroughly original $90 million Viking spectacle sounded like just the right type of medicine for my blockbuster blues. Of course, that isn’t to say that the only thing going for this film was its refreshing originality; given my utter adoration for Eggers’ past work with “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse” in tandem with an absolute beast of a cast (most of which have appeared in Eggers’ previous work)

Culture

Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department seeks donations for incoming surge of kittens

Zara Roy | April 25

‘Tis the season to care for cats and canines, and the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department is holding a “puppy and kitten shower” through April 30 to accrue much needed supplies to accommodate for the nearly 2,000 kittens and 400 puppies they expect to take in during the warm months. In previous years, “kitten season,” the time of year in which the shelter gets their vast majority of incoming orphaned or abandoned kittens, has only extended through summer months. But increasingly warm winters have greatly widened the window during which these animals are reproductively active.

Culture

‘Not Yet and Yet’ showcases graduate art, emphasizes process

Nell Johnson | April 25

For second-year Master of Fine Arts students, the juried graduate exhibition “Not Yet and Yet” has been more than just an opportunity to showcase their work at a museum; the exhibition, which opened on March 11 and consists of MFA and Graduate Art Association artwork, ushered students back into an in-person art world. Since they began their study at UNM amid quarantine in fall 2020, remote critiques and the inability to interface with their peers’ art directly made things difficult, according to GAA member and artist in the show Eleonora Edreva. “Some things are physical and you want to be there; you want to see it. Having the opportunity to show work together in person has been really wonderful.

Culture

Local independent bookstore bound to collections and community

Zara Roy | April 25

As Independent Bookstore Day on April 30 draws near, Albuquerque mainstay Page 1 Books is hoping to bring in some like-minded lexophiles for a celebration of small business and great reads. As the store is still practicing masking requirements, they will be commemorating Independent Bookstore Day with a COVID-safe celebration. Store manager Ian Carrilllo said independent bookstore day is a welcome way for community members to show support for these stores which help the community to thrive. “It’s a reminder that we exist and independent bookstores are a vital part of the community,” Carrillo said.

Culture

5 and Why: 5 reasons incoming freshmen are excited to attend UNM

Natalie Jude | April 25

High school senior Florence Garcia is currently preparing for her freshman year at the University of New Mexico this fall, filling out housing forms, planning her schedule and visiting campus on a tour with her mother. She’s excited for college and has a variety of things she’s looking forward to in college. Social exploration Garcia anticipates meeting new people and is excited to navigate a new social setting. She hopes to find a new group of friends she works well with and with whom she shares similar interests.