Culture - The Daily Lobo

Culture

Albuquerque food pantries adapt to safety regulations

Daniel Ward | June 9

The coronavirus pandemic has starved resources across the state, but many Albuquerque-based food banks and pantries are still doing everything they can to feed the increased demands. Lisa Lindquist, director of the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center at the University of New Mexico, said COVID-19 has made a significant impact on the food resources available to pantries and banks. However, Lindquist said the Lobo Food Pantry continues to operate with just a few changes to adapt to the circumstances.

Culture

UNM students paint BLM portraits

Cameron Ward | June 9

In response to the nationwide protests against police brutality, University of New Mexico students Julia Wagner and Savina Romero have used their artistic talents to paint over 170 portraits of those who have lost their lives at the hands of police. Wagner and Romero titled their art project “See Their Faces, Say Their Names.” Since George Floyd’s murder on May 25, people around the world have taken to the streets to protest police brutality, and Albuquerque has been no exception.

Culture

UNM joins Black cultural centers for protest and race roundtable

Megan Gleason | June 4

“Come celebrate with me that every day something has tried to kill me and has failed,” Chandra Guinn, director of Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture at Duke University, said to open up the first national cultural centers’ meeting for college campuses around the country on June 3. The virtual town hall was convened because of the worldwide protests that have been ongoing as a result of the murder of George Floyd on May 25.

Culture

Mountain Road receives new street banners from local artists

Spencer Butler | June 2

Albuquerque’s oldest road hosted a drive-by art exhibit on June 1 with new banners from local community members. The Mountain Road banners can be seen on the 26 lampposts stretching between Fifth Street and 12th Street. A drive-by grand opening for the project is scheduled for the weekend of June 5. Julianna Kirwin, a local artist and project leader, said the banners would be up for about one year.

Culture

Local church assists hundreds of families in need of food

Daniel Ward | May 28

30,000 pounds of fresh produce and dairy groceries, 13,000 granola bars, 2,400 loaves of bread, 3,600 rolls of toilet paper, 60 gallons of hand sanitizer and 600 reading and coloring books were all collected in just 10 days for the Harvest Fellowship food drive on May 23. The free drive-thru food distribution was set to take place from 9-11 a.m. at the Harvest Fellowship Church parking lot, but cars were lining up as early as 6:15 a.m. to get food. The church partnered with Convoy of Hope to provide two semi-trucks full of supplies for a total of 22 food pallets to give away.

Culture

Marina Bernal found passion for activism, film at UNM

Cameron Ward | May 19

No matter the landscape, Marina Bernal remained a leader and passionate filmmaker. Behind the camera, Bernal gained professional recognition despite being a newcomer to the University. Graduating with a major in Film and Digital Arts, Bernal’s academic pilgrimage took her from Barcelona, Spain to Albuquerque — and a few stops in between — in pursuit of some of her scholarly and life goals.

Culture

Casa San Ysidro celebrates New Mexico's heritage online

Loreena Cain | May 17

Casa San Ysidro in Corrales, New Mexico has been hosting Heritage Day annually in May for more than a decade to celebrate the state’s history, art and culture. For the first time, this year’s event took place online. Casa San Ysidro has been closed since March because of COVID-19. Instead, the free event shifted online via the history museum’s website between 1-4 p.m.on May 16.

Culture

Joel Clinger graduates with biology degree, rescue pilot aspirations

Beatrice Nisoli | May 16

Supplementing the rigorous academic lessons Joel Clinger is taking away from his time at the University of New Mexico is the personal growth he’s experienced throughout the past four years. Clinger is no stranger to arduous work. During his time at UNM, he worked toward a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in military studies while carving out time to devote to his student-run extracurriculars, community work and his own faith journey. “There was plenty of community outreach, such as working at the Ronald McDonald House as a guest chef as well as volunteering to help move students in and out of dorms on the Lobo Move-In days,” Clinger said.

Culture

Mitch Marty graduates with MFA, passion for writing

Annya Loya | May 15

After a three-year long journey at the University of New Mexico, Mitch Marty is ready for his next adventure after graduation. Marty started his college years as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a major in English (Rhetoric & Writing). After settling on a field, he chose UNM for his Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) degree in creative writing. “I came to the University of New Mexico for my MFA in part because I wanted to experience a different environment/culture that I grew up in the Midwest. UNM has also a great program that’s fully funded, so I was able to teach,” Marty said.

Culture

Loreena Cain discovered passion, friendship at UNM

Justin Garcia | May 15

From the Department of English Language and Literature, to the front page of the Daily Lobo, Loreena Cain covered the University of New Mexico with her stories. Now, Cain is ready to open the next chapter of her story. Cain graduated from UNM this week with a Bachelor's Degree in English and Philosophy. It took her just three years to complete, even as she bounced from music to archeology and eventually to writing.

Culture

First-generation graduate Jazmin Castillo helps community through counseling

Megan Gleason | May 15

Jazmin Castillo turned barriers into building blocks in her time at the University of New Mexico. Castillo is a first-generation graduate from UNM with a double major in psychology and sociology. Castillo said she plans to stay at UNM for her master of arts in counselor education and eventually become an elementary or middle school counselor in New Mexico.

Culture

Gabriel Gaarden fought for fair tuition and public health

Amanda Britt | May 15

Gabriel Gaarden wore many hats during his time at the University of New Mexico. Graduating this spring with a masters in public health is just one of his many achievements. Gaarden was a notable student for both his work as a research assistant and as the president of the Public Health Student Association (PHSA), where he grew as a leader and acted as a voice for the student population in combating differential tuition.

Culture

Amanda Britt graduates UNM with love for journalism, psychology and herself

Megan Gleason | May 12

Through sun and rain, Amanda Britt made her way to graduation with a humble smile that surfaced a radiant personality. With a double major in journalism and psychology, Britt is ending her time at the Daily Lobo as the photo editor. She started at the University of New Mexico with little idea of what her passions were and came out on the other end with love — not just for journalism and psychology, but also for herself. When Britt was diagnosed with bipolar depression, she faced a new challenge that she struggled to handle throughout college. "This whole year has been a battle with my mental health, but now I feel like I’m good again," Britt said. "I am learning more about myself and being kind to myself."

Culture

Local DJs transition to online performances

Cameron Ward | May 9

As social distancing measures persist for the foreseeable future, local DJs are left questioning what will happen next for their industry paused by the coronavirus pandemic. Across the state, many DJs are left unemployed and unable to attend gigs. The health pandemic and subsequent economic crisis forced many DJs to resort to online performances that can be found on live streams. Phoebe Fox, a nursing major at the University of New Mexico, has been participating in many live streams since the transformation and has dressed up for multiple events.

Culture

UNM graduate students create homemade ventilator design

Megan Gleason | May 9

University of New Mexico graduate students Mostafa Peysokhan and Maryam Bahmani created a simple ventilator design in mid-April with hopes of helping hospitals low on ventilators. The homemade ventilator “CorVent” was designed to be cheap and easy to create, with little tools necessary. “We decided to design a very simple and inexpensive ventilator that anyone in any part of the world can easily make,” Bahmani said.

Participants in a mock trial hosted by the UNM School of Law take an oath Saturday at the Second Judicial District Court. Students preparing for a career as litigators acted as defense and prosecution attorneys at the mock trials.

Culture

UNM Mock Trial canceled this semester, plans to come back strong when safe

Megan Gleason | May 7

Mock Trial clubs around the nation, including the University of New Mexico Mock Trial, were forced to stop competing due to COVID-19 regulations put in place by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA). The Mock Trial club studies court cases and competes with other collegiate level clubs around the United States. AMTA typically releases the cases that all Mock Trial clubs will study nation-wide but made the decision to not release the spring case due to the coronavirus pandemic. This impacts both high school and collegiate levels. “Any competition that’s held is run through (AMTA) and they are the equivalent of royalty... that are paid in order to hold the competition,” UNM Mock Trial President Lanz Sanchez said.

Culture

“Hamilton” adjusts to the COVID-19 pandemic

Loreena Cain | May 5

The touring cast of the Broadway hit “Hamilton” scheduled a visit to Popejoy from Jan. 19 to Feb. 7, 2021, however, with the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic it is unclear if people will be allowed to gather in large crowds come early next year. “While it is far too soon to tell whether COVID-19 will affect the performances of Hamilton scheduled to begin in Popejoy Hall on January 19, we know we have a great partner in the production of Hamilton that will do all it can to reschedule those performances as quickly as possible, should our three-week run of the show be closed down due to the pandemic,” Popejoy Marketing Manager Terry Davis said, Broadway shows in New York City have been shuttered since March 12 and are set to remain closed through at least June 7, and it is likely that the shutdown will continue past that date. Touring shows have also been canceled across the country including Popejoy’s planned performances of “Escape to Margaritaville” and “The Play that Goes Wrong”.

Culture

UNM Dance Program performs heart-warming online spring concert

Megan Gleason | May 2

The University of New Mexico Dance Program hosted an online concert for Spring 2020 on May 1, inviting the public to watch students perform “Observer as Poet” with choreography centered on the theme of quarantine. The program consisted of a mix of different students and locations, all reflecting on the stress and anxiety that has been prominent for students during the COVID-19 pandemic. I found relief in watching the performing arts world come together when this has been such a difficult time to physically do so. The performers proved that although they are physically separated, they are emotionally together still.

Culture

Film students adapt to COVID restrictions

Jeanette DeDios | May 1

Seniors of the Film and Digital Media Arts Department (FDMA) have struggled to stay motivated while trying to find alternative ways to finish their capstone projects. With the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 and the rules that prohibit face-to-face interaction, students are finding it harder to cope in a world of uncertainty. The University of New Mexico students enrolled in the FDMA program study under a four year cohort program that teaches them skills of filmmaking and prepares them to work within the film industry after graduation. The culmination of their hard work is presented in their senior capstones where they work in crews to create a film, video game or animation from beginning to end.

Culture

Local acequias lack proper maintenance during stay-at-home order

Daniel Ward | April 28

None of the Pajarito Meadows residents expected to go outside and find half the houses flooding one afternoon in early April. Some houses were drenched two to three feet deep in water from the nearby acequia. However, the reason why the acequias overflowed is a different story. Many acequias in New Mexico are open and running despite having to cancel their community spring cleaning day. As the stay-at-home order continues, cleaning the acequias has been put on hold for many New Mexico communities. Since acequias are not Albuquerque’s main source of farm water, keeping them clean has become a hassle in some areas.