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Culture

Fine Arts Departments Adapt with Online School

Megan Gleason | April 2

As the University of New Mexico moves online, the fine arts departments are faced with challenges on how to move hands-on subjects to a remote education. Many courses were adapted to work from home, which provided challenges like accessibility to the internet and the necessary equipment to work. Andrea Polli, professor of art and ecology, said that art students will struggle with a lack of equipment like 3D printers and laser cutters, which were provided for them at school. Fortunately, Polli’s students bought art kits at the start of the semester and are still able to work from home, although limited. Some courses, like musical ensembles, were canceled completely.

Culture

UNM students practice self-care while in isolation

Liam Debonis | April 2

In a time when normal life comes to a halt, having a daily workout or meditation session may seem trivial. But, the battle against the new coronavirus is not the only battle people must fight. Depression, loneliness and anxiety are things that many people struggle with already and are only exacerbated by orders to stay at home, not go to school or refrain from socializing in person. The fight for health and sanity in such concerning times is not impracticable. Resources have already been mobilized for those stuck in their homes. Amazon now offers select children's movies for free. Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his home workout routine online. Self-help mobile apps like Sanvello are offering free premium access to their services for the duration of the outbreak. And online counseling services are experiencing increased demand.

Culture

Coronavirus calls for creativity: The joy at the end of a candle

Cameron Ward | April 1

Candles can be a great way to experience wonderful smells flooding your room while stuck inside during quarantine. Once you have used up your wick, it shouldn’t end your joy but instead spark more happy times. If I had a dollar saved from all the candles I have bought in the past, I could have spent more on the groceries that I needed during this quarantine. You can ask me about my favorite scents, but the greatest thing I’ve learned in my history of candles is the number of different things it can hold in its container. Whether you love candles or just want to get rid of them, this upcycle works for anyone. In this creation, you will turn a plain used candle into your own new recycled container. If you have a sweet tooth like me, some Jolly Ranchers would be perfect to hold in your new container.

Culture

NMDOT collaborates with UNM's Wild Friends for pollinator license plate

Beatrice Nisoli | March 31

In collaboration with the University of New Mexico law school's Wild Friends education program and the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, the state's Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has released its first Pollinator Protection license plate featuring student artwork. The law school's Wild Friends program prompted the initiative and approached NMDOT for an outreach effort. The Wild Friends program began at the UNM School of Law in 1991. Since then, the program has continued to collaborate with students in grades 4-12 to promote serving low-income schools and maintaining an educational focus on civics and science through the advancement of wildlife issues at the state legislature.

Culture

UNM students launch website to connect volunteers to healthcare workers

Megan Gleason | March 31

A group of medical students from the University of New Mexico recently launched Corona Care NM, a website that helps connect New Mexico volunteers to local healthcare and hospital workers, and vice versa. Volunteers can help healthcare workers with childcare needs, cooking, cleaning, pet sitting and more. They are able to fill out their experience in order to be best fitted with a particular job or duty, as well as preference for what type of work they are willing to do. If healthcare workers need help with childcare, they are connected with three to five volunteers. Otherwise, they are connected with one volunteer. The contact information for volunteers is given directly to the healthcare professional and the process is then in their hands. “We are simply providing a service to connect healthcare workers with volunteers,” David Gangwish, founder of the site, said.

Culture

Bridge Boulevard officially renamed to Avenida Dolores Huerta

Makayla Grijalva | March 30

On a day when people from all over Albuquerque typically gather at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to celebrate the annual Recuerda a César Chávez la marcha de justicia and fiesta, the streets fell quiet. Although the streets may have been silent, it didn't stop new street signs renaming a stretch of Bridge Boulevard to Avenida Dolores Huerta from rising to their new spots this week. This year's celebration planned to include a dedication to Huerta for her contributions to the United Farm Workers labor movement and unveil the new intersection where Avenida Cesar Chavez and Avenida Dolores Huerta meet. "It really was a labor of love," said Diana Montoya, Las Mujeres member and chair of the Avenida Dolores Huerta Project. "What I like to call it is more than a street sign. I think that a lot of people are in agreement that it becomes more than a sign, that it becomes a destination. It becomes a place where visitors will come and see that here we have this tribute to these two icons, these two civil rights heroes."

Culture

Inside Meals on Wheels during COVID-19

Liam Debonis | March 27

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Albuquerque Meals on Wheels staff work to ensure meals are delivered to those who need it. By 9 a.m. on March 25, the kitchen staff was preparing hot meals and packing them into insulated bags to be distributed to drivers. A workforce of about ten members scooped spaghetti, ladled marinara, and dished up vegetables with rigor. “Usually, the kitchen is half staff and half volunteers,” Shauna Frost, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Albuquerque said.

Culture

Farmworker Awareness Week adapts to an online format

Megan Gleason | March 27

The eighth annual Farmworker Awareness Week was hosted by Camperinos (CAMP), a University of New Mexico student organization, and took place on Facebook from March 24 to March 26 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event displayed videos featuring various members of the community, and highlighted different activities the public could partake like petitions and boycotts. It also presented relevant facts and statistics, all with the goal of supporting farmworkers. “It is meant to promote awareness and advocacy for farmworkers around New Mexico and around the nation,” Diego Salicido, project assistant of the event and treasurer of CAMP, said.

Culture

Local teacher makes protective face masks

Loreena Cain | March 26

While the coronavirus continues to sweep through New Mexico, making face masks is one way some Albuquerque locals are working on the front lines against the virus. With schools shuttered, local first-grade teacher and University of New Mexico alumna Angel Padilla is using her time to sew face masks. She has already made 35 masks and is currently working on 100 more. "In the event that healthcare professionals run out of personal protective equipment (PPE), these masks will be available instead of a scarf or bandana," Padilla said. "I've been told that it might be possible to prolong the life of N95 masks when used with the masks I am making."

Culture

Easy at-home meals for a hungry Lobo

Ellie Aikman | March 26

Due to an increase in local cases of COVID-19, most students were required to move out of all the University of New Mexico dorms, leaving many without easy access to the dining hall or other easy meals on campus. With plenty of time stuck in the house, here are some affordable, and easily made meals that a Lobo can cook at home.

Culture

Four books for a pandemic

Loreena Cain | March 23

As the boredom of social distancing starts to set in, ironically picking up a book about situations more uncertain than our own can keep us entertained. Each of these novels focuses on a pandemic or an apocalypse caused by a pandemic.

Culture

LoboTHON 2020 Dance Marathon canceled

Cameron Ward | March 17

Hopes were set high for LoboTHON in 2020, but with the coronavirus pandemic causing cancellations and closures across campus, this year's Dance Marathon later has also been canceled. With the recent confirmed cases of COVID-19, it was estimated over 100,000 people have been affected around the world. The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham banned events exceeding 100 persons on March 12 and a declared state of emergency the previous day. The University of New Mexico followed suit and canceled any event exceeding 50 persons. This has resulted in the cancelation of many events, including sporting games, concerts, festivals, and movies.

Culture

UNM cancels large events over COVID-19 worries

Megan Gleason | March 14

The University of New Mexico has been canceling events frequently due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Some of these events include the cancelation of all Popejoy events until May 1, the cancelation of Fiestas, Farmworkers Awareness Week and the closure of the UNM Art Museum during spring break. UNM Housing recommended students stay off-campus during the extended break if possible. However, some resources will stay open on campus for the students that cannot leave, like Zimmerman library and meal plan options, both with limited hours.

Culture

Zimmerman Library Women's History Month exhibit to remain open

Megan Gleason | March 14

As pieces of the University shut down, the Women’s History Month exhibit will remain open. The University of New Mexico’s Zimmerman Library has been displaying an art exhibit “We Knew Exactly What You Wanted and WE. GOT. IT.” since March 2 and will continue through April 6 during regular business hours. On March 13, UNM President Garnett Stokes announced the University of New Mexico will be on an extended spring break until April 5 with limited University operations. Essentials such as Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), student housing and Zimmerman Library are expected to remain open. This art exhibit is an educational timeline highlighting important women and movements in the women’s suffrage movement, in honor of Women’s History Month in March.

Culture

UNM Uni Nights canceled

Loreena Cain | March 13

The University of New Mexico has canceled Uni Nights for the remainder of the semester due to growing concerns about the novel coronavirus at UNM and around the state. The last three Uni Nights of the spring 2020 semester — Disco Night planned for March 27, Plant night planned for April 17 and Late-Night Breakfast planned for May 10 — have all been canceled and are being rescheduled. The Student Union Building released a statement on Facebook that said, “The Student Union has postponed the remaining spring programs due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus until further notice.”

Culture

Tricklock kicks off international theater festival

Cameron Ward | March 12

DOWNTOWN — The Tricklock Company welcomed artists from around the world to come and perform during the annual kickoff party for the Revolutions International Theatre Festival. The kickoff took place on Saturday, March 7 at the FUSION Forum. Tricklock, an internationally recognized theater company, reached out to artists from the United Kingdom, Uganda, Nigeria, Finland, Poland, Germany, Somalia, France and Australia, as well as many artists from companies throughout the United States.

Culture

De Anza Motor Lodge celebrates historic reopening

Megan Gleason | March 11

NOB HILL — The De Anza Motor Lodge officially reopened on March 10 at 3 p.m. after years of work and reconstruction. The resurrected De Anza Motor Lodge has been repurposed as an apartment complex styled to resemble the motel it originally was in 1939, when it was built by local trader Charles Wallace. Members of the Albuquerque political class, including Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Pat Davis and Deputy Cabinet Secretary Jon Clark, attended the reopening.

Culture

Former UNM teacher honors wife with art display

Megan Gleason | March 11

GEORGE PEARL HALL — A "Death Self" poetry reading and art display at the University of New Mexico highlighted the works of longtime UNM Honors College faculty member Vincent Barrett (V.B.) Price and Rini Price on March 9. The event was held in the memory of Rini Price on what would have been her birthday and celebrated her various paintings in collaboration with her husband V.B.’s poetry. Paintings by Rini were projected at the exhibit while V.B. read poems from "Death Self" along with additional readers at George Pearl Hall. The print edition of "Death Self" was handed out for free at the event.

Culture

CMF challenges students to make short films in a week

Loreena Cain | March 5

Students at the University of New Mexico will be competing to create five-minute films in a week with the Campus Movie Fest (CMF). Currently, 58 UNM students have registered as of the CMF information night on March 2 to participate in the film fest. Students can, however, continue to register until the event ends on March 9. The festival launched on March 3, and student films are scheduled to be completed by March 9. The films will then be sent to a panel of judges made up of students and professors at UNM. The top 16 films will premiere at a red carpet event on March 11.

Culture

oSTEM to host Transgender 101 training

Beatrice Nisoli | March 5

Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM) is partnering with the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM) again to host an on-campus event aimed at educating on how to be allies for gender-diverse communities. The Transgender 101 training will take place on Thursday, March 12 in the Centennial Engineering Building Auditorium, room 1041, from 5:30-7 p.m. This marks the second occasion oSTEM has partnered with TGRCNM. Indeed, the training itself will be directed by a representative from the resource center.