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Culture

Esports student club gains space in Johnson Gym expansion

Caitlin Scott | February 12

The University of New Mexico Esports Club recently expanded in both its physical space and online presence after receiving a gaming room in the new Johnson Center. The two-year-old club was designed to be a fun and safe place for friends to play video games on a competitive level. With the recent remodel of the Johnson Center, the UNM Esports Club will receive a gaming space once construction is complete. The room will serve as a space for players and club members to congregate. Computers for people to play video games as well as engage in other club activities will also be available. Tyler Vencil, a UNM junior studying computer science, joined the esports club right around the time the club was first formed. League of Legends is his game of choice for competitive play and the reason he joined the student club.

Culture

Belen hosts world's largest matanza

Michael Sandoval / @msandovalphotos / Daily Lobo | February 11

Matanza translated to English means “Slaughter,” but for many New Mexicans, it’s synonymous with togetherness and family. As one of the oldest traditions practiced in the United States, the Matanza holds a special place in the hearts of many New Mexicans. What started out 20 years ago, as a way to bring the community together and raise money for local students, has grown from its humble beginnings in front of the Sheriff’s Posse to encompass most of Belen’s Eagle Park. As the years have gone on, not only has the venue changed but so has the number of guests, making it the World’s Largest Matanza with over 10,000 visitors.

Culture

Thrifting with consciousness: Gen Z fashion at UNM

Alyssa Martinez and Joseph McKee | February 11

Fashion fads, polarized politics and the digital documentation of Generation Z are establishing the social atmosphere of the 2020s. These four University of New Mexico undergraduates spoke about their thoughts on what the commencement of the decade means to them.

Culture

The Aux: Broadway’s 'The Book of Mormon' visits Popejoy

Loreena Cain | February 11

Popejoy Hall welcomed the raucous musical "The Book of Mormon" for the third time from Feb. 4 to Feb. 9. The show, which keeps audiences laughing for the entirety of its two-and a half-hour run time, has garnered praise nationally for its catchy songs, elaborate group dance numbers and the humorous way it deals with themes such as racism, religion and poverty. "The Book of Mormon" won nine Tony Awards — including Best Musical in 2011 — and has been running on Broadway for nearly nine years since March of 2011.

Culture

UNM student brings in psychedelic art show

Annya Loya | February 11

University of New Mexico student Lacey Chrisco joined the staff at the Albuquerque Museum to introduce the rock poster exhibition "Dreams Unreal." This new display features about 150 psychedelic posters that advertise concerts and events, mostly from late 1960s San Francisco. It premiered at the Albuquerque Museum on Jan. 11 and will run until April 12. "The exhibition describes the cultural and artistic influences that led to the creation of the posters and focuses on the most prominent poster artists of the time," Chrisco said.

Culture

Lobo Gardens rebuilds after years of struggle

Amanda Britt | February 11

Since its beginning, Lobo Gardens has been a place for the students, created by the students. A little over ten years ago Alex Borowski, a then-freshman living in Hokona Hall, planted a garden in the courtyard outside the student living facility. Shortly after, the garden was taken down by the Physical Plant Department for not having the proper plans or permission to form a garden. Over the past decade, building and maintaining its successor — Lobo Gardens — to its full potential has been a struggle, both with organizing a team and making sure the plants are tended to year-round, according to Monica Kowal, the associate dean in the Office of Community Engaged Learning & Research. Kowal said one of the biggest hurdles of her job is finding space and funding to make the gardens an actual living-learning classroom that's accessible to every student on campus.

Culture

Remixing art at the UNM Art Museum

Loreena Cain | February 11

In a new installation at the University of New Mexico Art Museum, León De la Rosa-Carrillo remixes art and culture in his art installation "The Remix Room." "The Remix Room," which Rosa-Carrillo has been working on since 2013, opened Feb. 7 and will remain in the upper gallery at the UNM Art Museum until May 9. The installation consists of five different stations of mixed media arts. Some of the stations are interactive, and most of them consist of multiple works of art. The exhibit includes remixed videos, embroidery, lenticular posters, books and a short story displayed prominently on the wall.

Culture

Langston Hughes Project celebrates Harlem Renaissance centennial

Makayla Grijalva | February 11

In celebration of Black History Month, the Langston Hughes Project is commemorating 100 years since the Harlem Renaissance through two concerts and a master lecture. "I think (Langston Hughes) transcended the Harlem Renaissance," said event organizer and associate professor of literary studies Finnie Coleman. "But, not very many other authors are thought of outside of the Harlem Renaissance." The Ron McCurdy Quartet will perform the Langston Hughes poem "Ask Your Mama: The Twelve Moods of Jazz" on two separate occasions. The first performance will be held at Popejoy Hall on Friday, Feb. 21 and will be free to all.

Culture

The gamers of Zimmerman

Bianca Hoops | February 10

They refer to themselves as "the dark web version" of a game club and typically spend their time playing League of Legends or various board games deep inside of Zimmerman Library randomly throughout the week. The informal club started as a group study time for these STEM students but evolved into a combination of studying and battling one another for fun. It began last semester with people joining in as time went along, according to one member. This member, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he’s been playing League of Legends for nine years and started this trend with another friend. Most of the group requested anonymity because they said they didn't want this story to affect their standing as science, technology, engineering and math students.

Culture

Photo Story: Bosque nature walk highlights importance of cottonwoods

Liam Debonis | February 6

As the sun rose early Sunday morning, eager hikers gathered at the Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center for the monthly “Bosque Wild!” guided nature walk. Richard Shackley, a volunteer steward at the center, led the group out of the building and into the desert forest towards the east. “Open Space aims to protect and preserve the natural environment,” Shackley said. According to the City of Albuquerque’s webpage, the Open Space program began in 1969, and now oversees nearly 30,000 acres of land. One of the most important hallmarks of this section is the cottonwood tree.

Culture

AASS raises the Pan-African flag to kick-off Black History Month

Fischer Knapp | February 5

University of New Mexico’s African American Student Services (AASS) celebrated the start of Black History Month with the raising of the Pan-African flag on Monday, Feb. 3. The event began with over a dozen students marching from African American Student Services at Mesta Vista Hall to Scholes hall, where the Pan-African flag was raised alongside the United States and New Mexico flags. “Personally, this event means a lot to me. We’re here at a university where the population of black people is under 5%” said Mateo Wells, a sophomore film and digital media student at UNM, “For us to be able to raise the flag, everybody on campus can see that at any time. That means a lot because it means the university is also standing with us and celebrating and commemorating Black History.”

Culture

Traveling art exhibit shakes New Mexico

Annya Loya | February 5

A new art installment, “Sayaka Ganz- Reclaimed Creations,” opened at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science with seemingly in motion sculptures purely made out of plastic items. The exhibit opened on Jan. 10 and will be part of the museum’s attractions until May 17. It can be accessed with normal museum admission. Created by artist Sayaka Ganz and produced by David J. Wagner, LLC, “Sayaka Ganz-Reclaimed Creations” is a series composed of over 10 pieces — some in motion. All of the sculptures are represented by animals and made completely out of plastic objects of various tones.

Culture

Photo Story: Electric Playhouse grand opening

Emille Domschot | February 2

The Electric Playhouse, an innovative new space bringing together art and community in Albuquerque’s West side, launched its grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 1. Among the sizable group gathered in front of the doors for the ribbon cutting were representatives from the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, and the ABQ West Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Tim Keller and his family were also in attendance. As the doors were opened, the whole crowd pressed forward to explore the space.

Culture

Author Layla Saad on combating white supremacy

Loreena Cain | February 2

Layla Saad, author of “Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor” visited Bookworks in Albuquerque as a stop on her national book tour. The Jan. 31 event filled the small store, leaving only standing room after the chairs were filled. Saad spoke not only about her book but about racism and how it appears especially in liberal white women.

Culture

Sorority celebrates 100 years

Beatrice Nisoli | January 29

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., an internationally renowned and historically black Greek-lettered sorority, recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary on Jan. 16. The sorority was first founded on Howard University’s campus in response to the want for a sister chapter to the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and an overall desire to champion educational and service-based pursuits for the black community. Since its historical conception with only five female founders, Zeta Phi Beta has grown considerably while celebrating significant firsts; for example, the sorority was the first to charter a chapter in Africa.

Culture

Board of Regents seeks community input in new UNM seal selection

Beatrice Nisoli | January 29

The University of New Mexico is changing its seal from the current interim design, but this time, the school is seeking input from its student and alumni population. Prior to 2016, protests arose — primarily from Native American student groups such as Kiva Club and The Red Nation — regarding the previous seal, which featured a conquistador brandishing a sword and a rifle-carrying frontiersman. Many students expressed discomfort with this seal due to New Mexico’s violent history that ensued from Spanish exploration. The discourse for a new seal culminated in the suspension of UNM’s previous seal in 2016. Shortly afterwards, the Board of Regents passed a resolution directing the Provost to formulate a committee for designing and selecting a new University seal. In the meantime, an interim seal with the University’s name and founding date was and is being utilized.

Culture

History professor commissioned to paint mural on history of IT in NM

Daniel Ward | January 26

Information technology (IT) is a large component to the development of our future, but the perseverance and understanding of its history is equally important for societal improvement. University of New Mexico History Professor Taylor Spence is helping to share the connection between IT and History through his mural “Can You Hear I.T.?” The mural project first started taking root in the summer, 2019 when Associate Provost Pamela Cheek recommended Spence as a prime candidate to paint a mural for the IT department. “I knew that Dr. Spence had been a professional muralist prior to arriving at UNM and that his work as a historian and teacher gave him insight into the UNM community,” Cheek said.

Culture

Star of Netflix's "You" talks at UNM about his Baha’i faith

Bianca Hoops | January 23

Penn Badgley, star of the Netflix series “You,” spoke at the Student Union Building Wednesday night about his faith in the Baha’i religion. The University of New Mexico Baha’i Association along with a variety of volunteers put together this event to draw in students to learn about the teachings of the Baha’i. Badgley was asked to come through a mutual friend of Stephen Morris, the President of the UNM Baha’i Association. He was not compensated for speaking at the event. The goal of the talk, the first in their spring series, was to get someone significant to speak about this religion to get students interested in Baha’i, Morris said.

Culture

Youth organization holds climate protest at Roundhouse

Justin Garcia | January 22

As the climate warms, the guillotine will fall on the necks of children. That was the message Youth United for Climate Action (YUCA) hoped New Mexico legislators derived from an elaborate demonstration outside the Roundhouse on the opening day of the 2020 session. “We need lawmakers to consider the impact of their decision on us, on indigenous communities on the frontlines, and on future generations,” high school seniors Seneca Johnston and Veroaylin Campos said to a crowd of supporters and onlookers.

Culture

NM Mother of the Year recognized for giving back

Beatrice Nisoli | January 22

Robin Brule, an Albuquerque resident and fellow Lobo, was named the 44th New Mexico Mother of the Year earlier this month. Her advocacy for mothers in the workplace, flexible balancing of her own professional and family life and her philanthropic contributions to her community earned her the nomination. Brule said she considers the title to be a “heartfelt, unexpected honor and privilege,” and that it reflects how honoring her own mother and supporting motherhood, in general, has been a consistent theme in her life.