Culture

News

Grad Issue: Johnny Ngo proud to be first in family to graduate

Nichole Harwood | December 10

As Johnny Ngo prepares to leave the University of New Mexico behind, his experiences will remain with him. “I've met a lot of prodigious advisors, professors and students, which made my time at the University memorable. Some courses and experiences that really opened up my mind were taking a class on curanderismo with Dr. Cheo Torres, a gender and communication (course) with Dr. Shinsuke Eguchi and various rhetoric courses with Dr. Michelle Kells,” Ngo said. He will earn a bachelor's degree in communications and law with a minor in technical and professional writing for the Fall 2017 semester.

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News

Grad Issue: Joseph DiVincenzo proves it's never too late to finish school

Tom Hanlon | December 10

Joseph DiVincenzo is the self-described poster child for why it is never too late to go back to school. DiVincenzo, 48, is about to receive his bachelor’s degree in accounting. After a long journey of working at restaurants, call centers and taking a few college-level classes before deciding to earn a degree in accounting, he reflected on his choice to go to college at a non-traditional time in his life. “I’m relieved, thrilled. I never thought that I would actually get my bachelor’s in accounting, never thought I’d be a college graduate,” DiVincenzo said.

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News

Grad Issue: After 25 years, Hugh Rosen finds college has changed

Gabby Rivera | December 10

Increasingly, a college degree is a standard requirement in many job markets. Even those with many years of professional experience are finding that without a degree, job prospects can be severely limited. It’s become a common sentiment: “In order for me to get ahead, I needed a higher degree.” Hugh Rosen, a non-traditional student who is back in college for the third time, said this was his motivation for attending the University of New Mexico and graduating with a degree in organizational leadership.

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News

Grad Issue: Amelia Rose Teicher doesn't regret taking time in school

Rebecca Brusseau | December 10

As an incoming freshman at the University of New Mexico, Amelia Rose Teicher assumed her career path would include pursuing math, but her life took a different turn. Teicher knew she had many interests and confidence in her ability to thrive in many different fields of study. Teicher, now 29, is graduating from UNM with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her time in college, Teicher experienced hard times trying to manage school while suffering from an eating disorder and depression.

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Culture

Twinkle Light Parade illuminates ABQ

Amy Byres | December 4

The Albuquerque Twinkle Light Parade dazzled the community with 109 different entries Saturday. “The parade is a holiday tradition that brings families, friends and co-workers together, both for the people in the parade as well as the 30,000 people that get together to watch the parade. Nob Hill is beaming with parade watchers from Washington to Girard,” said Bree Ortiz, events and operations manager of the city of Albuquerque. Throughout the night, a panel of seven judges observed the festivities.

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Culture

Review: "Three Billboards" provides tasteful social critique

Hector Valverede | December 3

Seven months after her daughter was violently raped and death of her daughter, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) rents out three billboards on a rural road just outside her hometown of Ebbing in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Let down by the police’s lack of results after seven months, Mildred calls out the police chief (Woody Harrelson) on the billboards in bold black letters behind a striking scarlet background: "Raped while dying," "And still no arrests," "How come, Chief Willoughby?"

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Culture

UNM holds fashion show for World AIDS Day

Rebecca Brusseau | December 3

On Dec. 1, the University of New Mexico LGBTQ Resource Center held a fashion show to help raise awareness for World AIDS Day. “Passion for Fashion” was a competition at the Student Union Building between a team from the Provost’s office and a team from the Women’s Resource Center. The teams were required to create an outfit out of expired condoms and various materials in a strict time limit of 20 minutes. The Provost office’s team, who went with a look inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Lenny Kravitz, was named the winner of the competition.

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Culture

Review: "My Friend Dahmer" offers mind-blowing experience

Timber Mabes | December 3

“My Friend Dahmer” allowed audience members the brain-bending experience of walking alongside the Milwaukee Cannibal during his teenage years, on his path to becoming a serial killer. Actors Ross Lynch as Jeffrey Dahmer and Alex Wolff as John "Derf" Backderf starred in the film adaptation of Backderf’s graphic novel. Director Marc Meyers did nothing less than bring the graphic novel to life in his recreation of the sad and haunting story. The coming-of-age horror story pulled at my heartstrings, took my breath away and left me speechless at the end.

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Culture

The hoops that Dreamers jump through for citizenship

Amy Byres | December 3

For DACA recipient and University of New Mexico student Sofia Angulo, becoming a citizen has been difficult. “People say, ‘Oh, well, why don’t you just become a citizen?’ Well, because I can’t...I’ve been here since I was 3-years-old and I’m still not even a resident. I’m 100 percent basically undocumented, besides DACA,” said the criminology and anthropology double major. Because of Angulo’s dilemma with her citizenship status, her future has become unclear.

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Culture

Musical explores comedic, macabre themes

Sherri Barth | December 3

Greed, love, rejection and acceptance are one man’s total obsession in this tale brought to life at the Popejoy Hall stage. Tony Award-winning Broadway Musical, “A Gentleman’s Guide To Love & Murder,” travels to the Edwardian era in the life of a simple, poor man Monty D'Ysquith Navarro. Playwright Robert Freedman and author Steve Lutvak were motivated by the allegory of Roy Horniman’s 1907 novel, “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal,” and the film, “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” to create a sinister, yet entertaining climb of one man’s creative flight for recognition and wealth through murder and deception. 

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Culture

UNM hosts typewriter writing challenge

Ariel Lutnesky | November 30

If you like to write poetry, nonfiction essays or short fiction and plays, then the Indigenous Nations Library Program has a challenge that’s just for you. The program is hosting the Typewriter Challenge: Indigenous Writing, a competition for writers to submit their work, as long as it was written on a typewriter. Kevin Brown, the program specialist for the Indigenous Nations Library Program, said that the program gives students writing and research support. The idea for the Typewriter Challenge came to him when students asked him for writing advice.

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Culture

UNM prepares for Hanging of the Greens tradition

Amy Byres | November 30

Roughly 14,000 luminarias will cover the campus Friday as part of the University of New Mexico’s oldest tradition, the Hanging of the Greens. The festivities will begin at 5:45 p.m. with caroling in front of the Bookstore. Participants will proceed to the University House where UNM students will present the official wreath to the UNM president. The event will run until 8 p.m. “Hanging of the Greens was started by Mortar Board in the 1950s. Chapter members would go up into the Sandia Mountains to gather evergreen bows to decorate the library and University House,” said Anna Allison, president of Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society. “It transitioned over the years to include the New Mexico tradition of holiday luminarias, and we have kept the ‘greens’ part of the tradition by presenting the UNM president with a holiday wreath to hang above the gates of University House.”

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News

Giving Tree gives UNM community donation platform

Amy Byres | November 30

Now through Dec. 8, the University of New Mexico community will have the opportunity to give to children in need through the annual Giving Tree, organized by the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico. This year gifts are donated to the UNM Children's Hospital, Albuquerque Public Schools Title I and the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. A tree in the Student Union Building Atrium is filled with ornaments that have a tag attached to them from a child in need. Each tag lists something a child wants for the holiday season.

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Culture

College of Fine Arts Downtown Studio connects students and community

Ariel Lutnesky | November 30

Among the various opportunities around campus to exhibit, publish or play students’ work, the College of Fine Arts Downtown Studio offers a space for students that lets their work be a little bit more immersed in the community. As the title suggests, this gallery is located in Downtown Albuquerque. Lara Goldmann, the gallery’s manager and curator, tells of how this fairly new space got started. “The city of Albuquerque made an agreement with the College of Fine Arts to give us a space downtown...if we occupy it with creative content in some way and reach out to the Downtown community,” Goldmann said.

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Culture

After DACA, Lupe Cordova finally felt included

Amy Byres | November 26

Lupe Cordova applied for citizenship 18 years ago — but the process was never finalized. “One of the most frustrating things is that people think, ‘Just go apply,’” she said. “I get so angry when they say, ‘Just go apply; it's not that hard to apply for citizenship.’ I'm like, ‘I did that 18 years ago, and it's still in the process of me becoming a citizen.’” Cordova, a student at the University of New Mexico, said when she was about 5-years-old, her parents were divorced, and her mother brought her to the United States, where most of her mother’s family lived.

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Culture

Holiday Craft Show shows off the work of local businesses

Nichole Harwood | November 26

The University of New Mexico’s Continuing Education held its second Annual Holiday Craft Show on Small Business Saturday, promoting the work and creations of many Albuquerque vendors. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the free crafts show welcomed patrons of all ages to enjoy the work of its 45 vendors. The event, organized by local vendor Kyle Toya-Pino of Kyle's Antique Creel, offered a variety of options for those looking to shop for the holidays, with items ranging from handmade, decorated shelves to jewelry to metal works. The event also included a raffle and handcrafted giveaways.

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News

Harry Potter Day brings magic to the SUB

Tom Hanlon | November 25

The wizarding world of Harry Potter came to life Tuesday when the Student Union Building buzzed with the sights and sounds of the fourth annual Harry Potter Day. The celebration, hosted by the University of New Mexico Student Activities Center and Associated Students of UNM, included: a trivia contest, photo booth complete with props, button making station where students could choose Harry Potter quotes and images to press into a button, facepainting, cookies and free “butterbeer.” Ryan Lindquist, interim director of UNM Student Activities, said Harry Potter Day is a way for students to relax before the two weeks leading up to final exams.

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News

Friendsgiving provides support for LGBTQ students

Rebecca Brusseau | November 22

It can be difficult to go home for the holidays. It can be even more difficult for members of the LGBTQ community, according to Arielle Scherrer of the LGBTQ Resource Center. The LGBTQ Resource Center opened its doors to students and members of the community Wednesday to celebrate Friendsgiving. “The purpose of this event is to create a safe place for LGBTQ students who cannot go home for the holidays and have to go back into the closet and hide who they are,” Scherrer said. “This is a meal and an event where people can just be themselves and enjoy the company of others.”

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Culture

Comedic giant David Sedaris visits UNM

Aaron Cowan | November 20

Acclaimed author and comedy writer David Sedaris regaled a capacity crowd at Popejoy Hall with readings from his essays and diaries during his one-night appearance Friday Nov. 17. Audiences roared consistently, as he unleashed a steady stream of his well-tested comedic musings. The crowds seemed rapt by his skillful mixture of sometimes bawdy prose, along with random observations about things such as how toenails taste or how to pronounce “fresh avocados.”

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Culture

Philharmonic showcases work by Led Zeppelin

Timber Mabes | November 20

The New Mexico Philharmonic performed at the University of New Mexico’s Popejoy Hall Saturday night, but this was not one of their typical concerts. “Stairway to Heaven, “Good Times and Bad Times” and “Whole Lotta Love” filled the air, as this concert showcased the music of rock band Led Zeppelin and featured screaming fans and electric guitar solos. The musicians created an event that mixed classical music with upbeat hard-core rock.