Culture

News

A Good Friday trek on Tomé

Matthew Reisen | April 16

Light blues seeped into the desert sky as we trudged up the steep side of Tomé Hill. The trail was still isolated, save for a few people. As we rushed to the top, anxious to see the sunrise, I noticed a woman stepping very slowly. Once I was closer I noticed that her feet were bare upon the jagged rocks. She carried her shoes as tears streamed down her face. That was when it sunk in; the full magnitude of what this pilgrimage means to so many. Once at the top, we found ourselves among a group of about 20 people, surrounded by three huge crosses permanently fixed into the hill.

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Culture

Music professor retires after 33 years teaching clarinet

Troy Amato | April 12

After over three decades at UNM, clarinet and saxophone player and music professor Keith Lemmons celebrated his teaching career with a farewell performance last night. A quintet started 33 years ago by Lemmons called the New Mexico Winds played a composition of flute, oboe, bassoon and horn, with Lemmons on clarinet. The Winds’ performance was a culmination of everything Lemmons has learned teaching clarinet and saxophone at UNM. “I came [to UNM] in the fall of 1984, 33 years ago,” Lemmons said. “I grew up in the Midwest, in Iowa and Kansas. I went to a small school in Kansas, Pittsburg University, a regional school with around 8,500 kids.”

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Culture

Opera singer to explore love, lust and bullfighting at graduation recital

Ariel Lutnesky | April 12

With graduation near, Estefania Wilcox, a graduate student who is studying the human voice, is gearing up for her final recital as a UNM student. Wilcox has been singing ever since she can remember. It all started with her family, she said. “The earliest memory that I have is of the women in my family singing to me,” Wilcox said. “My grandmother, my mom and my aunt always sang to me and I loved to sing with them. My grandmother taught me how to harmonize.” Wilcox said she tended to love classical and lyrical music, although she did have a Spice Girls phase. She took piano lessons and sang choir in high school.

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Culture

Fiestas 2017 delivers a festival experience in miniature form

Fin Martinez | April 9

In an age where giant music festivals in isolated deserts and forests cater to trust-fund royalty kids, famous ravers and those with enough money to afford to go on weeklong benders, it’s a gem to find a free music festival. ASUNM’s “Fiestas” has been going on for the past 50 years, or so they say, but really it seems that it made its real debut in 2013. That year, artists like Zion-I and Tritonal played to a crowd of elated students fueled by vices and pure happiness that big name artists had come to their relatively obscure hometown. Some, like event-goer Chris Moore, wondered “Why wasn’t there cool stuff like this when I was going to school?” Maybe the answer lies in the rise of giant music festivals, with their multiple stages and jam-packed crowds.

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Culture

Aikido club teaches a peaceful style of self defense

Ariel Lutnesky | April 9

The future of Aikido, a Japanese martial art centered around self-defense, is in the west, according to longtime practitioner Nicholas Johnson. “If you're in America and you're able to go to a dojo, it's a really prime time to take advantage of that,” said Johnson, who is the president of Aikido at the University of New Mexico, a student organization focused on the art. One way anyone in Albuquerque, can start training in Aikido is by joining his club. “It's not exactly like a rigorous training program, so if you're looking to get ripped in 60 days, it’s not going to do that for you — but it is physical,” Johnson said. “Even if you're scared of any physical thing, or if you've never done any martial arts before, it's no problem. It's really great for getting in touch with your body.”

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Culture

Exhibit highlights UNM's role in New Deal

Nichole Harwood | April 9

UNM will be hosting an exhibit in Zimmerman Library this week focusing on the University’s participation in New Deal programming, as both a recipient of the funds provided from the federal program created by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s. This exhibit, titled “A New Deal at UNM: federal funding transformation of the 1930s,” will run from Tuesday through the beginning of August. “The exhibit is installed in the Center for Southwest Research. It is our own exhibit, using materials from the Center for Southwest Research special collections and some from UNM Art Museum collections,” said Audra Bellmore, UNM associate professor with the Center for Southwest Research.

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News

Students form campus group to promote mental health

Nichole Harwood | April 5

In a time when nearly 20 percent of Americans suffer from some form of mental illness, a group of students has started a UNM chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI is the largest grassroots organization addressing mental illness in the U.S, and UNM’s newly formed chapter is joining that fight. “Most people that are going to suffer from mental mental illness in their lifetime are going to be diagnosed by the time they're 25,” said Matthew Rush, a UNM graduate pursuing his PHD and the president of NAMI UNM. NAMI UNM is in its first semester as an on-campus affiliate, having been only recently recognized by the national organization it shares its name with. NAMI UNM became an official affiliate on Feb. 24, just months before Mental Health Month, which begins in May.

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Culture

Parkour instructor turns campus into his playground

Troy Amato | April 5

19-year-old freerunner and parkour coach from Taos and UNM Freshman Payton Hanna is a rarity in his community. Hanna has been freerunning for four years now and hopes to continue to push the boundaries of the sport. Hanna said UNM’s unique and mobile campus made it a big draw for an avid freerunner such as himself. “UNM is one of the best places I’ve found for parkour and freerunning, with walls everywhere and jumps and things — it’s a parkour paradise! It kind of drew me into UNM and I love it,” Hanna said. “I started a freerunning program at Ninja Park, a ‘Ninja Warrior’ gym just north of campus, that focuses on parkour and freerunning. I just started in January, but I’ve been an instructor for two years.”

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Culture

Trumpet Week will show off music students' horn skills

Troy Amado | April 5

From April 8 through 12, UNM’s Department of Music will be hosting “Trumpet Week,” a special concert series organized by Professor John Marchiando. Trumpet Week features an array of events featuring UNM students, faculty, and guest trumpeters. “Trumpet Week was conceived to feature all that the trumpet has become to the Department of Music at UNM,” Marchiando said. “From the guest artists to the students, faculty and alumni of the studio, everything is featured during the week.” The inspiration was to give the community and students at UNM something that would be a fun event to participate in, but also to bring some visibility to what we do in the Music Department as a whole, he said.

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Culture

SWFC Preview: 'Manchester by the Sea' delivers Oscar-winning performances

Fin Martinez | April 5

The Southwest Film Center is once again bringing a critically acclaimed film to its theaters from April 7 to 10 in the UNM SUB. Following their presentation of “Moonlight” earlier this semester, SWFC is screening the award-winning film “Manchester by the Sea,” directed by Kenneth Lonergan, famous for his legendary film “Gangs of New York.”

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Culture

Local MC's album release party will feature live painting, fat beats

Troy Amato | April 2

Local hip-hop artist and MC Def-I will premiere his newest project “Arrow•Rhymanics” in a special CD release party at the Launchpad on Saturday, April 8. A unique blend of live music and art, Def-I’s CD release will be a 21+ event that features many of Albuquerque’s newest and hottest MC’s, producers, and artists. “This is my fourth solo independent album, but it has various features and production from across the country. The name of the album is 'Arrow•Rhymanics' and it came about as my follow up to the last album, titled 'Shields for Raining Arrows.’” Def-I said. “I have many influences from all over, but my favorite MC and producer who highly influenced this album is Evidence of Dilated Peoples. I've been a fan of his and friend over the years.”

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Culture

Ongoing exhibit seeks to destroy stigma of mental illness

Nichole Harwood | April 2

The special exhibit titled “PhotoVoice: Untold Minds” has been on display at the UNM Zimmerman Library since the end of March, and will be holding a special event on Thursday, where individuals will be given the opportunity to meet PhotoVoice artists and mentors in the library from noon to 1:30 p.m. Michele Herling, executive director for Compassionate Touch Network, said the Mental Health Resource Center Fair which will take place the same day and will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the UNM SUB.

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Culture

SWFC Preview: "Get A Job"

Fin Martinez | March 29

On Friday, the ASUNM Southwest Film Center will be screening 2016’s “Get a Job.” This film is directed by Dylan Kidd, whose credits include 2002’s “Roger Dodger,” 2004’s “P.S.,” and two episodes of the cult Adult Swim series “Children’s Hospital.” The film tells the story of Will Davis (Miles Teller), a recent college graduate, who is eagerly setting foot into the real world of video production only to find that the position he was originally supposed to have was cut by the production company due to downsizing.

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Culture

Dance marathon hopes to raise $50,000 for children's hospitals

Nichole Harwood | March 29

The fourth annual LoboTHON will be coming to the UNM Johnson Center on April 1 to help raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals around the nation and UNM Children’s Hospital. LoboTHON is both an event and an organization that hosts events year-round, and the upcoming dance marathon lasts for 13.1 hours and is described as “a party with a purpose.” The idea of LoboTHON was created by UNM alumni Jenna Hagengruber and Kyle Stepp back in the 2013-2014 school year, said Jessica Marrello, executive director of LoboTHON.

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Culture

Oboist hopes her music gives people joy

Ariel Lutnesky | March 29

In our childhood many of us were handed a recorder that enable us to learn how to play music. Hardly any of us stuck to it, however, and some of us used it as a springboard to other types of instruments, like the flute or the oboe. That’s exactly what Lisa White did. “When I was 13, a teacher suggested that I take up the oboe, and not knowing the oboe from a bar of soap, I said yes,” said White, a graduate student studying music.

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Culture

Rocket Man takes Albuquerque on a "timeless flight"

Matthew Reisen | March 26

On Wednesday night, something amazing happened. I had the craziest dream. It all started at an Elton John concert in Tingley Coliseum, where me and a friend had procured two $50 general admission tickets. With delusions of grandeur, we snuck from our nosebleed section seats into the pit, hoping to blend into the crowd at the edge of the arena. As the lights came down and music royalty took the stage, we looked at each other, in disbelief that we pulled it off. Within moments of this telepathic celebration, a man with a flashlight approached us and I thought for sure the jig was up.

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Culture

Wolf Fest aims to save wolves, educate humans

Ariel Lutnesky | March 26

UNM Biology Undergraduate Society (BUGS) has been working hard to put together Wolf Fest, an event dedicated to wolf conservation and educating the public about wolves, alongside their cosponsor, UNM Wilderness Alliance. According to Ryann Carter, one of the BUGS co-presidents, it’s been a challenge planning Wolf Fest. “I've been able to learn how to network with different groups on campus, whether it’s student organizations, the activities office, the Parking and Transportation or Safety and Risk department,” Carter said. “I've had to fill out paperwork, I've had to get copies of insurance for live animals and pay service fees for things and rent tents, so it's really taught me a lot of life skills.”

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Culture

Rocket Man takes Albuquerque on a "timeless flight"

Matthew Reisen | March 26

On Wednesday night, something amazing happened. I had the craziest dream. It all started at an Elton John concert in Tingley Coliseum, where me and a friend had procured two $50 general admission tickets. With delusions of grandeur, we snuck from our nosebleed section seats into the pit, hoping to blend into the crowd at the edge of the arena. As the lights came down and music royalty took the stage, we looked at each other, in disbelief that we pulled it off. Within moments of this telepathic celebration, a man with a flashlight approached us and I thought for sure the jig was up.

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Culture

Engineers Without Borders helps communities solve problems

Nichole Harwood | March 26

For nearly a decade, a student group has been training engineers and helping small communities around the world. Engineers Without Borders UNM is a local chapter of EWB-USA, its parents organization, and aims to build a better world through engineering projects that empower communities to meet their basic human needs and equip leaders to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. “Our mission is two parts and focuses on two groups, one being the communities we work with,” said Santiago Trujillo, chapter president of EWB-UNM, “We build a better world by implementing a professional engineering process to assess a community’s needs, design, implement and assess a sustainable product through engineering practices that provide communities with the aid to meet their basic human needs.”

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Culture

UNM Hobbit Society digs deep into Middle Earth

Ariel Lutnesky | March 22

We may only be able to go to J. R. R. Tolkien’s Shire in our imagination with the help of his books and Peter Jackson’s movies, but at the UNM Honors College Forum, club members meet to do the second best thing: dive as deep as possible into Tolkien’s world. The club is called UNM Hobbit Society and is run by Tessa Snyder, the club’s president, and Sarah Collins, the vice president. “We try to bring in all different kinds of literature and popular culture and talk about how maybe it was influenced by Tolkien and his work,” Collins said. “He was considered by a lot of people to be the first of his kind, and everything kind of stems from that. So not only do we talk about the movies and the books and his life and everything, but we also to bring in a lot of different topics.”