Culture

Culture

Review: Constellations provides a unique love story

Skylar Griego | February 26

Every life decision has a minimum of two outcomes. Some have significantly more than that. The multiverse theory, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, states that every one of these decisions at a quantum level creates parallel universes in which each of the different outcomes of those decisions occurs. The plot of “Constellations” by Nick Payne revolves around this idea. For the duration of the play, audience members follow the relationship(s) of Marianne and Roland, two ordinary people whose fates become tied from the moment they meet.

---

Culture

Mountain Head comes out on top at Fight for Fiestas

Skylar Griego | February 25

The competition for Fight for Fiestas 2016 came to a head Tuesday night when the judges finally announced the winning band. Five groups, each specializing in a different genre, were given 15 minutes on stage to impress the judges and more importantly, the audience for a spot in Fiestas de Albuquerque, a festival held every spring.

---

Culture

Column: McMahon is only hurting Reigns

Thomas Romero-Salas | February 25

The determination Vince McMahon has to get Roman Reigns over with the crowd is just amazing. No matter how much the WWE fans reject Reigns, it just seems to give McMahon more motivation to try to prove that Reigns is indeed what the fans want. If Monday’s Raw was any indication, Reigns isn’t anywhere close to being the company’s top baby face.

---

Culture

Albuquerque musicians prepare to battle for Fiestas

Audrin Baghaie | February 23

A selection of local bands will battle it out for victory at the annual Fight for Fiestas on Tuesday night in the SUB Ballroom for the honor of playing live at Fiestas in April. The battle features bands spanning multiple genres such as rock, hip-hop, metal, electronic dance music, jazz and more. Fight for Fiestas is organized by ASUNM, specifically by Student Special Events and spearheaded by SSE Cultural Director Tatiana Solis. “In preparation for our big music festival, we have a battle of the bands, Fight For Fiestas, where UNM students who play music can audition to compete," she said. “In this competition, the crowd, along with the SSE directors, votes for who they think is the best. The winner gets a slot in playing during Fiestas.”

---

Culture

Local artist keeps creating music after health scare

Audrin Baghaie | February 22

Amid a personal struggle between health issues and realizing his own creative vision, artist Aaron Trumm has worked relentlessly over the past 25 years to see his musical ideas come to life. Beginning in the early ‘90s, Trumm studied at UNM under the guidance of music department faculty member Manny Rettinger. At UNM, Trumm worked at Rettinger’s UBIK Studio as a production assistant, and with KNME as an in-house audio engineer. In his free time Trumm would fix up UNM’s basement studio, known then as the “elephant boneyard,” and record his first two solo albums.

---

Culture

Wrestling Column: Fastlane preview

Thomas Romero-Salas | February 19

The path to WrestleMania 32 is clear, but what will actually happen at the biggest show of the year isn’t. With about six weeks until WWE holds the biggest WrestleMania ever, there is still plenty of mystery of what the card will look like. In years past, most of the matches had been built up to some degree. However, thanks to a rash of injuries up and down the roster the card is still fluid.

---

Culture

Five and Why: Marissa Archuleta

Skylar Griego | February 18

Busy students who also work on campus don’t always have time to get through a book during the semester, so many of them enjoy watching movies instead. Marissa Archuleta, a sophomore communications and journalism and criminology double major who works in the Student Activities Center, said she enjoys using that time to watch ‘80s chick flicks, or other “girly movies.”

---

Movies

Review: Deadpool doesn't disappoint

David Lynch | February 17

It's almost a farce in itself, getting settled in to watch "Deadpool" as trailers for upcoming superhero flicks like "Batman v Superman" and "Captain America: Civil War" play, when we feel like we've seen those particular movies a dozen times already. Rest assured, Deadpool is the freshest Marvel entry since "Guardians of the Galaxy," combining the best elements of successful superhero films, with the creative freedom of an R rating and a passion to bring the spirit of Deadpool to the screen. The result is a thoroughly entertaining film that, while it grasps its title character’s unique nature by the horns, doesn’t go overboard with it.

---

Culture

Ugly Robot's Marshal Broyles talks about his many projects on and off campus

Audrin Baghaie | February 16

Originating from Albuquerque's indie music scene three years ago, local electronic-rock outfit Ugly Robot are taking venues by storm and exhibiting to listeners a unique take on multiple genres. From behind the curtain, audio engineer and multi-instrumentalist Marshall Broyles meticulously arranges sound for both his band and local artists, as well as for various events around UNM. Broyles works under the student body government as the executive director of Student Special Events. The SSE organizes a variety of affairs around UNM, ranging from the annual Fiestas event held on Johnson Field to more high-profile concerts, such as Jack White's performance at Popejoy Hall in February 2015.

---

Culture

KNOWHERE Concert to highlight original choreography

Isaiah Jordan | February 15

The KNOWHERE Concert focuses on UNM students performing new choreography in flamenco and contemporary dance that sets to inspire audiences in the performing arts and build confidence and professionalism in dancers. KNOWHERE allows students to engage and support their fellow Lobos in the dance department.

---

Culture

Program provides support for students making the transition to graduate studies

Isaiah Jordan | February 15

The UNM Ronald E. McNair and Research Opportunity Program has helped students with financial need and students who are part of underrepresented groups find opportunities in doctoral studies for years. Now, they are opening applications for an program online. The McNair and ROP Program was installed in 2,000 to help students transition from undergraduate to graduate studies. The program provides students with research opportunities from various mentors. By giving the students resources such as mentors, advisers and support from their peers, the program’s goal is to establish students in various graduate programs around the nation, allowing them to pursue their career. “The program works to narrow achievement gaps for people who don’t have a level playing field,” Sr. Student Program Advisor Kyle Farris said. “It is specifically to help underrepresented people have opportunities in continuing on to these levels of education.”

---

Culture

Alternative rock band Great States is comprised of Lobo pack members

Skylar Griego | February 12

Everyone’s a Lobo, or at least used to be. Members of alternative rock band Great States are proof of “once a Lobo, always a Lobo,” since all members are UNM alumni and said they’re still fond of their time here. In 2010, a series of coincidences (like random roommate assignments) brought keyboardist Sean Leston, front man Morgan Ching, bassist Eric Jecklin and drummer Ryan Rael together.

---

Culture

24th annual Young Artists' Competition allows musicians to display their talent

Skylar Griego | February 11

While many people will be spending Saturday preparing for Valentine’s Day, music students all over New Mexico will be playing their hearts out in Keller Hall. Saturday marks the 24th anniversary of the Jackie McGehee Young Artists’ Competition For Piano and Strings.

---

Culture

Column: It was fun, Daniel Bryan

Thomas Romero-Salas | February 10

There won’t be any more “Yes!” chants in a WWE ring.

---

Culture

Review: Hail, Caesar! blends comedy and suspense with retro style

David Lynch | February 10

Early on in Hail, Caesar!, the latest effort from Joel and Ethan Coen, Josh Brolin’s character Eddie Mannix describes the work being put into the titular film-within-a-film as passionate. “It’s never been told with this kind of distinction and panache,” he says. That’s how it goes with Hail, Caesar!, part period-centric mystery, part love letter to not just classic Hollywood, but Hollywood of any era. Eddie Mannix is in charge of keeping order at Capital Pictures Studios, and that’s easier said than done, what with his task of having to deal with incompetent actors, unsatisfied directors and vulture-like journalists. He has even more to juggle when A-list movie star and leading man of his film, Baird Whitlock, goes missing.

---

Culture

Albuquerque wrestlers back in business

Robert Maler | February 8

A local wrestling company overcame the odds to make a return to the ring on Saturday. John Gruen, a former UNM student, started Destiny Wrestling Organization with several of his friends in 2006. He said they all loved wrestling and decided to work together to take a chance. “We wanted to bring it back to the glory days when the Civic Center was still around and Rocky Romero, Terry Funk and Dory Funk used to come down from Amarillo and wrestle,” Gruen said.

---

Culture

Column: The New Day keep on shining

Thomas Romero-Salas | February 5

Less than two years ago, Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston and Big E were all toiling away in the midcard for WWE. None of them had any direction and each were seen as wrestlers who would never come close to sniffing the main event scene. It’s hard to believe how much has changed since the trio teamed up to become of WWE’s hottest attractions in The New Day late in 2014. The New Day has become one of WWE’s go to teams in the past year.

---

Culture

Q&A: Author Aerial Liese

Skylar Griego | February 4

Aerial “A.J.” Liese is a UNM alum who recently published a powerful memoir, “Three Promises For Jane: A True Story of Madness and Redemption.” Liese returned to UNM Wednesday morning to sign copies of her book and discuss the elements of the novel and her experience writing it.

---

Culture

Parade of Lights engages fans with their unique sound

Isaiah Jordan | February 4

For Parade of Lights the purpose of music is to engage others through their unique rock/electric sound and lyrics in order to relate and inspire others to be empowered to enjoy life. Parade of Lights is a band from the Los Angeles region that is currently on tour across the United States. The band comprises lead vocal and guitarist Ryan Daly, Anthony Improgo on the drums, Michelle Ashley on vocals and keyboard, and Randy Schulte on base.

---

Culture

5 & Why: Daniel Wolne

Skylar Griego | February 4

Everyone at UNM reads, but the reasons for doing so vary. Students read textbooks because it’s required and instructors read because they do a lot of research. Daniel Wolne, the associate director of the religious studies program, refers to this unavoidable reading as “professional reading.” Its counterpart, reading for personal enjoyment, consists of the non-work related books people enjoy in their spare time.