Lobos Basketball Tournament

UNM grad student advocates for youth literacy

  Inusah Mohammed, a University of New Mexico graduate student in the communication and journalism department, pursues an activist lifestyle that emphasizes the need for youth literacy. “I am involved with students and I'm involved with young ones. I always want young ones to go up, to come up, to rise up to the full potentialities of themselves,” Mohammed said. Mohammed studied marketing in his undergraduate degree, to which he said communication was central. He said this was especially helpful in his hometown Nima in Ghana to highlight various issues or topics.

UNM teach-in, benefit concert to be held in solidarity with Ukraine

  A teach-in and benefit concert to stand in solidarity with Ukraine will be held at the University of New Mexico’s Rodey Theater on Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. This event, which is a personal choice of entry for free or by donation, will feature musicians as well as activists, and all proceeds raised will go toward Ukrainian refugee relief efforts. Vitaliy Osmolovsky, an activist and grassroots organizer, will be joining from Poland via Zoom for the event. All funds raised will go to his organizing efforts, for which he has a supply list that addresses many different needs, some of which are for physical and mental health aid.

Incoming GPSA president to focus on inclusivity, sustainability

  With nearly half the votes secured to his name, University of New Mexico student Shaikh Ahmad won the 2022-23 Graduate and Professional Student Association presidential election for which voting ended on April 1. The results are still awaiting certification from the Elections Committee. Ahmad, a dual-degree student pursuing a Master of Science in information systems and assurance and a Master of Public Administration, is in his third year with GPSA. He plans to prioritize inclusivity of minority groups, holistic sustainability and communication in his term. A whopping seven candidates were vying for the role, although Paul Tice was found to be ineligible when voting started. 

REVIEW: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ is a hit in every universe

  While Marvel might be the predominant figure in the Hollywood sphere in terms of multiversal moviemaking, the concept doesn’t belong solely to them. Enter A24 and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the latest effort from directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, credited and more commonly referred to as Daniels, that’s just as large-scale and multidimensional as it is small-scale and heartfelt. I must admit that the trailers for the film made me skeptical. The googly eye jokes, people having hot dogs for fingers and a whole slew of other millennial-askew jokes made me more than doubtful of Daniels’ ability to follow up their charming and unique feature film debut “Swiss Army Man.”

REVIEW: ‘Our Flag Means Death’ charts new course for positive representation

  This review contains spoilers After scrounging up crumbs for positive representation, David Jenkins’ new series “Our Flag Means Death” on HBO Max shows what a queer rom-com set on the high seas during the golden age of piracy would look like. The 10-episode series dropped the first three 30-minute episodes on March 3, but it wasn’t until after the finale aired on March 24 that I even heard about the show due to HBO’s obscene lack of marketing. After being bombarded with people on my social media singing the sea shanty praises of the show, I queued it up and couldn’t help but consume it all within a day. 

Individuals with disabilities struggle at UNM amid ineffective ADA accessibility measures

  Over 30 years have passed since the Americans with Disabilities Act was first signed into law in the U.S. by former President George Bush. While the Act was a step forward for addressing accessibility issues, students and staff with disabilities at the University of New Mexico still face mobility issues due to ADA standards for historically significant buildings as well as construction and maintenance. Any building that was built before March 14, 2012 is not required to comply with the 2010 ADA revised codes, titled the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and are only required to bring the building up to code if they are planning a major renovation, according to Disability Rights New Mexico coordinator Bernadine Chavez. 

UNM men’s tennis dominates Boise State 4-0

  The University of New Mexico men’s tennis team beat the Boise State University Broncos 4-0 Sunday, April 10 in Albuquerque. The Lobos have a losing record of 8-10 on the season but are 2-1 so far in conference play.  Boise State is having a strong season with a 13-8 overall record and 2-2 record in conference play. Bronco Simon Arca Costas started the day on a five-game win streak with a 17-8 singles record, but Lobo Rafael Abdulsalam was able to break the streak in their singles match.  In the doubles matches, Lobos Alex Maggs and Jan Pucalka went against Broncos James Van Herzeele and Jan Lucca Marquardt. 

Lobos track and field teams go off to the races at spring invite

  The University of New Mexico track and field teams competed in the New Mexico Spring Invitational meet on Thursday, April 7 at the UNM Ssoccer Ccomplex. This was the first outdoor track and field meet that UNM has hosted this season. The spring invite is used by Lobo track and field athletes as a way to find where they need to improve to try to get on the team that travels for the season. A good number of the women’s team was away at the Jo Meaker Classic in Canyon, Texas.

UNM physics professor wins award, seeks to expand research opportunities for students

  Darcy Barron, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico with a Ph.D. in physics,  has research that’s taken her from the icy Midwest to the dry Atacama Desert of Chile, where she works with a team of collaborators twice a year to monitor the cosmic microwave background of the universe. Barron was recently awarded a Cottrell Scholar Award, which celebrates both her research and teaching achievements. The award, which maintains a three-tiered review process and a competitive 14 percent funding rate, will provide $100,000 over three years to support Barron’s research. 

Local artist imbues art with love and weed

  Cannabis has long inspired countless films, music, paintings and other forms of art that all center around an idea of cannabis culture, and Semaj Glover is one such artist inspired by cannabis. Glover not only features cannabis in her art but also attempts to remove the negative stigma around weed, encouraging a more positive attitude. Glover grew up in Oregon but moved to Albuquerque in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2021. While she was still an artist prior to the start of the pandemic, the free time afforded to her allowed her to sink deeper into her art than ever before. Semaj was raised in an environment of artists, something that has encouraged her to pursue art.

Comics April 4, 2022

Physical, mental benefits of cannabis amid stigmatized industry

  Despite a long list of positive effects, cannabis use still remains a taboo subject for some. While medical cannabis was legalized over a decade ago in New Mexico, recreational marijuana was only legalized last summer with retail sales having started on Friday, April 1. Jacob Vigil, associate professor in the University of New Mexico psychology department, and Sarah Stith, associate professor in economics, are married and have done both joint and separate research on cannabis specifically. Through this, they have found that it’s largely more beneficial than a lot of people think and believe it should be normalized in society.

UNM students vary in feelings on recreational weed

  Albuquerque has seen millions of dollars of profit made in the cannabis industry since recreational sales started on Friday, April 1 following the drug’s legalization last summer. This change has brought on a variety of reactions from University of New Mexico students, from indifference to opposition to support. Katy McCarter, a UNM student studying elementary education, said she doesn’t really mind the legalization because she personally doesn’t intake cannabis but that marijuana can be used to help others destress and unwind, which is especially important for students.  “A lot of people are stressed with school so, I mean, smoking here and there would probably chill you out a little (because) I know college can be stressful and just taking a hit would cool everything down,” McCarter said. 

Grass Roots Rx explores edible innovation

  Most are likely familiar with pot brownies, but what about pot oatmeal? Pot French toast? Desirey Vallejos, manager and master baker at Grass Roots Rx, is no stranger to the different forms edibles can come in. With the start of legal recreational cannabis sales in New Mexico on Friday, April 1, she offers new ways to ingest THC beyond the normal range of baked goods, both in what she sells at her shop and what individuals can make at home. Most medical patients are typically looking for something not only discreet and cost-effective but also fun, according to Vallejos, which she attempts to deliver.

Ask the Editors: Cannabis cinema

  As we remain in the weeds of a strenuous spring semester, we all may be searching for some ways to unwind and kick back. Given that this April brought with it the legalization of recreational cannabis sales in New Mexico and the 4/20 holiday, taking a load off and relaxing might become even easier. Here, three Daily Lobo editors have compiled their top picks for chill movies to watch when you’re looking for a way to just sit down and unwind. Joseph’s Pick: “The Endless Summer” (1966) directed by Bruce Brown

OPINION: Texas lags too far behind New Mexico in cannabis law

  It never fails to surprise me how much New Mexico and Texas, two states that share a border, differ in their views when it comes to marijuana. New Mexico made cannabis legal for recreational use as of June 29, and recreational sales began April 1. In contrast, cannabis is still illegal in Texas except for a small list of medical reasons and anything that doesn’t need to be smoked. I originally hail from ye olde Texas and moved here for university (go Lobos), where I witnessed a stark difference in the attitude toward cannabis. Cannabis is not something one just saw someone smoking on the street (although that’s still technically illegal in New Mexico). 

REVIEW: ‘Dazed and Confused’ sets high bar for ’90s flicks

  Whether you’re watching high or sober, Richard Linklater’s iconic 1993 movie “Dazed and Confused” hits all the right notes. This coming-of-age masterpiece features themes of rebellion and lasting friendship all overlaid with — you guessed it — some very potent marijuana imagery. Almost 30 years on, “Dazed and Confused” feels as fresh as ever with a killer soundtrack and marvelously endearing characters. While critically acclaimed, “Dazed and Confused” was a box office failure, earning $7.9 million worldwide, a number that’s barely above the film’s $6.9 million budget. However, it has gained and maintained a steady cult following, cementing it as quintessential viewing for anyone who has ever tried growing up. 

Many UNM students benefit from legalized cannabis usage

  Since cannabis was legalized recreationally last summer in New Mexico, University of New Mexico students have been able to legally partake in the drug, so long as they’re over 21. After recreational sales started on Friday, April 1, many students have said this chain of legalization will have many positive impacts on the local community and its members despite the misinformation that America’s war on drugs has produced. Cannabis can be used both medically and recreationally, according to graduate music student Sam Lutz, and the only drug he uses is cannabis. It helps him calm down, as it does for graduate music students Hunter Wheatcraft and Daniel Yim as well.

Cannabusiness unfolds in New Mexico

  Recreational cannabis storefronts opened on Friday, April 1, a year after the legislation was passed in the roundhouse in Santa Fe during the special session to legalize recreational cannabis. The bill allows anyone 21 and over in the state to purchase 2 oz (about 57 grams) of cannabis flower, 16 grams of extract and 800 mg of edibles at one time.  Many of the dispensaries in the state that are now able to start recreational sales were strictly medical prior to the new legislation and had to acquire a new license in the past year. 

The politics, impacts of legalized recreational cannabis and sales

  New Mexico is one of the most recent states to legalize cannabis recreationally, jumping on the bandwagon as the 17th state to legalize out of 18 so far. This recent move stems from decades-old political movements and increased acceptance of the drug on a local and national level. “I think over time, the science has evolved in a way and our attitudes have evolved in a way that (has) created political openings for legalizing marijuana at the state level … Legalization of marijuana has become a fairly popular thing,” said Timothy Krebs, University of New Mexico professor and department chair of political science.