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New Mexico film industry works to eradicate sexism

Sexism in the film industry has been ubiquitous since its inception. The #MeToo movement helped shed light on the experiences of actors and other women in the film industry who have been taken advantage of by men or not given the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Amber Dodson, the director of the New Mexico Film Office, has been working toward making the New Mexico film industry more inclusive for women. "After more research and talking to intimacy coordinators and directors and producers who have worked with (them), it became crystal clear that this was something we need to have in New Mexico," Dodson said in an interview with Southwest Contemporary. "(It's) something that we should put our Workforce Development Funds behind, something that we should get New Mexicans trained up to participate in and to help foster this new role, and to help New Mexico be a leader in the next era."

REVIEW: ‘Minari’: A gentle tale of the immigrant experience

If there were one thing that could connect almost every family living in the United States, it would be the immigrant figure. Perhaps one who came over from the east, greeted by the Statue of Liberty and landing on Ellis Island, or one who crossed the southern border without looking back, only looking forward to opportunities in a new home. These universal experiences are where “Minari,” released virtually on Feb. 12 by indie film company A24, finds its heart. “Minari” is a semi-autobiographical tale, written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, that follows a Korean family of four moving from California to Arkansas in search of a new life. Steven Yuen brilliantly portrays the father, Jacob Yi, who plans on starting a farm so that he and his wife, Monica Yi (played by Han Ye-ri) can abandon their makeshift careers as chicken sexers.

OPINION: Golden Globes fail to avoid controversy — again

In a year unlike any other for film and television, filmmakers, actors and crew members nevertheless persisted to get their work out in time to contend for the 2021 Golden Globes. No one was sure what the award ceremonies would look like, but now they know: sketchy comedy, Zoom acceptance speeches and predictable controversy. The Globes aired the evening of Feb. 28, and hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler — tuning in from opposite ends of the country — made short work of addressing the most pressing controversy. Both women called out the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which constitutes the voting body for the Golden Globes, for having zero representation of Black journalists within its 87 members.

Four students vying for ASUNM president

On March 8, undergraduate students can log onto their myUNM account to vote for one of four candidates running to lead the University of New Mexico’s undergraduate student government. The voting period will end at 5 p.m. on March 10. Noah Dowling-Lujan, Ricardo Hill, Jacob Olaguir and Greg Romero are the four candidates vying for the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico presidency this year, alongside their respective vice presidential running mates. Although the pairs are running coordinated campaigns — known as slates — students can vote for any combination of candidates. Earlier this week, the candidates held an online debate where they introduced themselves and described their platforms. A recording of that debate is available on the UNM Student Activities Center Youtube account.

Return to the Pit: UNM women’s basketball comes home

For the first time this season, the UNM women’s basketball team will take the floor at the Pit for two home games as they welcome Colorado State on March 4-5 for the final two-game series of the season. Both games will be played at 5 p.m. and broadcast on the Mountain West Network, according to UNM Athletics. Sitting at a 12-3 record, a sweep of the series would catapult UNM into the top seed for the upcoming Mountain West Conference tournament — a favorable position for the team if they hope to take home the championship.

UNM alum helps connect the New Mexico aerospace industry

Casey DeRaad sits at her desk. Behind her are pictures of her family and a company plaque that reads "NewSpace New Mexico," and in front of her is her laptop with Zoom loaded up. It's time for DeRaad's "Third Thursday Tech Talk," where NewSpace connects with representatives from other aerospace companies to share insights and new developments in the burgeoning industry. This is the idea behind NewSpace New Mexico: to connect New Mexico aerospace companies with one another in order to facilitate mutually beneficial relationships.

UNM women’s soccer coach scores big with national role

Heather Dyche has lived and breathed soccer for as long as she can remember, and after years of dedication to the field she was elected to the Board of Directors for the United Soccer Coaches, creating another avenue for her to share her passion with others. According to the United Soccer Coaches' website, the organization's goals are "to promote the game of soccer, generate greater publicity for the sport and improve teaching of the game through soccer clinics as well as research and evaluation of coaching of the sport." Dyche said the group oversees collegiate soccer, youth soccer and soccer for people with disabilities, but their focus on advocacy and trying to help people sets them apart from other organizations.

Period: A podcast about the science of menstruation and 'all the bloody bits'

When the Period podcast went live in 2016, it took a social-scientific approach to menstruation, a.k.a. "periods." Kathryn Clancy, a biological anthropologist and former writer for Scientific American, served as the podcast host and brought both feminist and scientific lenses to the show, which halted production as the pandemic worsened in May of last year. I found this podcast while looking for a list of the best science podcasts and consistently found myself learning new things about a topic that, for more than half the population, is a normal part of existence for much of our adult lives.

Jennifer King: Breaking barriers in the NFL

The Washington Football Team made history on Jan. 26 when they announced that Jennifer King was promoted to assistant running backs coach, making her the first Black woman to hold a full-time coaching position in the NFL. Prior to her stint in Washington, King was an offensive assistant at Dartmouth College, interned during multiple offseasons with the Carolina Panthers and was a seven-time All-American quarterback and wide receiver playing for the Carolina Phoenix, a women's tackle football team, from 2006-17. During the 2020 season, King worked as a full-year coaching intern and is credited with helping develop the team's running back corps with the offensive staff and running backs coach Randy Jordan. Under King and Jordan, Washington's running backs totaled 423 rushing attempts for 1,697 yards and 20 touchdowns.

New Feminist Research Institute director continues work on gender, sexuality

Francisco J. Galarte, the new director of the Feminist Research Institute (FRI) at the University of New Mexico, plans to continue focusing on topics that relate to gender and sexuality as the center celebrates 25 years in action. The FRI has a specific focus on the support of students — graduate students in particular — and faculty. Galarte, an assistant professor of American studies and women, gender and sexuality studies at UNM, has been the director for about two months and plans to continue this work while strengthening ties to the community. "We focus on supporting feminist research," Galarte said. "Feminist research for us means research that not only is focused on issues related to women but rather issues related to gender, sexuality and institutions that govern and oversee gender, sexuality and those types of roles."

March 1, 2021 Comic

UNM advocacy group fights for lower campus sexual assault rate

Reports of sexual violence in on-campus housing at the University of New Mexico — including rape, dating violence and stalking — increased dramatically in 2019, according to the 2020 UNM main campus Clery Act report released last November. According to the data, there were 17 reported rapes in on-campus housing out of 23 campus-wide in 2019, marking a 21% increase from the year before. During the same period, reports of dating violence increased from 16 to 30, and stalking cases increased from 36 to 45.

UNM resource centers collaborate to celebrate Women’s History Month

March marks the celebration of Women's History Month, and this year the University of New Mexico's Women's Resource Center (WRC) is teaming up with the LGBTQ Resource Center and other groups on campus to host a variety of virtual events lined up throughout the month. The pandemic disrupted Women's History Month plans on campus last year, and the school will now feature virtual events in place of the usual fare, according to WRC professional intern Reina Davis. Lectures and in-person panels were included in previous years, but this year will focus on social media and online events.

New Mexico abortion ban repealed

The bill to repeal New Mexico's 1969 abortion ban (Senate Bill 10) was signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday, Feb. 26. The repeal adds an extra layer of protection for abortion health care in the state in case Roe v. Wade is overturned by the right-leaning Supreme Court. "Anyone who seeks to violate bodily integrity, or to criminalize womanhood, is in the business of dehumanization. New Mexico is not in that business — not any more," Lujan Grisham said in a press release announcing the repeal. Many supporters of the bill, including Lujan Grisham, believe that ensuring protections for  abortion rights in New Mexico will save the lives of people seeking abortion care.

UNM plans fall return to campus

A faculty-wide memo released by the University of New Mexico provost’s office on Feb. 26 said that while the University can’t predict the future status of the public health crisis in the U.S., fall semester classes will likely be held in person. “The fall 2021 face-to-face experience might still involve some ongoing precautions such as mask wearing, directional signage, symptom checking and continued disinfection in classrooms and other University spaces such as research laboratories, offices and libraries,” the office of provost James Holloway wrote.

Weir out after four underwhelming seasons

University of New Mexico men’s basketball head coach Paul Weir will step down at the conclusion of the 2020-21. Weir’s exit was announced on Friday, Feb. 26. Weir currently has a 58-60 record at UNM and a career record of 86-66 after coaching one season at New Mexico State University. The announcement came as UNM winds down a tumultuous season that not only saw the Lobos go 6-14 on the season thus far but 2-14 within the Mountain West, a record that has UNM sitting dead last in the conference.

Rural, small K-12 schools begin in-person instruction while urban institutions remain remote

On Feb. 17, the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education voted “no” on a voluntary re-entry plan that would allow students and teachers the choice to return to in-person learning. Had the plan passed, Albuquerque teachers would have been expected to be back in the classroom by Feb. 22. Elementary students would have been allowed to return on March 1, and secondary education students March 8. The motion failed on a tight 4 to 3 vote. 

Vaccination plan reaches nexus for UNM students and employees

As the state continues to work through phase 1B of its vaccination plan, the University of New Mexico is strongly urging faculty and students to sign up for vaccinations. In an effort to help motivate registration, ASUNM senators passed legislation on Jan. 27 encouraging individuals to make plans for receiving the vaccine “to increase the vaccinated population and help provide for herd immunity.” “We want to inform the student population,” ASUNM senator Helen Zhao said. “Not many people know where to sign up for the vaccine, and some of the process is confusing.”

Popejoy not throwing away their shot at 'Hamilton'

Popejoy Hall at the University of New Mexico announced its 2021-22 season on Friday, Feb. 26, with many canceled shows, including “Hamilton,” being rescheduled to the following season. “Hamilton” is now set for 24 performances from Jan. 27 through Feb. 13 of next year.

UNM provost: Spring break to continue as usual, with precautions

James Holloway, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of New Mexico, confirmed in an interview with the Daily Lobo on Feb. 21 that spring break is still on schedule. “We hope that spring break can happen as planned and that students can take advantage of the break to recharge safely,” Holloway said.