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News

Trump administration rescinds short-lived ICE policy affecting international students

Annya Loya | July 14

On July 14, the Trump administration, after multiple lawsuits and outrage from colleges and universities across the country, rescinded the rule in which international students would have been forced to leave the U.S if their schools did not offer face-to-face classes. “The decision of forcing international students to leave in the first place was the dumbest idea they ever came up with,” said Admed Abbas, a UNM international student from Saudi Arabia. The news was probably a relief for a lot of us that feared such a problem to come.” On July 6, the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agency released a new policy regarding international students in the United States that had the potential to profoundly impact the lives of more than 1.1 million international students across the country.

Sports

UNM, NCAA begin to prepare for fall sports

Spencer Butler | July 12

When COVID-19 forced the NCAA to cancel spring sports and eliminate the NCAA basketball tournament, the question arose over whether UNM fall sports would meet the same fate. While local outbreak fears still linger, other college athletic programs have started to have fall sport teams practice with strict guidelines. This includes regular COVID-19 testing for players and staff and practicing in smaller groups in an attempt to combat the virus’ spread. On July 1, UNM Athletics director Eddie Nuñez said that one of 88 individuals associated with the UNM football team — including players, coaches and staff — tested positive for COVID-19 after testing took place on June 27.

Culture

UNM Art Museum helps public destress with meditative art practices

Megan Gleason | July 12

The coronavirus pandemic has caused an enormous amount of stress to sweep the nation, but University of New Mexico art history professor Justine Andrews has a solution that involves a combination of art and meditative practices. Andrews has teamed with the UNM Art Museum (UNMAM) to host “Mindful Looking,” which will take place every Wednesday in July at 2 p.m. UNMAM’s website says it is “a series of guided exercises designed to help participants slow down, look closely and experience works of art in a whole new way.” The series of events is open to the public, and no prior art experience or knowledge is necessary.

News

CYFD adopts new directives to further its mission of youth inclusion

Beatrice Nisoli | July 12

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) recently announced two directives to better support all New Mexico children. First, CYFD updated its non-discriminatory policy to include LGBTQIA+ individuals, and second, the institution extended its age of services from age 18 to 21. According to its website, CYFD “provides an array of prevention, intervention, rehabilitative and after-care services to New Mexico children and their families.” This mission is accomplished by enrolling children and/or their families in different categories of services, like behavioral health or early childhood care, on the basis of an initial screening to determine potential abuse, neglect or other similar instances of trauma.

Sports

United resumes 2020 season with 2-1 escape against Switchbacks

Andrew Gunn | July 12

COLORADO SPRINGS — After 126 days, COVID-19 protocol stacked upon COVID-19 protocol and a seemingly endless wait for a return to soccer for New Mexico United supporters, the black and yellow returned to competition on a blistering Saturday evening in Colorado. The resumption of the USL Championship was a triumph for New Mexico, as a late Chris Wehan goal and stout defending saw United (1-1) take three points from and remain undefeated all-time against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (1-1). The 2-1 victory in front of a threadbare crowd of 1,000 spectators brought New Mexico to third behind Colorado Springs in the four-team Group C table with the weekend’s slate complete.

Opinion

Comics for July 12, 2020

Rhianna Roberts and Victor Martinez | July 12

Daily Lobo comics for July 12, 2020.

News

Petition to slash UNM tuition gains traction online

Spencer Butler | July 10

As college classes have been forced to switch to online or hybrid instruction during the pandemic, many University of New Mexico students have called for lowered tuition in response to a perceived decrease in the quality of online education. An online petition demanding a reduction of tuition has garnered more than 4,000 signatures and has spread throughout the UNM community. Students at campuses across the country have been making similar demands. According to Inside Higher Ed, students at University of California campuses and the University of Chicago have called for a reduction in tuition, while students at Miami and Drexel Universities have filed a class action lawsuit for tuition refunds.

News

GUEST COLUMN: Native students, instructors especially vulnerable to campus reopening

Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi | July 10

While the rest of the Southwest opened up its doors and gathered for July 4 festivities and birthdays, those in the Navajo Nation and in pueblo communities remained at home. A fraction of those who remained at home are Native American college students, including some who are students at the University of New Mexico and some who will make their college debut this fall. When I learned that UNM was taking a hybrid approach to classes for the upcoming semester, my first thought was about those Native students and exactly how this approach would likely affect them. As a Native student and a Native core writing instructor in the English department, I found the decision disconcerting.

Opinion

Comics for July 8, 2020

Rhianna Roberts and Victor Martinez | July 8

Daily Lobo comics for July 8, 2020.

News

Trespassing arrests, water scarcity traumatize unhoused community already in distress

Bella Davis | July 8

Among the slew of challenges people experiencing homeless face with a sometimes difficult, oftentimes punishing existence rests an ugly injustice: being targeted with criminal trespassing arrests. It’s a trend that some cities have taken steps to change. Last year, San Antonio District Attorney Joe Gonzales said he had started instructing his prosecutors to dismiss cases “if it appears that the only reason the person was arrested was because they were homeless.” Albuquerque, on the other hand, hasn’t taken quite the same approach. Over a nine-day period in June, the Albuquerque Police Department made at least seven criminal trespassing arrests. Police reports obtained by the Daily Lobo detail officers arresting people in parks and — in two separate cases — in an arroyo and near an abandoned building.

News

Dion’s in, Pi out as SUB’s fast food revolving door spins once again

Spencer Butler | July 8

Dion’s Pizza announced on Tuesday that a location of the venerated local pizza chain will open in the University of New Mexico’s Student Union Building, with the grand opening expected to happen at the start of the fall semester. Dion’s will take over the space formerly occupied by Pi, another pizza, pasta and salad outlet that was operated by the University’s food service contractor Chartwells. Pi took the space over after WisePies, another local pizza chain, left the SUB. Dion’s joins a fast food lineup in the heart of main campus that already has local franchises like Blake’s Lotaburger, Satellite Coffee and Twister’s and the national chains Subway, Chick-Fil-A and Mandalay Express.

Culture

Performative social media actions amidst BLM resurgence not enough, activists say

Beatrice Nisoli | July 6

Since George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests have been revived across the nation to advocate for racial equity and an end to police brutality. In addition to voicing their opposition on the streets, individuals of all ages and races are utilizing social media as a platform to educate their followers and publicize their opinions. African American Student Services (AASS) representative Dannelle Kirven said social media can be a vehicle for social justice due to its capacity to efficiently share information. “There are several posts being shared on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., telling people exactly what they can do to show support and uplift the Black community, from supporting Black-owned businesses in their area to providing numbers to dial to demand justice for those who have been victims of police brutality,” Kirven said.

Culture

AMP Concerts sustains local entertainment industry on life support

Cameron Ward | July 6

While most live concerts have been on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, AMP Concerts has been reaching out to local artists and bands to provide work and entertainment for the community. AMP — a New Mexico-based nonprofit organization — has presented over 200 concert events every year since 2004, but operations have come to a halt due to safety concerns. Because the CDC has labeled large gatherings as “high risk,” AMP is using its money to go toward new ways of entertainment such as drive-in concerts and live streams. Before the pandemic hit, AMP was hosting concerts at Albuquerque branch libraries funded by Friends of the Public Library, the Santa Fe Opera, parks and many more. Now AMP has officially moved toward free livestreams on Facebook and YouTube.

Culture

Little Free Libraries inject literature into reading-starved community

Daniel Ward | July 6

It’s always exciting to come across a miniature library box at a park or on a trail with the words “take a book, leave a book.” While public libraries and bookstores had to temporarily shut down to prevent spread of the coronavirus, a nonprofit organization known as Little Free Library (LFL) is thriving as an easy way to get literary resources in the Albuquerque community. With over 60 registered boxes in town, people of all ages can find something enjoyable to read, especially during the extended pandemic. LFL recently partnered with the City of Albuquerque and hopes to expand in the near future.

Culture

Couponing: The do’s and don’t’s

Angelina Pompeo | July 6

College can be one of the most financially stressful points in your life. You have to balance classes, pay thousands of dollars for tuition and even more for a place to live. Suddenly, a job is necessary to help with the financial burden that is almost instantly placed on your shoulders in the transition to adulthood. If you’re not on a college meal plan, you’re left trying to keep your belly full with limited funds. My solution for this is an efficient couponing process. There are a few apps from different grocers that try to help with saving, but which of these different apps are actually helpful, and which should you steer clear of?

News

Pedestrian safety, COVID-19 transmission remain top concerns as ART resumes operations

Liam Debonis | July 6

The Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) system has resumed service, sporting a bright red coat of paint along the UNM section of its route. “We wanted to make sure that pedestrians especially knew there was a difference, that the buses would be going east and/or west,” Albuquerque transit director Danny Holcomb said regarding the pavement’s color change. “We wanted to make sure that if they saw that red paint, they would stop and pause and say ‘wait a minute, maybe I shouldn’t cross here.’” After three-plus years of delays, ART operations began last November. Since opening, ART has accumulated an extensive array of accidents, including one fatality. The transit system has also been involved in at least 30 collisions with other vehicles, according to the Albuquerque Journal, and has hit two pedestrians.

Culture

Fourth of July draws controversy during pandemic, protests

Megan Gleason | July 6

As fireworks lit up the sky on the Fourth of July, so too rang out shouts of injustice in the night amidst a resurgence of controversy surrounding the holiday. A social media call for opinions about the Fourth brought down a wave of vastly different answers, all strongly opinionated for one side or the other. “I don’t celebrate the founding of an ongoing genocidal, violently oppressive, white supremacist empire,” Nicholas Jacobsen said on Instagram. The necessity for equality was a large factor for many in their decisions not to celebrate this year.

Opinion

Comics for July 5, 2020

Rhianna Roberts and Victor Martinez | July 5

Daily Lobo comics for July 5, 2020.

Culture

Electric Playhouse’s summer coding camp stimulates young minds

Cameron Ward | July 3

A new generation of creators, artists, coders and engineers in the making have a unique opportunity to learn the basics of coding during lockdown. Albuquerque’s young superstars aged 6-12 are welcome for the ongoing summer and educational camp at Electric Playhouse, which styles itself as a “all-ages dining, gaming and recreation wonderland.” “Electric Playhouse produces creative worlds for immersive and interactive experiences including games, dining and special events for all ages,” according to the company’s website. The playhouse has a motion-sensitive interactive course that doesn’t require visitors to touch anything, which is perfect for staying six feet apart due to coronavirus safety guidelines.

News

APD union contract negotiations delayed indefinitely

Bella Davis | July 3

In the month since Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd, police unions have come under national scrutiny for their role in shielding the police from accountability. And Albuquerque has been no exception. The contract between the Albuquerque Police Officers Association (APOA) and the City of Albuquerque was set to expire on July 1, but because all city union contract negotiations have been put on hold amidst the pandemic, it will remain in effect until negotiations can take place at an undetermined date in the fall. “Negotiations for all of the City’s unions, including the APOA, are currently on hold due to uncertainty about finances in the wake of COVID-19,” Jessie Damazyn, a spokesperson for Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s office, said.