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News

‘Deplorable, deeply disappointing’: Student Family Housing to close permanently

Andrew Gunn | June 29

Next spring, just after finals conclude and dissertations are defended, many University of New Mexico students with families will be looking for another place to live. The closure of the Student Family Housing complex was confirmed in a June 29 email sent to residents by Wayne Sullivan, the director of Residence Life and Student Housing. "The University made the difficult decision to close the Student Family Housing (SFH) complex on May 31, 2021," Sullivan wrote. "For nearly 50 years, we have had the pleasure to provide affordable housing to our outstanding students and have truly enjoyed developing relationships with all of our residents." With the decision to "decommission" the Student Family Housing complex in just under 11 months, the University will eliminate the only student housing that catered specifically to students with families, including a large percentage of international and graduate students.

Culture

“The Hate U Give” still relevant in a racist justice system

Megan Gleason | June 29

“I can’t breathe. I can’t. Breathe.” Those were the words George Floyd gasped before he was murdered at the hands of a police officer on May 25. Those are also the words from Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” — a book that was released three years before Floyd’s death. Thomas takes the reader to the world of sixteen-year-old Starr Carter, a Black girl living in a poor Black neighborhood while attending a wealthy white school. Only two chapters in, Carter bears witness to her friend Khalil Harris’ murder. The two are in the car together when Harris is pulled over by a white police officer for no obvious reason. After Harris questions why he was pulled over, the cop yanks him out of the car and pats him down three times in an attempt to find something to pin on the teenager, to no avail.

Culture

Brillo the 10-foot-tall snail visits Albuquerque

Megan Gleason | June 28

Brillo, a ten-foot-tall puppet snail, has been making its way around Albuquerque to visit families and children in quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic. Creator Ashleigh Abbott is an Albuquerque local that attends the University of New Mexico. People can leave virtual “rainbows” to request a visit from Brillo. Currently, the snail is mainly visiting around the UNM area. Diliana Ovtcharova, Abbott’s sister-in-law, is the author of “Brillo the Snail on the Rainbow Trail,” a short children’s story that explains the concept of the coronavirus in a way that children will understand and what Brillo does in response. Daniela Ovtcharov, Abbott’s mother-in-law, will illustrate the story in the future.

Opinion

Comics for June 28, 2020

Rhianna Roberts and Victor Martinez | June 28

Daily Lobo comics for June 28, 2020.

Opinion

EDITORIAL: Journalism's problematic love affair with objectivity

Daily Lobo Editorial Board | June 26

In 2011, the Daily Lobo published a cartoon depicting then-President Barack Obama as a monkey. It wasn’t our best moment. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our worst, either. Throughout our history as the independent student-run newspaper at the University of New Mexico, we have printed the n-word, never had a Black editor-in-chief and run an editorial in 1982 that asserted that “minorities are academically inferior to whites.” To this day, we struggle with how to attract and retain reporters and editors of color. We struggle to decide which stories to chase and publish. We struggle to get quotes from people who aren’t like our predominantly white staff and to center the voices of those most impacted by the stories we cover instead of those with the most power. And, we also struggle to decide which parts of a story to highlight and which to downplay.

Culture

UNM professors analyze Black community in media

Beatrice Nisoli | June 25

With the current Black Lives Matter movement garnering increasing international attention, the portrayal of Black people in the media has become more relevant than ever. Dr. Myra Washington, UNM Communications and Journalism professor, said anti-Blackness in the media is one of the many products of systemic racism, which she described as institutions — such as families or educational establishments — that hold all racial power. Washington said one-dimensional depictions of people of color often originate from lack of resources, which is a byproduct of how anti-Black institutions operate. “If an Indigenous student wants to go into screenwriting, and he doesn’t have any Indigenous classmates or Indigenous professors, then he won’t write about his family because others in his space wouldn’t understand,” Washington said. “So he’ll end up writing about the same things as everyone else and well-rounded representation won’t happen.”

Culture

Simple call for staying United: Noé Barnett’s new mural keeps soccer in view

Cameron Ward | June 24

For some, the season for Albuquerque’s New Mexico United might be over, but artist Neo Barnett hopes to keep the team’s presence alive with his new mural for the club. The New Mexico United mural is displayed on Second Street and Coal Avenue and was made by Barnett in just ten days. Due to the pandemic, the team had a delayed start to the 2020 season and was forced to shut down on March 12, according to Peter Trevisani. United Creative Director Josh Lane said United will start back up again on July 11 for a brand new season.

Opinion

Comics for June 24, 2020

Rhianna Roberts and Victor Martinez | June 24

Daily Lobo comics for June 24, 2020.

Culture

Skaters come together in peaceful BLM protest

Megan Gleason | June 23

Go Skateboarding Day took place on June 21, bringing not only joy to skateboarders around the United States but also a peaceful skateboarding protest to Albuquerque. The protest, entitled “Push for Peace,” started with a voter registration drive at the University of New Mexico’s Smith Plaza and ended with a skate down Central Avenue to Civic Plaza. “When you have a skateboard and you’re skating, you’re treated how I think everyone should be treated,” local skateboarder Tyniesha Thompson said. The event was promoted by Grandma Skateboards and organized by Andrae Satcher, Jake Alsept and Noah Cook.

Culture

Easy recipe for New Mexico state cookie

Ellie Aikman | June 23

Are you a true New Mexican? Put yourself to the test by making the New Mexico state cookie, the bizcochito. Bizcochitos are cookies with origins in the Spanish colony of Santa Fe de Nuevo México flavored with anise and cinnamon. Traditionally, the cookies are cut into the shape of crescent moons and stars. They can be seen made for holidays and events such as weddings, and it is often served alongside a cup of hot chocolate. Developed centuries ago, the bizcochito was brought to New Mexico by Spanish colonists and by immigrants from other Hispanic countries. It was also greatly influenced by local and Indigenous customs.

News

APD, mayor deny mishandling of police response to Oñate protest, shooting

Bella Davis | June 23

In the week since Steven Baca shot and injured Scott Williams at a protest against the statue of conquistador Juan de Oñate in Old Town on June 15, the Albuquerque Police Department has been criticized for its handling of the shooting. APD, along with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, have since defended the police response. Judge Charles Brown ordered Baca to be released from custody on Monday ahead of his trial. Baca faces two counts of battery and one aggravated battery charge for attacking three women at the protest, which was captured on video and has been corroborated by witnesses. KUNM producer Marisa Demarco was at the protest and witnessed Baca throw a woman to the ground, which was the incident that directly preceded the shooting — protesters pursued Baca after that violent attack and during the ensuing confrontation, Baca shot Williams.

Culture

Black Lives Matter at UNM African American Student Services

Megan Gleason | June 23

"To think about the most ideal world means that we have to unthink our own knowledge we currently have ... to try to unthink all bias, unthink all racism, unthink all 'isms' and think about what is that utopian world that we're looking at," Brandi Stone, the director of African American Student Services (AASS) at the University of New Mexico, said about the Black Lives Matter movement. Protests for the movement began anew after George Floyd's murder at the hands of a police officer on May 25. Stone said that this was a tipping point for the white community but "Black and brown bodies-- we've already experienced the tipping point."

News

UNM eliminates fall break amid preparations for hybrid semester

Spencer Butler | June 22

The University of New Mexico’s 2020 fall semester schedule has been released after a lengthy revision process due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fall break has been eliminated in favor of two separate, one-day breaks in October and November. All in-person classes will cease after the Thanksgiving break and be carried out in an online-only format until Dec. 4. The start date of the fall semester has remained the same — Aug. 17 — and Labor Day will still be a day off for all UNM students, but the two new break days are on Oct. 7 and Nov. 3, respectively.

Opinion

Comics for June 21, 2020

Rhianna Roberts and Victor Martinez | June 21

Daily Lobo comics for June 21, 2020.

News

‘Now is the time to act’: Substantial police reform largely absent at special session

Bella Davis | June 20

SANTA FE — In a state that’s seen its share of unrest over police brutality and systemic racism, police reform legislation is lacking as the special session of the Legislature heads into the third day. A bill passed by the Senate and another by the House late Friday night have already received criticism for not going far enough while Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has blocked two other reform bills from being heard. After partisan debate, the Senate approved a bill (SB 8) sponsored by Sen. Joseph Cervantes that would require law enforcement officers to use body cameras. The bill would also mandate that officers who are convicted of unlawful use of force have their law enforcement certification revoked.

News

State Senate bill seeks to expand mail-in voting for general election

Spencer Butler | June 19

SANTA FE — On June 18, the New Mexico Senate put forth a bill aimed at expanding mail-in voting access for the 2020 general election across the state. The legislation later morphed in committee to allow independents or those unaffiliated with a major party to change their party affiliation on the same day that they cast a ballot. Senate Bill 4 — introduced by Democratic Senators Daniel Ivey-Soto and Gabriel Ramos and backed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham — aims to allow county clerks to automatically send mail-in ballots to registered voters without requiring people to request them.

Culture

Digital artists weave technology and fashion to transcend physical limitations

Joseph McKee / @josephdmckee / Daily Lobo | June 19

Fashion has always been a medium that allows both designers and models alike a physical outlet of expression. As we advance further into the 21st century, pairing the need for expression with the limitless bounds of digital software and the internet has become a must. In 2020, we have already entered a new space for fashion through Computer Generated Imagery (CGI). CGI allows the entire fashion industry to be revolutionized, from designers to models to advertisements. By using digital software programs like Adobe, CLO 3D and Daz, 3D artists are now able to explore the medium of fashion outside of physical limits.

News

Police misconduct investigation cleanup missing from special session

Bella Davis | June 19

SANTA FE — Spurred by the police murder of George Floyd and subsequent worldwide protests against systemic racism and police brutality, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday that police reform would be included at the special session. The session began at noon on Thursday. Notably missing from the Governor’s call was a House bill that would have reformed police misconduct investigations. State Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas said the bill would have changed a state law that makes investigating police misconduct more difficult.

News

Opportunity Scholarship funding in jeopardy as legislative special session starts

Spencer Butler | June 18

SANTA FE — A special session of the state legislature will get underway today, where several University of New Mexico-related issues are set to be discussed. Among them is the legislative budget, which is currently facing a $2 billion hole due to a drop in oil and gas prices as extraction in the Permian basin and travel have come to a virtual standstill. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proposed a plan on June 10 to offset the budget shortfall by using a mix of federal stimulus funding, spending cuts and cash reserves. However, the Legislative Finance Committee proposed its own plan, which saw many differences.

Culture

Hooked on Depop: Tips and tricks to create a small business right from your phone

Cameron Ward | June 17

Decluttering during quarantine might not be a bad idea after all if you’re looking for some extra cash. Depop, an online marketplace for buying and selling used and upcycled clothing, has opened the door for local designers and entrepreneurs to start their small business with just a smartphone. Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of changing something you already own into better quality or more valuable to your liking.