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Culture

Local teacher makes protective face masks

Loreena Cain | March 26

While the coronavirus continues to sweep through New Mexico, making face masks is one way some Albuquerque locals are working on the front lines against the virus. With schools shuttered, local first-grade teacher and University of New Mexico alumna Angel Padilla is using her time to sew face masks. She has already made 35 masks and is currently working on 100 more. "In the event that healthcare professionals run out of personal protective equipment (PPE), these masks will be available instead of a scarf or bandana," Padilla said. "I've been told that it might be possible to prolong the life of N95 masks when used with the masks I am making."

News

Dispatch: COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation

Sharon Chischilly | March 26

GALLUP, N.M. — The Navajo Nation awoke to a blanket of snow on March 19 as the third case of COVID-19, known as Diko Ntsaaígíí-Náhást'éíts'áadah in the Navajo language, emerged on the Navajo homeland. The three cases, a 40-year-old, 46-year-old and 62-year-old, shared one thing in common: they're all from the community of Chilchinbito, Arizona. Just days before the cases arose, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer declared a public health state of emergency for the Navajo Nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, March 11. As of the publication of this article, there were 69 positive COVID-19 cases within the Navajo Nation.

Opinion

Coronavirus calls for creativity simple tricks to beating boredom

Cameron Ward | March 26

Simple items around every household can be transformed into some refreshing Do-It-Yourself crafts to relieve your boredom when stuck at home. For anyone looking to create, it might require gathering some cheap materials from places like Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby or Micheals — but it can also be fun to only work with what you have if the stores are closed.

News

Stokes to host town hall, address COVID-19 response

Justin Garcia | March 26

University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes will host a virtual town hall and Q&A Friday at 12 p.m. According to a press release, the town hall is meant to address UNM's response to the local outbreak of COVID-19. As of March 25, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said there are at least 112 cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico, including 48 in Bernalillo County. As a result, Lujan Grisham issued an emergency declaration and closed dozens of nonessential businesses to limit person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus.

Culture

Easy at-home meals for a hungry Lobo

Ellie Aikman | March 26

Due to an increase in local cases of COVID-19, most students were required to move out of all the University of New Mexico dorms, leaving many without easy access to the dining hall or other easy meals on campus. With plenty of time stuck in the house, here are some affordable, and easily made meals that a Lobo can cook at home.

News

PATS ushering parking permit refunds

Alyssa Martinez | March 25

The office notorious for parking citations and permits will accept refund requests amidst the University’s limited operations. In an email sent out by Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) Wednesday, PATS announced that the last day for students to request a permit refund is Tuesday, March 31. Students looking to receive a prorated refund must fill out the provided form and submit a photo of their permit, cut in half before their request is processed. As for staff and faculty, PATS warned that upon return of a faculty or staff permit, “(they) may not be able to get it back into the same zone/structure once the University reopens.” The University is currently on an extended spring break until April 5 in an effort to respond to the novel coronavirus.

News

New Mexico to use emergency alert system during COVID-19 outbreak

Justin Garcia | March 25

The State of New Mexico will begin sending out text messages and interrupting television and radio programs during the new coronavirus outbreak. The first test will be sent out at around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office. “The system is intended ...

News

Faculty Senate: Students should have option to switch to pass or fail grading for spring 2020

Justin Garcia | March 24

The Faculty Senate endorsed a move to give students the option to switch their classes to a pass or fail grading system, instead of a classic A through F grading scale. The resolution passed unanimously by the Faculty Senate on Tuesday does not guarantee the University of New Mexico will adopt the measure. However, UNM Provost James Holloway signaled his support for the measure during the Faculty Senate meeting, suggesting the option will be approved. The resolution aims to allow instructors more flexibility in grading during the coronavirus pandemic. “We also understand that because of COVID-19, students may be experiencing unforeseeable challenges in accessing food, housing, health, family care, employment, and computers and the internet throughout the remainder of the semester,” the resolution said.

News

Lobo ceases print publishing amid coronavirus outbreak

Daily Lobo Editorial Board | March 24

The Daily Lobo will suspend our bi-weekly print publication until at least April 6 and will publish exclusively online. This was not a decision made lightly, and it does not mean we will stop working. But it does mean — for just the second time in 124 years — the Daily Lobo will not print a newspaper for an extended period of time. The only other time was the 1918 influenza pandemic. Two factors convinced us publishing during this historic event wasn't in the best interest of the UNM community.

Outside of the Student Health and Counseling building on the University of New Mexico campus.

News

Student health services adjust to COVID-19 outbreak

Bella Davis | March 24

As UNM students try to adjust to changes — including the closure of the dorms and classes moving online — the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC) is taking measures to work around the COVID-19 outbreak. In response to the spread of the coronavirus in New Mexico, SHAC medical visits are being converted to phone appointments when possible and all in-person counseling sessions will be converted to teletherapy. These changes were announced to students late last week as part of a number of measures being taken to ensure social distancing mandates are followed. "SHAC's entire team — medical, counseling and administration included — are working diligently to ensure that students will always have access to health care," Tiffany Martinez-Durant, manager of marketing and communication for SHAC, said.

Ryan Montano lays on the ground to get a different point of view of an upcoming UNM graduate.

News

Stokes: All graduation ceremonies postponed indefinitely

Justin Garcia/ @Just516garc/ Daily Lobo | March 23

The University of New Mexico has postponed all spring convocations indefinitely, including its graduation ceremony previously schedule for May 16. Monday's announcement is the latest in a series of closures and cancellations — including in-person classes and on-campus housing — to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. As of March 24, there were 100 positive cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico, including 43 recorded in the state's most densely populated county, Bernalillo. UNM President Garnett Stokes said she regretted the measure, but insisted it had to be done. "I know that some of these decisions, particularly those related to campus housing, commencement ceremonies and the transition to remote instruction, may cause anxiety, frustration and disappointment," Stokes said, adding a promise to continue sending out updates over email.

Culture

Four books for a pandemic

Loreena Cain | March 23

As the boredom of social distancing starts to set in, ironically picking up a book about situations more uncertain than our own can keep us entertained. Each of these novels focuses on a pandemic or an apocalypse caused by a pandemic.

Opinion

OPINION: Bad graphs suck: A primer on COVID-19 data coverage

Joe Rull | March 23

Here at UNM, we're a week into our extended spring break, and I've spent all of my time in my room writing about math. And if you know me, you probably knew that I was going to spend my break this way, pandemic isolation or not. Before I get into it, let me just say this: I know everyone is afraid, confused, upset and probably feeling a little panicked. Don’t get me wrong — I am, too. This is a global catastrophe, the likes of which recorded history rarely sees. And because of this, I understand that graphs aren't exactly everyone's main concern right now. The problem is that I'm seeing a lot of numbers flying around with little clarity, which I can only imagine is going to cause more panic as we barrel into a national scenario that's absolutely going to get much, much worse before it gets any better.

News

Moving out and moving on: UNM’s dorm-dwellers say goodbye

Justin Garcia | March 22

Aaron Ceceñas sat alone at a chrome-colored table outside of the Student Residence Center (SRC) March 21. He was waiting for his parents to get him and all his stuff packed neatly in a cardboard box to his right. Like dozens of other students, Ceceñas was using what will likely be his last Saturday on campus to move out. “And this is my last year too,” he told the Daily Lobo. ”Coming from a senior’s perspective, cause I was gonna…” Ceceñas parents arrived that moment, pulling his attention away. He motioned for them to park between two cars in front of La Posada Dining Hall, the impromptu parking lot normally used at the beginning and end of the school year.

News

UNM's La Montañita location closes after years of financial losses

Andrew Gunn | March 20

For more than eight years, the La Montañita Grab and Go market adjacent to the University of New Mexico Bookstore offered on-the-go options to the community ranging from breakfast burritos to organic macaroni and cheese. Now, one of UNM's only sources of locally grown and organic food has shut its doors for good. After years of financial losses, the Co-op's board of directors announced the UNM location, alongside the member and employee-owned food cooperative's Westside store, would close permanently.

News

Doctors urge young people to donate blood amid outbreak

Lissa Knudsen | March 20

Typically in times of national disasters, people line the streets to donate blood. But in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the act of donating likely puts donors at increased risk of infection. Yet, doctors across the country are asking young people to donate anyway. Dr. Ralph Vassallo, chief medical and scientific officer for Vitalant, said the demand for blood transfusion is greater than the blood supply available. That demand, Vassallo said, is not going away despite the outbreak.

News

UNM goes online only for spring 2020

Justin Garcia | March 20

It's official. The University of New Mexico announced Thursday that all classes that can go online will go online. The rest are canceled. Throughout spring break, various components across UNM's main campus closed or restricted access piece-by-piece as a way to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. In New Mexico, 43 people have tested positive for the disease COVID-19 as of March 20, including 23 people in Bernalillo County.

News

SUB among UNM entities closed during COVID-19 outbreak

Beatrice Nisoli | March 19

The Student Union Building announced Wednesday it would be closed to all but non-essential staff until further notice. In an email sent to student organization leaders and members, the Student Activities Center stated that access to student organizations' office spaces and the Lobo Lair Computer Pod would be restricted as well beginning at 5 p.m. on March 18. The closure comes alongside dozens of other University initiatives to mitigate the effects of the current health crisis, including the partial closures of Zimmerman Library and Johnson Gym and restricted operations of La Posada Dining Hall and the Student Resident Center Market, among others.

News

Dorm residents ordered to vacate by March 24

Justin Garcia | March 19

The University of New Mexico is sending home nearly all residents of on-campus dorms by March 24, according to an email sent out to dorm residents. Residents of Alvarado, Coronado, Hokona, Laguna, DeVargas, Redondo Village, Santa Clara, the Student Resource Center (SRC) Apartments and Casas Del Rio were told Thursday they would need to find somewhere else to stay for the rest of the spring semester. Student housing officials said Lobo Village, Lobo Rainforest and Student Family Housing will remain open as of the publication of this article.

News

State: NM businesses ordered to close doors amid COVID-19 outbreak

Justin Garcia | March 18

SANTA FE — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Wednesday that all bars, restaurants and breweries will end in-person service until April 10, limiting food service to delivery or take-out only. Lujan Grisham announced the aggressive action during a press conference alongside confirming five new cases of COVID-19, including a Bernalillo County woman who contracted the disease in New Mexico. The current total is 28. The Governor also directed shopping malls, movie theaters and gyms to close until April 5.