Multimedia

Culture

AASS raises the Pan-African flag to kick-off Black History Month

Fischer Knapp | February 5

University of New Mexico’s African American Student Services (AASS) celebrated the start of Black History Month with the raising of the Pan-African flag on Monday, Feb. 3.  The event began with over a dozen students marching from African American Student Services at Mesta Vista Hall to Scholes hall, where the Pan-African flag was raised alongside the United States and New Mexico flags. “Personally, this event means a lot to me. We’re here at a university where the population of black people is under 5%” said Mateo Wells, a sophomore film and digital media student at UNM, “For us to be able to raise the flag, everybody on campus can see that at any time. That means a lot because it means the university is also standing with us and celebrating and commemorating Black History.”  

---

News

Student government discuss student fee raise

Alyssa Martinez | February 5

“Raise the damn student fees,” reverberated through the Steering and Rules Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 5.  John Cooke, Interfraternity Council (IFC) president and Sigma Chi Fraternity vice president, delivered that statement. He was referring to two constitutional amendments — Bill 4S and Bill 5S — that would raise student fees at a $5 flat rate and a prorated rate of $2.08 per credit hour, respectively.  “As it has been said before by (Deputy Chief of Staff Victoria Peña-Parr), our student orgs have doubled here since 2000, as well as the fact that inflation is a thing, things are way more expensive now, and the fact that our enrollment is down,” Cooke said during public comment. 

---

News

The View offers paperless options

Bianca Hoops | February 5

This change now requires residents to pay rent online via the View’s ABQ resident portal. This option is meant to be eco-friendly and monitor rent payments more accurately because of liability conflicts. Before, there was an additional option of turning in a check or money gram in-person to pay but in order to keep more accountability from all parties. The method of making everything online was easier to keep track of according to Brooklyn Hatley, an employee at the View. Hatley works at the front desk and helps residents with problems or questions they have. She said there have been situations in the past where money orders or checks were lost or never turned in. 

---

Sports

Opinion: Losing team, supportive fans

Joe Rull | February 5

Ah, the Pit.  The mile-high home of Lobo basketball since 1966 has a storied history as one of most daunting venues in all of college hoops, and certainly one of its loudest. With stands angling steeply to a playing floor, the Pit gives the fans a legitimate presence in the game.  It’s customary for the thousands of Lobo faithful to stay on their feet from the opening tip until University of New Mexico records its first points of the game. Generally, this comes in the game’s opening sequence to a raucous, Pit-worthy roar.  Cut to last week’s game against still-unbeaten San Diego State. 

---

Culture

Traveling art exhibit shakes New Mexico

Annya Loya | February 5

A new art installment, “Sayaka Ganz- Reclaimed Creations,” opened at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science with seemingly in motion sculptures purely made out of plastic items.  The exhibit opened on Jan. 10 and will be part of the museum’s attractions until May 17. It can be accessed with normal museum admission. Created by artist Sayaka Ganz and produced by David J. Wagner, LLC, “Sayaka Ganz-Reclaimed Creations” is a series composed of over 10 pieces — some in motion. All of the sculptures are represented by animals and made completely out of plastic objects of various tones. 

---

Culture

Photo Story: Electric Playhouse grand opening

Emille Domschot | February 2

The Electric Playhouse, an innovative new space bringing together art and community in Albuquerque’s West side, launched its grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 1.  Among the sizable group gathered in front of the doors for the ribbon cutting were representatives from the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, and the ABQ West Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Tim Keller and his family were also in attendance. As the doors were opened, the whole crowd pressed forward to explore the space.

---

News

UNM ROTC set to get new home

Justin Garcia | February 2

It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but the former Alpha Chi Omega house is set to become the new home of all three ROTC programs at the University of New Mexico.  At least $8 million will go toward the renovation, including $1 million in capital outlay from State Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne (R-Albuquerque) and $7 million from a 2018 GO bond.  “To get an ROTC scholarship is as competitive as going to one of the service academies, in fact it’s probably more competitive because a lot of kids don't want to go to Annapolis. They'd rather go to a university,” Payne told the Daily Lobo.  It’s unclear if the $8 million will be enough to fully renovate the vacant sorority.  

---

News

Vaping legislation advances in New Mexico

Lissa Knudsen | February 2

New Mexico is one step closer to establishing a licensure process for e-cigarette and other tobacco product retailers and raising the age of purchase of all tobacco products to twenty-one.  Senate Bill 131, the Tobacco Products Act, sponsored by Sen. Linda Lopez cleared the Senate Public Affairs Committee on Friday Jan 31, with a unanimous do pass.  Though the bill moved easily through the Senate Public Affairs Committee, there are two possible amendments that don’t bode well for the bill: local preemption and banning flavors. 

---

News

UNM officials downplay coronavirus threat on campus

Joe Rull | February 2

The University of New Mexico’s Emergency Management department issued a university-wide   statement on Friday informing students about the novel coronavirus outbreak. The flu-like illness has infected over 16,000 people globally and taken at least 304 lives to date, according to the World Health Organization, which declared the outbreak a global health emergency last week.  Originating in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus has spread to at least 25 countries, including the United States where a ninth case was confirmed on Feb. 2, in California. The news comes days after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar II declared a public health emergency for the entire country. 

---

News

Home is where the heart is: UNM prof discusses history of houses

Amanda Britt | February 2

Since the beginnings of human civilization, the idea of a household, with its focus around a fire, is a fundamental unit of human social interaction and organization, according to Professor of Anthropology James Boone. Maxwell Museum of Anthropology hosted the lecture titled “A Natural History of Houses” as a part of their Ancestors Lecture series Thursday evening before a full auditorium in Hibben Hall. The first lecture of this series was given in 1990, the year the Maxwell Museum’s ancestors exhibition opened, by Scientific Curator Erik Trinkhaus. Since 2000, an Ancestors Lecture has been given every year.

---

Culture

Author Layla Saad on combating white supremacy

Loreena Cain | February 2

Layla Saad, author of “Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor” visited Bookworks in Albuquerque as a stop on her national book tour.  The Jan. 31 event filled the small store, leaving only standing room after the chairs were filled. Saad spoke not only about her book but about racism and how it appears especially in liberal white women.

---

Sports

Sluggish Lobos no match for No. 4 San Diego State

Joe Rull | January 30

It was over before it started. But just to make sure, San Diego State helped themselves to 17 straight points to open Wednesday night’s matchup with the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team at the Pit. On a night when No. 4-ranked SDSU (22-0, 11-0 MW) was firing on all cylinders, UNM (16-7, 5-5 MW) was anything but. “I thought that opening three minutes for San Diego State was the most impressive I’ve ever gone up against (from) another team in my four years as a head coach ... You have to play the perfect game to get this one, and we, unfortunately, were far from it,” UNM head coach Paul Weir said after the loss.

---

Sports

Coach Dyche named assistant coach for U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team

Angelina Pompeo | January 30

University of New Mexico Women's Soccer Coach Heather Dyche just crossed another threshold in her climb to national soccer prominence. She has been with the school for the past five years and created many opportunities for her team, going 55-37-10 during her tenure and taking a share of the 2018 regular season conference title.  It’s a lengthy résumé, but many Lobo fans and people in general may not be entirely up to speed on what she does outside of the school.

---

News

Pharmacists seeking compensation for check-ups in New Mexico

Lissa Knudsen | January 30

In an effort to raise awareness about the services pharmacists provide, University of New Mexico (UNM) Pharmacy students donning crisp white coats conducted health screenings for community members, legislators, lobbyists and other passersby on the ground floor of the New Mexico State Capitol on Monday.  Pharmacists are currently allowed to provide clinical services including blood pressure checks, immunizations, hormonal contraception, tobacco cessation and tuberculosis testing however, unlike doctors or nurses, they can’t bill for these services.  Given this, a group of UNM students has organized an effort to make their future careers more appealing. 

---

News

Update on the Opportunity Scholarship

Justin Garcia | January 29

The Opportunity Scholarship is firmly in the hands of the lawmakers. It’s future, however, may be in question.   During a Senate Finance Committee meeting, three Democratic Senators expressed concerns and criticisms of the proposed Opportunity Scholarship, the second onslaught of such criticism the legislation has received.  During the meeting, Sen. Jacob Candelaria (D) was the first to criticize the proposed Opportunity Scholarship. Candelaria said he was concerned the Opportunity Scholarship would be abused by higher education institutions like he said the Lottery Scholarship was. 

---

Sports

Blackwell leaving UNM football program

Spencer Butler | January 29

On Saturday, Jan. 17, redshirt senior and defensive tackle Aaron Blackwell announced on Twitter that he will be leaving the University of New Mexico football program by entering the NCAA transfer portal. “I have ultimately decided after much praying and contemplation that it is best I leave University of New Mexico for my last season,” Blackwell said in the post. “I truly believe Coach Gonzales and his staff are the best for the job and wish them and University the best of luck moving forward.”

---

Music

The Aux: "Little Women" expands on themes where the book fell short

Lissa Knudsen | January 29

Greta Gerwig’s interpretation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel “Little Women” revisits the original story applying a modern day lens. For those that haven’t read the book, the storyline follows the lives of the four March sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy) and is known to be loosely based on the author and her three sisters’ childhood experiences.  The story is set against the backdrop of the U.S. civil war, with the young women's father off working as a chaplain in the military. Within this context, the four coming-of-age daughters are left in relative poverty but are simultaneously allowed the freedom to explore their interests and proclivities with autonomy and notably without any paternal influence. 

---

Culture

Sorority celebrates 100 years

Beatrice Nisoli | January 29

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., an internationally renowned and historically black Greek-lettered sorority, recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary on Jan. 16.  The sorority was first founded on Howard University’s campus in response to the want for a sister chapter to the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and an overall desire to champion educational and service-based pursuits for the black community. Since its historical conception with only five female founders, Zeta Phi Beta has grown considerably while celebrating significant firsts; for example, the sorority was the first to charter a chapter in Africa. 

---

News

UNM community donations near monolithically Democrat

Makayla Grijalva | January 29

It’s no secret that New Mexico is an increasingly Democratic state.  After turning blue in the 2008 presidential election, New Mexico has also turned to elect a Democrat governor and all Democratic members of Congress. Additionally, both New Mexico state chambers are led by Democrats.  Based on donations intended for the 2020 election cycle, it appears the state’s flagship University, the University of New Mexico, is also extremely blue as the 2020 federal elections approach. 

---

News

UNM Day showcases students

Alyssa Martinez | January 29

Cherry and silver booths manned by University members lined the curves of the rotunda on Jan. 27 during the annual UNM Day at the state capitol.  From UNM College of Pharmacy’s health-related screenings to trivia on indigenous representation in New Mexican politics presented by American Indian Student Services (AISS), UNM organizations advocated for their programs at the Roundhouse.  Dannelle Kirven, African American Student Services (AASS) intern and recent graduate of UNM, was one such University member advocating for our student body.