Multimedia

Culture

Board of Regents seeks community input in new UNM seal selection

Beatrice Nisoli | January 29

The University of New Mexico is changing its seal from the current interim design, but this time, the school is seeking input from its student and alumni population.  Prior to 2016, protests arose — primarily from Native American student groups such as Kiva Club and The Red Nation — regarding the previous seal, which featured a conquistador brandishing a sword and a rifle-carrying frontiersman. Many students expressed discomfort with this seal due to New Mexico’s violent history that ensued from Spanish exploration.  The discourse for a new seal culminated in the suspension of UNM’s previous seal in 2016. Shortly afterwards, the Board of Regents passed a resolution directing the Provost to formulate a committee for designing and selecting a new University seal. In the meantime, an interim seal with the University’s name and founding date was and is being utilized.

---

Music

The Aux: Once upon a time in Hollywood offers a hard to follow alternate history

Makayla Grijalva | January 26

Quintin Tarantino’s ninth film, “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood,” bent time while retelling the Manson family murders of 1960s starlet Sharon Tate and company. However, the lack of narrative caused the film to fall flat among others in the director’s repertoire.  The film follows fading western star, Rick Dalton (Leonardo Dicaprio) and his stunt man, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) as they try to navigate this new-fangled Hollywood. 

---

News

Stokes talks safety and athletics in State of University speech

Justin Garcia | January 26

SUB — As University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes launched into her State of the University address, she did so with dramatic context.  “In our country, and even here in New Mexico, we are experiencing a crisis of confidence in higher education and it’s value,” Stokes said. She cited national polls and surveys — like a 2018 Pew Research survey that found six in ten Americans believed higher education was going in the wrong direction — as evidence of public skepticism that college isn't worth it.  Those people, Stokes told dozens of administrators, faculty, staff, students and reporters, were wrong. 

---

Culture

History professor commissioned to paint mural on history of IT in NM

Daniel Ward | January 26

Information technology (IT) is a large component to the development of our future, but the perseverance and understanding of its history is equally important for societal improvement. University of New Mexico History Professor Taylor Spence is helping to share the connection between IT and History through his mural “Can You Hear I.T.?” The mural project first started taking root in the summer, 2019 when Associate Provost Pamela Cheek recommended Spence as a prime candidate to paint a mural for the IT department.  “I knew that Dr. Spence had been a professional muralist prior to arriving at UNM and that his work as a historian and teacher gave him insight into the UNM community,” Cheek said. 

---

News

NM Legislature: NM bill aims to address housing and homelessness

Lissa Knudsen | January 26

Last year, New Mexico had the largest percentage increase (27%) in homelessness of any state nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report. This disheartening statistic came despite repeated efforts of municipal and state leaders in recent years to address the issue — and a North Valley-area legislator wants to take a different approach.

---

Music

The Aux: "Death Stranding" isn't for the average gamer

Caitlin Scott | January 26

In a post-apocalyptic United States, everything has been ravaged by a largely unexplained phenomenon called the “Death Stranding,” from a PS4 video game released by Kojima Productions on Nov. 18, 2019.  “Death Stranding” is the first game from Director Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions after their disbandment from Konami in 2015. The death stranding wiped out cities and almost all life while opening a gate between the worlds of the living and the dead. The ghostly animal-like apparitions that you see in the game called “BTs” haunt forests, mountains. Certain humans called repatriates are able to return to life from a strange underwater space known as the Seam.  Sam, the main character of the game (portrayed by Norman Redus), is one of these repatriates. He is what people like to call a post apocalyptic delivery man, as that is what you do for most of the game. Thankfully for those who are going to play the game, the gameplay is more straightforward than the story. 

---

Sports

OPINION: UNM's off to its best start in years, and we still can't tell if they're actually good

January 24

ALBUQUERQUE — After trouncing San José State earlier this week, UNM's sitting pretty at 16-5 well past the midway point of the season. That's their best start in years. But here's the thing — I've been covering the Lobos all year, and I still can't tell if they're actually good. They might have one of the best records in the country right now, but the modern age of analytics has given us countless ways to measure more precisely why teams perform in the ways that they do.  What I mean to say here is that, despite the great record, despite the high-scoring offense, despite not having lost at the Pit since last February — despite it all, UNM just isn't as good as they are lucky.

---

Culture

Star of Netflix's "You" talks at UNM about his Baha’i faith

Bianca Hoops | January 23

Penn Badgley, star of the Netflix series “You,” spoke at the Student Union Building Wednesday night about his faith in the Baha’i religion. The University of New Mexico Baha’i Association along with a variety of volunteers put together this event to draw in students to learn about the teachings of the Baha’i.  Badgley was asked to come through a mutual friend of Stephen Morris, the President of the UNM Baha’i Association. He was not compensated for speaking at the event.  The goal of the talk, the first in their spring series, was to get someone significant to speak about this religion to get students interested in Baha’i, Morris said.

---

Culture

Youth organization holds climate protest at Roundhouse

Justin Garcia | January 22

As the climate warms, the guillotine will fall on the necks of children.  That was the message Youth United for Climate Action (YUCA) hoped New Mexico legislators derived from an elaborate demonstration outside the Roundhouse on the opening day of the 2020 session.  “We need lawmakers to consider the impact of their decision on us, on indigenous communities on the frontlines, and on future generations,” high school seniors Seneca Johnston and Veroaylin Campos said to a crowd of supporters and onlookers. 

---

Music

The Aux: A violent "The Joker" tells compelling story

Amanda Britt | January 22

The 2019 film, “Joker’, tells the origin story of one of DC Comics’ most notorious super villains through a dark, psychological thriller revealing the sad truths behind Arthur Fleck’s (Joaquin Phoenix) life and the events that led him to become “The Joker.” Director Todd Phillips’ exploration of Fleck depicts a man who is rejected from mainstream society because of his mental illness and social ineptitude. He then embarks on a downward spiral of anarchy, which leads him towards a path of destruction and self-demise. The film made over $1 billion at the box office with a budget of about $70 million.

---

Sports

Lobos drop two straight, continue inconsistent play

Andrew Gunn and Angelina Pompeo | January 22

In what is becoming a dispiritingly familiar narrative to the University of New Mexico women’s basketball faithful, head coach Mike Bradbury’s 2019-20 team dropped two straight games after a pair of rather convincing victories the week prior. Consistency, it seems, is an increasingly difficult quality to come by for Bradbury and company. In one of the lowest-scoring UNM women’s basketball games of the season, UNM (11-10, 2-6 MW) lost to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (9-9) at Dreamstyle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 18 in front of an announced crowd of over 5,000. The game ended in a score of 68-51.

---

News

NM Legislature begins 30 day session this week

Lissa Knudsen | January 22

It’s going to be a busy thirty days. New Mexico legislators are working this year to legalize recreational marijuana, fund free college, address the Yazzie/Martinez ruling and much more.  In the short session, the state’s budget, appropriations and anything the governor deemed worthy will be addressed. The governor released her message on Jan. 15, setting forth these “exception” bills and listed education, economy, public safety, and health as priorities. Any bills that are not determined to be “germane” are killed in their first committee. 

---

Culture

NM Mother of the Year recognized for giving back

Beatrice Nisoli | January 22

Robin Brule, an Albuquerque resident and fellow Lobo, was named the 44th New Mexico Mother of the Year earlier this month. Her advocacy for mothers in the workplace, flexible balancing of her own professional and family life and her philanthropic contributions to her community earned her the nomination.  Brule said she considers the title to be a “heartfelt, unexpected honor and privilege,” and that it reflects how honoring her own mother and supporting motherhood, in general, has been a consistent theme in her life. 

---

Culture

New Taco Truck calls Red Door Brewery Home

Liz Pritchard | January 22

Mi Taco Su Taco is the latest addition to the Albuquerque food truck scene. On Jan. 17, the truck had its grand opening at the Red Door Brewery, showcasing its sweet and simple menu. “Today is our grand opening and business has been good for the day.” Owner Roman Martinez said.  Martinez, 35, decided to open his food truck after becoming a first-generation college graduate from New Mexico State University. 

---

Sports

Lobos bounce back, remain undefeated at home

Joe Rull | January 22

If ever the Lobos men’s basketball team needed a morale-boosting win, Tuesday night’s home tilt against San José State was it. With the 86-59 victory, UNM improved to 16-5 on the season. Despite the recent uncertainty clouding the program, the Lobos are still clinging to a 13-0 record at home, its best start during the Mountain West era.

---

News

NM gov talks pot and free college at State of State address

Justin Garcia and Lissa Knudsen | January 22

Weed and school — that was New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s focus during her second State of the State address at the second onset of New Mexico’s 54th Legislature on Jan. 21.  Speaking to a joint legislative session, Lujan Grisham outlined her legislative priorities — from the legalization of cannabis to teacher pay raises a hard stance on crime and making college free for New Mexico residents — promising a busy 30-day session in 2020.  “As we open this 30-day session, I challenge you to think beyond the 30 days. Think beyond even this year,” Lujan Grisham said during the speech.“We stand together in the sunrise of a new decade. What we do here in this session, in this coming year, will set the course for what comes over the horizon in 2030 and beyond.” 

---

Sports

Lady Lobos secure 73-62 win over Colorado State

January 21

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team (11-8, 2-4 MW) hosted the Colorado State Rams (8-9, 2-4 MW) at home on Jan. 15 in a-must win game for each team. The game was driven by a burst of third quarter offense from UNM and a lights-out performance from redshirt senior guard Aisia Robertson.

---

Opinion

Review: White people like films: observations at No Man's Land

Lissa Knudsen | January 20

On a nearly freezing mid-January evening, an impressive crowd of stereotypical affluent, environmentally and socially conscious, anti-corporate white North Americans, of all ages and genders, clad in the muted tones of this year’s line of outdoor performance clothes, poured into the bottom floor of the Kimo Theater to watch a collection of films depicting extraordinary women pushing themselves to their limits. The No Man's Land Film Festival (NMLFF) tour came to Albuquerque on Saturday, January 17, 2020, to show a selection of women-focused adventure short films.

---

News

NM Legislature: What you need to know about free college

Alyssa Martinez | January 20

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “moon shot” is a step closer to take off.  As the 2020 legislative session nears, some university students across the state are hailing the governor’s proposed “Opportunity Scholarship” as a way to alleviate student debt and provide “every New Mexico student with an opportunity for higher education.” Among them, is the University of New Mexico’s student government, who passed a resolution last fall in support of the scholarship.  But even with UNM and NMSU’s bilateral endorsement of the scholarship, the details are, as of the publication of this article, confuddled. 

---

Culture

One Hundred Years of UNM — 1920 vs. 2020

Makayla Grijalva and Alyssa Martinez | January 20

A lot has changed in the past 100 years since the roaring 1920s.  The end of the first World War, the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the tuberculosis pandemic all culminated at the turn of the 20th century — and the University of New Mexico was no stranger to these growing pains. From a birds-eye lens, UNM’s governance landscape was not too far off from today — there were budget shortages, transplant leadership, constant construction, and athletic funding issues. However, only focusing on the similarities would be to erase the changes the University has made over the past century.