Multimedia

News

Some college students excluded from stimulus checks

Liam Debonis and Alex McCausland | April 3

While many Americans wait eagerly for their $1200 stimulus check to come in the mail, some New Mexican college students have been left to fend for themselves.  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the president of the United States signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act into effect on March 27, authorizing $1200 payments to individual Americans, along with a number of corporate bailouts.  For 19 to 23-year-old full-time college students, however, their status as legal dependents or undocumented immigrants bars them from receiving stimulus checks, according to Business Insider.

---

News

Dispatch: COVID cases, deaths continue to climb on Navajo Nation

Sharon Chischilly | April 3

GALLUP, N.M. — COVID-19 has gripped the Navajo Nation and given no sign of letting go as new cases and deaths continued to climb this week. As of the publication of this article, there are at least 241 cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths, according to the Navajo Nation Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service. In an effort to combat the spread of the disease, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer have called on Navajo Nation citizens to social distance and stay home.

---

Culture

Good Friday traditions postponed

Cameron Ward | April 2

The tradition of Good Friday shared amongst many Catholic religious people in New Mexico has been postponed at Santuario de Chimayo from Archbishop of Santa Fe, John Wester.  It was announced by Archbishop Wester March 13, 2020, for the people of God, to stay home during the pilgrimage walk that would happen this upcoming April 10th, known as Good Friday.  Father Glennon Jones from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe said, “The walk has been officially canceled this year, but you know how those things go. No doubt some people will try to do it anyway even though we’ve asked them not to.”

---

Culture

Fine Arts Departments Adapt with Online School

Megan Gleason | April 2

As the University of New Mexico moves online, the fine arts departments are faced with challenges on how to move hands-on subjects to a remote education. Many courses were adapted to work from home, which provided challenges like accessibility to the internet and the necessary equipment to work. Andrea Polli, professor of art and ecology, said that art students will struggle with a lack of equipment like 3D printers and laser cutters, which were provided for them at school. Fortunately, Polli’s students bought art kits at the start of the semester and are still able to work from home, although limited. Some courses, like musical ensembles, were canceled completely. 

---

Culture

UNM students practice self-care while in isolation

Liam Debonis | April 2

In a time when normal life comes to a halt, having a daily workout or meditation session may seem trivial. But, the battle against the new coronavirus is not the only battle people must fight. Depression, loneliness and anxiety are things that many people struggle with already and are only exacerbated by orders to stay at home, not go to school or refrain from socializing in person. The fight for health and sanity in such concerning times is not impracticable. Resources have already been mobilized for those stuck in their homes. Amazon now offers select children's movies for free. Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his home workout routine online. Self-help mobile apps like Sanvello are offering free premium access to their services for the duration of the outbreak. And online counseling services are experiencing increased demand.

---

News

New Student Orientation weighs options amid pandemic

Beatrice Nisoli | April 1

New Student Orientation (NSO) may join the increasing list of services being transferred online in response to COVID-19. NSO, which typically occurs during the summer, is a mandatory two to three-day orientation for incoming University of New Mexico students. The purpose of the orientation is to welcome students to the UNM community through a combination of team-building activities and sharing resources for succeeding in a University setting. An online orientation option had been available for specific student populations previous to the technological shifts brought by COVID-19. Since this is an already existing initiative, an exclusively online orientation format could quickly extend to every incoming student should the need arise.

---

Culture

Coronavirus calls for creativity: The joy at the end of a candle

Cameron Ward | April 1

Candles can be a great way to experience wonderful smells flooding your room while stuck inside during quarantine. Once you have used up your wick, it shouldn’t end your joy but instead spark more happy times.  If I had a dollar saved from all the candles I have bought in the past, I could have spent more on the groceries that I needed during this quarantine. You can ask me about my favorite scents, but the greatest thing I’ve learned in my history of candles is the number of different things it can hold in its container.  Whether you love candles or just want to get rid of them, this upcycle works for anyone. In this creation, you will turn a plain used candle into your own new recycled container. If you have a sweet tooth like me, some Jolly Ranchers would be perfect to hold in your new container. 

---

Culture

NMDOT collaborates with UNM's Wild Friends for pollinator license plate

Beatrice Nisoli | March 31

In collaboration with the University of New Mexico law school's Wild Friends education program and the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, the state's Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has released its first Pollinator Protection license plate featuring student artwork. The law school's Wild Friends program prompted the initiative and approached NMDOT for an outreach effort. The Wild Friends program began at the UNM School of Law in 1991. Since then, the program has continued to collaborate with students in grades 4-12 to promote serving low-income schools and maintaining an educational focus on civics and science through the advancement of wildlife issues at the state legislature.

---

News

Student employees to receive pay through May 15

Alyssa Martinez | March 31

University of New Mexico student employees were just given a big promise.  University President Garnett Stokes announced in an email March 31 that student employees who meet eligibility requirements will be paid through the rest of the semester, regardless of whether or not they are actively working.  “Some of you may still be working while others may not,” the email read. “Regardless, please know that the University values you.”

---

News

UNM gives $200 to eligible students for internet

Alyssa Martinez | March 31

As courses reconvene in an online landscape, select students at the University are being granted $200 scholarships to assist in their transition.  Associate Provost for Student Success Pamela Cheek said up to 400 students will be able to receive the Lobos Connect Mini-Scholarship, which aims to financially assist students who need reliable access to the internet.  “(The $200) amount is based on an assessment of how much it might cost to purchase a MiFi or to augment cell phone or internet services for a few months,” Cheek said. 

---

Culture

UNM students launch website to connect volunteers to healthcare workers

Megan Gleason | March 31

A group of medical students from the University of New Mexico recently launched Corona Care NM, a website that helps connect New Mexico volunteers to local healthcare and hospital workers, and vice versa. Volunteers can help healthcare workers with childcare needs, cooking, cleaning, pet sitting and more. They are able to fill out their experience in order to be best fitted with a particular job or duty, as well as preference for what type of work they are willing to do. If healthcare workers need help with childcare, they are connected with three to five volunteers. Otherwise, they are connected with one volunteer. The contact information for volunteers is given directly to the healthcare professional and the process is then in their hands. “We are simply providing a service to connect healthcare workers with volunteers,” David Gangwish, founder of the site, said.

---

News

UNM staff concerned about impact of COVID-19

Bella Davis | March 30

As president of the University of New Mexico Staff Council, Ryan Gregg regularly hears from many staff members. However, the coronavirus outbreak has generated the most comments and questions from staff since he began his term almost a year ago, Gregg said. "Staff are concerned about their families and the health of their loved ones. Staff are also concerned about the future of their jobs," Gregg said. Last week, more than 31,000 New Mexicans filed unemployment claims, according to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. The week before that, a record 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment, the Labor Department reported, as businesses across the country shut down in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

---

Sports

Men's basketball: Jackson and Caldwell enter transfer portal

Joe Rull | March 30

Former University of New Mexico men's basketball starters JJ Caldwell and Vance Jackson announced their intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal after another disappointing season which saw a midseason collapse marred by suspensions and injuries. With one year of college eligibility remaining, Jackson is expected to graduate and play immediately for his new school under the NCAA's graduate transfer rule. Jackson's 2019-20 season was hindered by injury during the second half of the season, causing him to miss five games. Following the Lobos' season-ending loss to Utah State in the second round of the Mountain West Conference (MWC) championship tournament, "Vegas" Vance told reporters that he was sure he'd be back at UNM next season.

---

Culture

Bridge Boulevard officially renamed to Avenida Dolores Huerta

Makayla Grijalva | March 30

On a day when people from all over Albuquerque typically gather at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to celebrate the annual Recuerda a César Chávez la marcha de justicia and fiesta, the streets fell quiet. Although the streets may have been silent, it didn't stop new street signs renaming a stretch of Bridge Boulevard to Avenida Dolores Huerta from rising to their new spots this week. This year's celebration planned to include a dedication to Huerta for her contributions to the United Farm Workers labor movement and unveil the new intersection where Avenida Cesar Chavez and Avenida Dolores Huerta meet. "It really was a labor of love," said Diana Montoya, Las Mujeres member and chair of the Avenida Dolores Huerta Project. "What I like to call it is more than a street sign. I think that a lot of people are in agreement that it becomes more than a sign, that it becomes a destination. It becomes a place where visitors will come and see that here we have this tribute to these two icons, these two civil rights heroes."

---

News

New Mexico county clerks to ask for mail-in elections

Lissa Knudsen | March 30

New Mexico county clerks are looking to coronavirus-proof the primary election by changing from a traditional in-person voting process to a vote-by-mail process. The Daily Lobo obtained a copy of a petition to the New Mexico Supreme Court that lists Keith Riddle — on behalf of all 33 of the county clerks — as the petitioner and New Mexico secretary of state Maggie Toulouse Oliver as the respondent. The county clerks will ask the Supreme Court to allow them to use the mail-in ballot procedures for special elections because of the health and safety risk that the COVID-19 pandemic presents, according to the petition drafted by Daniel Ivey-Soto, the attorney who represents the state's county clerks.

---

News

UNM set to refund housing, meal plan in coming weeks

Amanda Britt | March 28

The University of New Mexico will refund over 1,110 students for their student housing and meal plans, after forcing them to vacate eight weeks early, according to Residence Life and Student Housing.  Four days before Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statewide “stay at home” order March 24, students were instructed through email to evacuate from their on-campus housing by that same day. As of March 28, Lujan Grisham said there were at least 208 cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico. 

---

Sports

Sam Choi named to the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup Team

Spencer Butler | March 28

Sam Choi, a sophomore on The University of New Mexico’s men's golf team, has been named to the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup International Team for his outstanding performance this season. Choi, originally from the Republic of Korea, was one of two members from the Mountain West to earn a spot on this prestigious team, which mostly consists of individuals from Power-5 programs. The nod adds to an impressive list of accolades, as Choi was selected as a 2018-2019 Co-Freshman of the Year and has twice won Mountain West Golfer of the Week award.

---

News

UNM’s COVID response blindsided some students away from campus

Alex McCausland | March 28

When Sophomore Indica Simpson first received the email about mandatory move-out, she called the Student Residence Center (SRC). She was told that, because she had renewed her lease for 2021, she could leave her items in her dorm. Simpson was at home in Nevada for spring break, visiting family. She was under the impression the break was only for a week. But on Friday, March 20, Coronado Hall Coordinator Johana Gourdin sent out an email stating that without an exception to stay, “residents (are) expected to have vacated (their) assigned space by Tuesday the 24th.”

---

News

Coronavirus calls for creativity: Upcycling Edition

Cameron Ward | March 28

While the coronavirus has many people stuck at home to quarantine, these days can be a great opportunity to clean and declutter different parts of your house. Sometimes the old clothes you have just need to be tossed or donated, but even your worn-out clothes deserve a chance for revival.  For the past two weeks, not only have I painted five canvases and hiked three times but found the art in deep cleaning. Though during this time in my deep cleaning stage, I found the habit of looking out for everything that could have a fresh start.

---

Culture

Inside Meals on Wheels during COVID-19

Liam Debonis | March 27

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Albuquerque Meals on Wheels staff work to ensure meals are delivered to those who need it. By 9 a.m. on March 25, the kitchen staff was preparing hot meals and packing them into insulated bags to be distributed to drivers. A workforce of about ten members scooped spaghetti, ladled marinara, and dished up vegetables with rigor. “Usually, the kitchen is half staff and half volunteers,” Shauna Frost, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Albuquerque said.