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News

Crime Briefs: September 26, 2019

Makayla Grijalva | September 26

The weekly crime briefs are to give the students, faculty and staff at the University of New Mexico a quick look into the crimes reported on campus. They do not provide all perspectives of the incident. All of the information is retrieved through UNM Police Department incident reports. UNM student banned from campus for possession of firearms University of New Mexico senior Steven Do, 21, was banned from campus after police found two handguns and a rifle in his dorm room. The UNM Police Department went to his room in Alvarado hall earlier this month after they received reports that Do was receiving suspicious packages from gun sellers. He consented to a search of his dorm, in which the guns were found along with several other gun parts.

News

UNM sees another decline in enrollment

Justin Garcia | September 26

For the seventh consecutive year, student enrollment at the University of New Mexico has dropped — certain to cause a ripple of effects in funding throughout the University. Undergraduate enrollment fell 6.5% (16,170) for the fall 2019 semester, while combined graduate and professional enrollment fell 6% (6,130), contributing to a five-year decline of 16.67% (22,792). The Albuquerque Journal reported that UNM expects a $4 million budget shortfall as a result of the enrollment decline. In 2018, UNM saw a $10 million shortfall from a 7% decline.

Opinion

Best milkshakes around UNM

Alanie Rael , Megan Holmen and Amanda Britt | September 26

Eating with Wolves is back and shaking things up with another review from the staff at the Daily Lobo. Editors Amanda Britt, Megan Holmen and Alanie Rael rated local restaurants in the Downtown and EDo districts on both their chocolate and speciality milkshakes. As temperatures get colder and fall approaches, Standard Diner, Holy Burger and 66 Diner all offer great options for this end of summer favorite. Each milkshake was rated on the following criteria: taste, atmosphere, service and presentation.

Sports

Lobos claim shootout victory in 110th Battle of the Rio Grande

Alanie Rael | September 23

In a latest iteration of a 110-year running football rivalry, the University of New Mexico Lobos (2-1) defeated the New Mexico State University Aggies (0-4) 55-52 on Saturday afternoon at Dreamstyle Stadium in a tough competition that offered back and forth touchdowns from beginning to end. UNM head coach Bob Davie took a step down for his second game in a row due to medical concerns from earlier in the season. Run game coordinator Saga Tuitele stepped in as acting head coach and said that the victory was for Davie and his family during the postgame press conference.

News

Global climate strike rallies Albuquerque environmentalists

Megan Holmen | September 23

Burqueños gathered in downtown Albuquerque on Sept. 20 for the 2019 Climate Strike, which was also held concurrently in cities across the world. Climate change, drawing attention from millions across the world, was the driving force behind Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s public announcement in a meeting earlier this week that the City of Albuquerque passed a motion “Endorsing The Declaration Of A Climate Emergency, Creating A Climate Action Plan For The City Of Albuquerque.” “We have a plan to get to 100% renewable energy within the next 6 years... This emergency is about action,” Keller said. Keller said while other governments continue to use non-renewable resources, Albuquerque will be a leader and innovator in reducing its carbon footprint.

News

Outpost Ice Arena remodeled for new team

Alanie Rael | September 23

Outpost Ice Arena, home of the Albuquerque Ice Wolves junior hockey team, is getting a facelift. The brand new junior hockey team has begun their season on the road with an unfortunate 0-6 starting record. The highly anticipated team is using the local ice skating and hockey rink in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque for practices and games. The rink is currently undergoing renovations, costing team owner and broadcast mogul Stan Hubbard a total of $2 million. The renovations are seeking to upgrade the classic look of the original Outpost. However, according to Alyssa Loroach, the Ice Wolves’ director of communications and marketing, Hubbard is wanting to keep the integrity of the arena despite the new changes.

News

Photo Story: Rio Grande Rivalry tailgating

Emille Domschot | September 23

Every year, the annual Lobo vs. Aggie football game draws a huge crowd. This Saturday, Sept. 21, cars packed the South Lot before the game, and Lobo and Aggie supporters alike set up tents side-by-side with food, games and music. For some, the event is a family tradition. Ron Besanti, a registered nurse and proud UNM alum, said his family has held football season tickets for years. “Twenty-eight years, to be exact,” Besanti said. Not only do he and his wife hold master’s degrees from UNM, both of his sons are alumni as well. For others, it’s taken on a special meaning. One couple, who met at a Lobo football tailgate seven years ago, gave their wedding vows under an arch of flowers in the middle of South Lot before this year’s game.

Sports

UNM women's volleyball to begin conference play at CSU

Reyes Gallegos | September 23

The Mountain West women's volleyball conference tournament begins on Sept. 26 starting with a match up between San José State University and San Diego State University and concludes on Nov. 23 with San José facing off against the University of Wyoming. This tournament is comprised of eleven teams in the Mountain West conference. Each of the eleven teams will play a series of games to ultimately determine who will be the Mountain West Champion based on their conference play. The University of New Mexico women's volleyball team will officially begin their Mountain West tournament games against Colorado State University (CSU) this coming Thursday, Sept. 26. The matchup will prove to be a tough task for the Lobo team: Colorado State is the top ranked team in the Mountain West with an overall record of 9-1 and has been on an eight game winning streak, only losing a combined total of five sets in their first ten games.

News

Q&A with UNM women's basketball players

Angelina Pompeo | September 23

University of New Mexico women’s basketball players Aisia Robertson and Bride Kennedy-Hopoate are busy preparing for their 2019-2020 campaign. Robertson is originally from San Francisco and beginning her third year with the team. Kennedy-Hopoate transferred to UNM from Queensland, Australia last year. Although this is her second year on the team, it will be her first year garnering playing time for the Lobos. Both players are majoring in Liberal Arts. After college, both said they hope to play basketball professionally overseas, with Kennedy-Hopoate adding that she wants to eventually coach collegiate basketball. The two players recently spoke with the Daily Lobo about their college experience and playing for the UNM women’s basketball team.

Culture

Spirit Band integral part of UNM sports

Amanda Britt | September 23

Members of the Spirit Marching Band, a University of New Mexico musical ensemble, regularly perform and energize Lobo crowds during games and other events on campus and around the UNM community. The band enlivens Lobo fans during sports events and before and after games with their loud music, halftime shows and spirit. They take center stage on the field before kickoff and during halftime at football games, drive school spirit in the student section during games and perform in the tailgate lots. Brandon Rowe, Spirit Marching Band’s third-year co-drum major, said his role as a conductor of the show is to make sure the band has high energy and that they stay on task. He said this year the Spirit Marching Band has around 120 UNM student participants from a variety of majors and backgrounds — not just performance arts and music education majors.

Sports

United's momentum halted in 3-1 loss to Reno 1868

Colin Peña and Dan Goodwin | September 23

In a 3-1 defeat that stayed close for most of the match, New Mexico United lost to Reno 1868 FC at Isotopes Park on Friday, Sept. 20. As a result of the defeat, United dropped to eighth in the USL Championship Western Conference standings, while Reno stayed in second and clinched a playoff berth. Even as the Friday night match attracted only 10,518 supporters — a small crowd for New Mexico in their inaugural season — the stadium began full of excitement. Because the sound system during the singing of the national was unresponsive, rendering the singer inaudible, the home crowd filled in with their own rendition and the game began. The excitement of the game began in the seventh minute as New Mexico forward Santi Moar controlled a pass into the box from UNM alum Devon Sandoval and slotted it into the close corner for a goal.

Sports

Women's soccer coach talks success

Angelina Pompeo | September 23

Last week the Daily Lobo interviewed University of New Mexico Coach Heather Dyche. A homegrown Burqueño, she is the head coach for women’s soccer. Dyche grew up playing soccer and had the chance to play in college. After a year at the University of Nebraska, she transferred to Florida State University and was able to play for a total of three years after being redshirted for her first year. “The team at the time was ranked top five in the nation for three of the four years that I was there, so every year we were trying to win a national championship,” Dyche said. During her time at Florida State, Dyche maintained a GPA of above 3.5. Her team this year mimics that average as they all boast an average of 3.77.

News

Governor's office to propose free tuition

Justin Garcia and Lissa Knudsen | September 18

She described it as a "moon shot." Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday her administration will request the state legislature to make 2-year and 4-year college free for New Mexico residents. If approved by the legislature, it is expected that this would go into effect July 1, 2020, said Kate O’Neill New Mexico Secretary of Higher Education. "Everything we want to do in New Mexico begins with higher education," Lujan Grisham told the crowd gathered at Central New Mexico Community College for the Higher Education Summit. The “New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship” would be available to students “with a maintained minimum GPA,” and after “enrolling in a public, post-secondary institution,” according to a press release from the governor's office.

News

NM Dems hold Trump counter rally

Andrew Gunn and Beatrice Nisoli | September 17

Thousands of supporters and opponents of President Donald Trump descended upon the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho on Monday night in anticipation of his first visit to New Mexico since the 2016 election. But, nearly 20 miles away, the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) responded to Trump’s campaign speech with an event of their own. The counter-rally, deemed a “New Mexico for All Community Event” by party organizers, featured a roster of New Mexico Democrats and drew a crowd of several hundred to Tiguex Park near Old Town. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (who is also running for U.S. Senate) and U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland and Ben Ray Luján (who is running against Toulouse Oliver) outlined their differences with the Trump administration and visions for the future of the country over the course of the evening.

News

Trump comes to New Mexico

Megan Holmen , Justin Garcia , Andrew Gunn and Amanda Britt | September 16

RIO RANCHO — President Donald Trump held a campaign rally Monday in support of his 2020 presidential reelection bid, drawing a crowd of over 8,000, including protesters. It was ultimately a peaceful affair, although words flew between protesters and Trump supporters outside the Santa Ana Star Center on Sept. 16, 2019. Outside, around 200 protesters gathered in a designated “peaceful assembly” area with signs reading “Dump Trump,” “Trump Hates Green Chile and the Constitution” and “stop pretending your racism is patriotic,” among others.

News

'Met with concern': UNM holds onto accreditation

Justin Garcia and Beatrice Nisoli | September 16

The University of New Mexico was reaccredited for ten years after the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) reviewed and recertified the University. The HLC announced this decision back in August — however, the reaccreditation doesn’t come with a perfect score. Of the five components the HLC reviewed, two were “met with concern.” Accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole, according to HLC’s website. The reviewers evaluated “multiple aspects of an institution ranging from its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances and resources.” Two of the criteria gave HLC reviewers cause for concern: The “fiscal mismanagement” of the Athletics Department and the shared governance issue with the Board of Regents (UNM’s governing committee appointed by the New Mexico governor.)

Sports

UNM football handed heavy loss in South Bend

Robert Maler | September 16

Notre Dame, the No. 7 football team in the country, hung 66 points on the Lobos Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium. Nevertheless, the final score probably isn’t indicative of how the game unfolded – especially early on. The University of New Mexico football team hung with the Fighting Irish for the better part of a quarter and a half. Saga Tuitele, who filled the role of UNM head coach in Bob Davie’s absence, said turnovers, bad angles on tackles, penalties and other miscues allowed the Fighting Irish to pull away for a lopsided 66-14 victory.

News

Trump campaign rally in Rio Rancho tonight

Megan Holmen | September 16

President Donald Trump will travel to the Land of Enchantment this week to hold a rally in preparation for his 2020 presidential campaign. Trump will be at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho on Monday, Sept. 16, and both the City of Albuquerque and the City of Rio Rancho are preparing for the event. The rally is expected to draw thousands. All Rio Rancho city offices will be closed on Monday, and Rio Rancho public schools will similarly be shuttered for the day. The Rio Rancho Police headquarters and Municipal Court will also be closed — however, Bernalillo County offices in downtown Albuquerque will remain open until 2 p.m.

News

Duck pond hosts diversity of bird life

Joseph Shuman / @jshumanphoto_ / Daily Lobo | September 16

The duck pond is one of the most notable and beloved features of the University of New Mexico campus. It serves as a haven for students taking a break from the routine of classrooms, study rooms and lecture halls. More than that, it serves as a home — and not just to ducks. Of course, ducks gravitate to the pond due to the lush grass that surrounds it. Additionally, the shady spots created by trees offer a respite from the heat and a cool place for the ducks to rest. Much like ducks, hummingbirds have found the duck pond to be an excellent spot for a short break from the New Mexican heat, but unlike ducks, they utilize the trees themselves as perches to rest.

News

Albuquerque Proud Boys demonstration generates resistance

Alex Heitt | September 16

On the morning of Saturday, Sept. 15, a far-right organization and protesters gathered on the corner of 1st Street and Central Avenue in downtown Albuquerque, diversely dressed and loudly making their voices heard. Two different groups convened: the Proud Boys — a self-identified western chauvinist group — and counter-protesters. The event was organized by the Proud Boys and registered ahead of time with the city. The Southern Poverty Law Center has described the Proud Boys as an "alt-right fight club." At around noon on Saturday the first four right-wing protesters arrived, with one wearing full body armor. There was a minor kerfuffle when the two groups first confronted one another, but the Albuquerque police quickly separated the two sides on either side of 1st Street and maintained that separation for the entirety of the demonstration.