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Opinion

Column: Bees? It's not all about honey

Alanie Rael | September 3

While walking around the University of New Mexico’s main campus, I can’t help but see potential in the big green patches of grass distributed across campus. Not for more buildings or social areas for students, but for the creation of native bee habitats. Yes, native bees. It may not make sense to some people, but many species of bees don’t use hives as habitats the way honey bees do. Native bees — 70% of bee species — burrow in the ground instead.

News

UNM Prof uses new technology to conduct wildfire risk assessment

Alex Hiett | September 3

University of New Mexico professor of Economics Richard Bernknopf is embarking on research in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Forest Service that aims to use remote imaging and satellite photography in risk-assessment and response to wildfires. This project is focusing on the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, but if proven useful it is expected to expand to other states. Researchers are currently looking into working with Yosemite National Forest to prevent forest fires that ravage the west. According to a May 2019 press release by the California Department of Insurance, there was over $13 billion worth of insurance losses in California in 2018 alone. These numbers continue to climb, as people comb through the destruction these fires wrought on the state. This is the area that served as the study focus for Bernknopf and other UNM researchers.

Culture

New Mexicans gather for 95th annual Zozobra

Lauren McDonald | September 3

Aug. 30 marked the 95th annual burning of Zozobra, a historic New Mexican tradition, held in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Fort Marcy Park. The event doors opened at 4:30 p.m., drawing people, bands, vendors alike. Old Man Gloom is an eerie monster-like puppet that represents sorrow, first created in 1924 by Will Shuster. The burning of Zozobra is always occurs, rain or shine, so even though it was windy Friday night the show went on as scheduled. This year the theme for the burning of Old Man Gloom was the 1970s, with era’s music playing, such as the bands Abba and Queen

News

GPSA: First fall meeting confirms 20 grads

Justin Garcia | September 3

The graduate student government meeting hit the ground running. In the first council meeting of the fall 2019 semester, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) confirmed seven chairs, ten committee members, a vice chair, a council recorder and a chief justice for the Court of Review all on Aug. 31. The council, GPSA’s legislative body, also confirmed members for their Legislative and Steering Committee (LSC) to form the committee, a hurdle that councilors in the Spring 2019 semester were unable to overcome. In addition to providing graduate and professional students with grant money, GPSA appropriates money to student clubs and represents the interests of graduate and professional students to the University of New Mexico’s administration and to the New Mexico State Legislature.

Sports

Cross country: Men and Women's team take first at Lobo Invitational

September 3

Saturday morning kicked off the University of New Mexico cross country season as the Lobo’s held the Lobo Invitational at UNM’s North Golf Course. Both of the men and women’s teams came out of the invite victorious taking first in the team races. For the men, University of Texas, El Paso runners Titus Chruiyot (15:17) and Rodgers Korir (15:18) took first and second, respectively, in the men’s collegiate open. They were followed by UNM runners Reece Donihi (15:33), Jared Garcia (15:44), Nehemiah Cionelo (15:44), coming in third, fourth and fifth. The UNM men won the team race with a score of 35 points. UTEP, despite securing first and second place in the open, fell to second. They were just nine points behind the Lobos.

Culture

New Mexican author breaks down stereotypes upheld by the true crime genre

Megan Holmen | August 29

New Mexico poet Olivia Gatwood returned to her hometown of Albuquerque last Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Kimo Theater to read poems from her most recent publication, “Life of the Party.” It focuses on the intersection and nuances of being a woman and true crime as a genre. “Life of the Party” is a three part book, but the underlying theme is both disturbing and undeniably truthful. Gatwood said that when she tours across the United States her listeners always comment on the dark, hot, heavy, mysterious air to it. To which she says “That’s just Albuquerque.”

News

Failing chemistry pipes affect research

Alyssa Martinez and Colin Peña | August 29

University of New Mexico chemistry building Clark Hall has been experiencing plumbing and drainage issues for years which prevent the department from using some laboratories and is slowing down research said Karen Ann Smith, the director of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facilities and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry. “Many of the pipes in the Reibsomer wing of Clark Hall are deteriorating and forming cracks due to construction from a plastic that breaks down when in contact with many common waste products,” Smith said. The deterioration is exacerbated by CPVC drain pipes. According to Plastic Pipe Experts, CPVC “is not resistant to most water-insoluble hydrocarbon-based chemicals.” Their website also said that waste products like hand lotion can cause CPVC failure.

News

ASUNM Senate approves seven appointments

Alyssa Martinez | August 29

The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico’s full senate meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28 ushered in seven new ASUNM appointees selected by ASUNM President Adam Biederwolf. Among the night’s events, the president pro-tempore was elected, UNM Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez discussed systemic reforms to athletics, Biederwolf provided updates on the solar panel installation on the Student Union Building (SUB) and an Open Meetings Act resolution was adopted to be compliant with New Mexico state law. Kaylee Maxon was confirmed as executive director of Lobo Spirit. Maxon served as Biederwolf’s assistant when he held the executive director position last year. According to Biederwolf, the executive director of Lobo Spirit cultivates a sense of campus morale by programming University wide events, such as Red Rally.

News

2020 Democratic primary candidate Cory Booker talks to burqueños at Marble

Amanda Britt | August 29

Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker covered a variety of topics concerning New Mexicans at a campaign fundraiser. The event held at Marble Brewery in Downtown Albuquerque on Monday evening. According to Damian Lara, 16A ward chair for Democratic Party of New Mexico, general admission tickets to attend the event started at $15 but were sold out within days of Booker announcing he was coming to Albuquerque. This limited the number of college students and millennials that we're able to join the event. Lara said college students may not have been able to come because of the time of day and the cost to get into the fundraiser, which ranged from 15 to 500 dollars that evening. “The economic cost for millennials and college students really prohibits their interaction and activity in the political system,” Lara said.

News

Haaland comes to UNM

Makayla Grijalva | August 29

US Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District spoke to University of New Mexico students on Tuesday, Aug. 27 in the Student Union Building (SUB) Atrium. Students, faculty and others in attendance were encouraged to ask Haaland questions on topics of their choice. Topics that were covered included who Haaland endorsed in the 2020 Democratic Primary — Elizabeth Warren — gerrymandering, the importance of voting in elections and more. “I am not one of those pessimists who say ‘everyone is corrupt.’” Haaland said. “No, I don’t believe that. There are so many good people who are serving our community in elected office, we just need to elect more of them

News

The man behind the SUB retires

Justin Garcia | August 26

You might not know his name, but chances are Walter Miller’s career, and the decisions he’s made throughout that career, affected your life at the University of New Mexico. Now, the vice president of Student Life and 25-year UNM administrator for is set to retire. For Miller, that means sticking around UNM, finishing one last looming project and hitting a few shows a Popejoy from time-to-time. It’s difficult to quantify a person’s accomplishments, but one place to start is money. In his time at UNM, Miller oversaw a massive overhaul of the Student Union Building that priced out at $25 million. Unlike similar buildings across the country, UNM’s SUB was funded with student fees, according to Miller.

News

Mercado, one of few exemptions to state law

Andrew Gunn | August 26

Thanks to a 2004 law repealing a longstanding tax on food in New Mexico, residents and visitors have been able to buy most of their food tax-free at the vast majority of retail stores around the state. This is not the case at most bodega-style markets at the University of New Mexico. On any given day, UNM students, faculty, staff and visitors can be seen filtering in and out of six convenience stores on campus. For a quick bite to eat in between classes, the proximity and ease of access can make these options for quick calories appealing in a high-stress academic environment. Likely unbeknownst to some of those consumers is the New Mexico gross receipts tax they pay on top of the price of their bag of chips or bottle of water.

News

Student Organization Day features wide range of campus clubs

Beatrice Nisoli | August 26

The University of New Mexico’s student clubs and organizations set up their tents and perfected their elevator pitches for Student Organization Day, on Thursday, Aug. 22,. The event occurs annually on campus during “Welcome Back” week. Student Organization Day features countless opportunities for incoming and current Lobos to become involved in a plethora of academic and social extracurriculars. This year, the Daily Lobo interviewed various groups facilitating their outreach towards interested and prospective club members. Emily Ganley, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, was representing the Society of Women Engineers, of which she is the current president. The club aims to encourage science, technology, engineering and math fields as potential career options for women, and to further the progress of women in these occupations.

News

Brief: Quantum sensor technology used for medical research

Amy Coleman | August 26

A team of researchers from The University of New Mexico and the Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM) recently published research about developing a quantum sensor to determine the chemical composition of trace quantities in samples. This technology will be used to examine how medicine enters the cell. The sensor is comprised of nitrogen-vacancy defects in a diamond that detects the magnetic fields produced by the nuclei in molecules. Victor Acosta, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and Joshua Damron, CHTM post-doctoral student said the research is done by shining a light through a solid object (diamond) into a liquid object (cells). This process is done with red light and is photographed with a special device. These images can then be viewed, showing the variety of shades of red.

Sports

Lobo soccer overcomes Texas Tech on single penalty kick

Alanie Rael | August 26

Lobo and Red Raider fans alike flocked to the University of New Mexico soccer stadium on Sunday evening to watch University of New Mexico women’s soccer team beat Texas Tech in their first game of the season The win for the Lobos was taken with fierce pride. This was the first win they’ve had against Tech in ten years. “For tonight, I’m damn proud of it,” Lobo head coach, Heather Dyche said. “That team was very, very good and for me. I’m from here, so this place should be great.” Coming into the first half, the competition was stiff. With defensive back and forth on both sides, the half looked to be uneventful up until the final seconds.

News

CESOSS hosts walk and talk about South Valley water rights

Amanda Britt | August 26

The Center for Social Sustainable Systems (CESOSS,) a non-profit group in the South Valley, welcomed New Mexicans to Sanchez Farms Open Space last Saturday to learn about the history of the Valley de Atrisco and the Armijo Acequia at their sixth Acequia Walk and Talk. An acequia is a traditional irrigation channel used heavily in New Mexican agricultural work. Jorge Garcia, the Mayordomo (the head of the acequia) of the Armijo Acequia and founder of CESOSS, led the talk by explaining the history of water rights in New Mexico since it became a state in 1912. In the 1920s, New Mexico created the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) to manage the flow of water and drain the valley in the Albuquerque area.

Culture

El Chante hosts poetry workshop on anger

Alyssa Martinez | August 22

The colorful El Chante: Casa De Cultura on the southwest corner of Park Avenue and 8th Street is home to burqueño poets every first and third Tuesday of the month. Manuel González, co-instructor of an introductory Chicano and Chicana studies course at the University of New Mexico and Albuquerque poet laureate emeritus, is the organizer of the bi-monthy “Low Writing” workshop at El Chante. Tuesdays are dedicated to digging deep into a single emotion selected by González. On Tuesday, Aug. 20, anger swarmed the bright yellow room.

News

Krebs Indicted

Justin Garcia and Andrew Gunn | August 22

Former University of New Mexico Athletics Director Paul Krebs was indicted on seven felony counts on Wednesday after he allegedly used University funds to finance a golf trip to Scotland. The two new charges are an embezzlement count for using $24,500 of University money to fund the Scotland jaunt and a lesser embezzlement charge to pay for his personal expenses to take the trip. The initial five complaints, leveled against Krebs this past February, include money laundering; tampering with evidence and fraud amounting to a total of $20,000; criminal solicitation and making or permitting a false public voucher. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of violation of ethical principles of public service.

Culture

Exhibit explores the Mexican Grey Wolf

Colin Peña | August 22

Intertwined— an exposition on the endangered Mexican Grey Wolf and its divisive status and ongoing reintroduction to the Southwest — will be on exhibit at the University of New Mexico’s Maxwell Museum of Anthropology until October 26. The exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Historically the Mexican Grey Wolf had a habitat range spanning from Texas to Central Mexico, but as European settlers filtered into the Southwest wolves were hunted to near extinction levels. After the reduction, the total population of the wolf became less than 10 percent, a breeding and reintroduction program began and still endures today. The reintroduction of the wolves has caused controversy since many local farmers and businessmen oppose the possible livestock damage from predation. The current reintroduction of wild wolves is only being done in Arizona, and is a lightning rod for political debate.

Opinion

UNM wall, a travesty

Andrew Gunn | August 22

While the vast majority of University of New Mexico students were enjoying their summer recess, the Albuquerque Journal revealed that the University had commissioned a study to examine campus security and provide suggestions for improvements. The study came back with an archaic recommendation: Wall off the flagship public university from the rest of the community. The “Main Campus Perimeter Security Access Study” suggests building an 8 to 10-foot tall, 13,000-foot long wrought-iron fence at a cost of approximately $1.6 million. The proposed barrier would encircle the entirety of the main campus, with at least 25 pedestrian entry and exit points and “controllable vehicle portals” for road access, according to the Journal article.