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News

UNM buildings kill dozens of birds, study finds

Anthony Jackson | March 25

Not only is the Farris Engineering building one of the newer buildings at the University of New Mexico, but it is also one of the deadliest buildings — for birds.  It stands erect against a blue sky, massive windows providing camouflage for an open ambush. Smudges on the reflective glass detail individual feathers of a wing and some bear the imprint of a beak, almost like a gravestone bearing their memory after hitting the glass.  Window strikes are not a new concept to the University. Data collected from Museum of Southwest Biology (MSB) researchers dates back to 1965 — the first entry marked the death of a ruby-crowned kinglet. Over the course of 53 years, more than 60 bird deaths have been recorded on campus. However, there is an issue with the data set — it is incomplete and sporadic. 

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News

Professor discusses how to navigate privilege

Danielle Prokop | March 25

Dr. Stacey Pearson-Wharton has previously titled her presentation on privilege, difficult conversations and apologies: “When you step in the multicultural poo,” poop emoji optional.  Around 500 people filled the ballrooms in the Student Union Building to attend Pearson-Wharton’s talk: “When Intent Doesn’t Equal the Impact: Healing Relationships in the Wake of Offense” on Wednesday evening.  Pearson-Wharton said her goal was to give the attendees the tools to effectively apologize and to recognize their own privileges, and recognize what to do in uncomfortable situations arising around race, gender and sexuality. “I want to be clear that just because you feel uncomfortable does not mean you are unsafe,” Pearson-Wharton said.  Pearson-Wharton emphasized her focus was teaching people how to better apologize to one another — to make sure the apology is not reluctant or insincere. 

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Sports

Confusion surrounds Lobo Hockey and charity game

Robert Maler | March 25

If you thought the UNM Lobo hockey club was teaming together with the Albuquerque Police and Fire Departments — you weren't alone. Several Facebook comments seemed to indicate fans were under the same impression, but that apparently wasn't the case. UNM head hockey coach Grant Harvey said he and his team were not asked to participate, but said he wished the organizers well in their effort to raise funds.

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Sports

New Mexico United remains undefeated after four games

Kyle Land | March 25

After their first four games as a franchise, New Mexico United remain undefeated.  Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Orange County sees Albuquerque’s brand new soccer team rise to sixth place in the Group B standings of the United Soccer League (USL). The top eight from each of the two groups will advance to the playoffs at the end of the season. The teams of the seventh and eight place will do a play-in game at the beginning. The team picked up their first win of the season last Wednesday with a 2-1 win against the Tulsa Roughnecks at Isotopes Park. United scored two goals within the first 20 minutes, one coming from the Albuquerque-native Devon Sandoval. 

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Music

New music to check out this week

Shayla Cunico and Sophia Sambrano | March 25

Music in 2019 has seen plenty of new and familiar faces challenging the norms that genre conventions can bring. Here's a list of some of those trailblazing artists and the new material they have released. “I” by Lil Skies Kimetrius Foose, more popularly known as Lil Skies released his debut album, and first project of 2019, late last month. Shelby, named after his mother, opens up with “I” as Skies delivers a reminiscent punch, drawing on the pain and struggle that his last relationship left him with. The track is produced by CuBeatz, Otx Hello and Danny Wolf and the visual was dreamt up by music video master, Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade. 

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Opinion

Column: Include R.O.N. on the ballot to keep elections fair

Kyle Land | March 25

This week thousands of undergraduate students at the University of New Mexico will have the chance to elect the next president and vice president of the Associated Students of UNM, with two candidates running for each position.  However, I’m not here to discuss any one of those candidates. Instead, I’ll be discussing a third candidate for both positions — their name is R.O.N.  R.O.N. is actually a popular candidate at many different universities and is a common feature in student union elections across the United Kingdom.  But R.O.N. is not a person; it is an acronym for Re-Open Nominations, and is included on ballots next to the names of the candidates. 

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Culture

UNM holds talk on sustainability

Elisabetta Mackin | March 25

Last Thursday, a talk focused on climate change was held at the University of New Mexico in an effort to encourage students and the University community to acknowledge their collective carbon footprint and learn how to engage in constructive conversations. “The most important thing we can do is talk about it,” said Holly Olivarez, the coordinator of the event. “Even if we are confused and even if we are unsure.”  Olivarez, a senior undergraduate student majoring in Earth and Planetary Sciences. She is an aspiring climate scientist, and plans to attend graduate school in the fall specializing in climate change communication.

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News

ASUNM votes against new senate seats

Justin Garcia | March 21

It was big. It was radical. It was something that had come up a number of times before. And it would have restructured undergraduate student government. But, it wasn’t ready.  At least that was the consensus of the Steering & Rules Committee of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico, who voted down a package of legislation that would have added up to 10 (possibly appointed) seats on the Senate. 

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Culture

El Centro de la Raza celebrates 50th birthday

Shayla Cunico | March 21

Since its founding in 1969, El Centro de la Raza has helped Latino and underrepresented students at the University of New Mexico. This year El Centro is celebrating their 50th anniversary, titled50 Años de Excelencia y Justicia Social.  The celebration acts as more of a family reunion, said El Centro's Director, Rosa Isela Cervantes.  "We have students coming, (as well as) alumni that haven't seen each other in years," Cervantes said.  As El Centro comes up on 50 years at UNM, they wanted to celebrate the milestone in a way that would allow them to continue to support students the way El Centro always has. El Centro provides resources to students, helping them to reach their fullest potential during their years at UNM.

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News

ASUNM forum focuses on campus resources

Justin Garcia | March 21

Resources and how to access them dominated the discussion at Monday’s Associated Students of the University of New Mexico endorsement forum. The forum, mandated by ASUNM governing documents, gives student organizations a chance to endorse candidates, as the name suggests. The event doubles as a forum, where Elections Commissions Director Jordan Montoya and Assistant Director Christian Ojeda moderated the candidates.  “I don’t think the endorsement forum is useful,” Montoya said. “(The forum) doesn’t mean people will vote.” This Presidential Election comes after a Fall semester Senate election that saw record-low turnout. Just over 1,000 undergraduates voted, according to the Elections Commission. That's about six percent of the undergraduate student body for Fall 2018.

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Sports

New Mexico United : Season opens with a draw against Fresno FC

Andrew Gunn | March 20

New Mexico United opened their heavily anticipated inaugural campaign on Friday in front of a sellout crowd at Isotopes Park, coming away with a 1-1 draw and their first ever point against Fresno FC. Sporting the black and yellow home kit with the Meow Wolf logo emblazoned across the chest, Devon Sandoval opened his scoring account in the 25th minute with the first goal in club history. United were to be denied a victory and the full three points, however, after Brazilian winger Jackson's header from just outside the six yard box found the net for the visitors just minutes into the second half.

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News

UNM recommends labor board reject union's petition

Kyle Land | March 19

Editor's Note: The University's official response submitted to the labor board can be viewed in its entirety here. The University of New Mexico has recommended the UNM Labor Management Relations Board reject a petition signed by over 900 faculty to create a union, according to their official response submitted to the board. UNM said the bargaining unit, United Academics of UNM (UA-UNM), was not stated appropriately and should be ordered to submit another petition with UNM’s recommended changes.  UNM’s response — delivered to the labor board Monday afternoon — was written by Loretta Martinez, chief legal counsel for UNM. President Garnett Stokes has previously said the president’s office is in charge of drafting the position. The University was required to meet a March 18 deadline for the response, which was extended from March 1. 

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News

Presidential candidates discuss the issues

Justin Garcia/ @Just516garc/ Daily Lobo | March 18

This year’s race for president of the undergraduate student government is a decade in the making. Adam Biederwolf and Mohammad Assed, both raised in Albuquerque, have known each other since elementary school. Now, heading into what is likely to be their final two semesters of university, they are running against each other to represent the undergraduates as President of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico.  The President is elected by a plurality of main campus undergraduates and comes with a $10,000 per semester salary and a scholarship for two semesters. According to the ASUNM constitution, the ASUNM President is responsible for the eight student service agencies of ASUNM, (this coming year) co-chairing the Student Fee Review Board, representing the undergraduate student body to the Board of Regents and enforcing the ASUNM Senate laws. 

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News

ASUNM Vice President candidates share their ideas

Justin Garcia/ @Just516garc/ Daily Lobo | March 18

The next Vice President of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico will have been a Finance Committee Chair. That much is clear.  Whether it will be current Finance Chair, Holly Gallegos, or last semester’s Finance Chair, Madelyn Lucas, will be decided by the undergraduate student body during the election, which runs from March 24-27.  The ASUNM constitution describes the role as “the president of and preside over the Senate, and shall have no vote except in the event of a tie. “ The Vice President also appoints Senators to committee chairs along with assigning senators to one of the three committees. Like the president, the Vice President also comes with a salary and scholarship. 

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News

The Legislature may be over, but UNM's budget woes are not

Danielle Prokop | March 18

Focus will shift to the University of New Mexico budget, following this year’s legislative session. UNM’s appropriations from the 54th New Mexico Legislature saw an increase in general funding, and more money for the Department of Athletics. However, the University is still facing enrollment shortfalls — that means less in tuition and student fees, and pressure on teacher and staff salaries.  According to House Bill 2 (HB 2), this year UNM received $188 million from the State General Fund, which goes directly to the Instruction and General purpose fund (I&G). Those funds are used for supporting the academic mission of the University. 

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News

Johnson Center renovation nears completion

Justin Garcia | March 18

After almost a year of construction, the redesigned Johnson Center is beginning to take shape.  While there will be many new additions, the remodeled recreation center will not have a rock-climbing wall, a feature suggested at the start of the project.   According to Director of Recreational Services Jim Todd, there wasn’t room in the $35 million budget for the addition.

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News

Photo Story: The D.C. you don't see

Anthony Jackson | March 18

My first time in Washington, D.C. was not special. I remember spending most of my time working in my dorm room and in the Senate Press Gallery of the Capitol building. I never saw as much as I wanted to. I walked the National Mall and went to museums dozens of times, but I never took the time to explore as much as I should.  I visited a friend in D.C. over the break and I wanted to makeup for lost time. Instead of keeping my head down and avoiding human interaction, I made it a goal to get out and notice the small things. 

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Opinion

Column: Greek Life's charity doesn't make up for shortcomings

Kyle Land | March 18

The history of Greek Life on university and college campuses has no shortage of drama. In recent years, fraternities and sororities across the nation have faced troubling incidents, including racism, homophobia and sexual assault.  One fraternity at Syracuse even achieved the trifecta by mocking or doing all of these acts in one video.  Even at the University of New Mexico, Greek organizations face their fair share of troubling behaviors. Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and Phi Delta Theta (Phi Delt) came under investigation last year for violating university policies relating to alcohol and hazing. FIJI had its entire charter revoked, while PIKE and Phi Delt were both placed on probation, the latter of which just ended in January. 

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Music

Local band Polyhedra drops self-titled EP

Cole Space | March 18

From right here in Albuquerque comes Polyhedra, a melodic death-core band who released a self-titled EP in the beginning of March. The five-track album explores a plethora of sounds, testing the dichotomy between the ordered chaos of metal and the peacefulness of guitar ballads. Each song is a journey within itself, moving from fast paced blast beats and technical progressions, to slower melodic fills and hypnotic guitar riffs. The album begins with the song “Infernus Machina," the instruments featured in the song progressively building throughout the intro. Clean guitar melts with the drums, moving into distortion before quickly transitioning into structured disorder by introducing the varying tones of screaming vocals. The guitar and drums are in sync with one another, no matter the change in tempo, a testament to the chemistry of the band.

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News

University to make decision on union petition today

Kyle Land | March 18

On Monday, University of New Mexico officials will be releasing their response to a petition signed by over 900 faculty members across all five campuses in support of the formation of a collective bargaining unit, which was filed under the name United Academics of the University of New Mexico (UA-UNM).  The decision will come more than a month after the petition was first delivered to President Garnett Stokes during her traveling office hours. UA-UNM allowed the University until March 18 to reach a decision Lee Montgomery, an associate professor and member of UA-UNM, said the University essentially has three options on how to respond to the petition: