New Mexico fall means achingly blue skies, contrasted behind golden-crowned trees and high above is the cacophony of flight. In the stands of cottonwoods south of Socorro, thousands of sandhill cranes come to rest, picking their way through shallow water and waving grasses for seeds and tubers. Coyotes prowl around the edges looking for tired snow geese to catch.
Rock climbing has developed into a popular sport over the past decade, more than doubling the amount of climbing gyms in the U.S. Drastically increasing the amount of gyms provides vast communities of people to be exposed to this once-elitist sport.
An audience can always enjoy, critique or copy the wonderful work of a photographer. However, they can never truly understand what it is like to be in that photographer’s shoes, unless they learn how to do the job themselves.
This past Friday, the University of New Mexico Arts Research Technology Science (ARTS) Lab hosted an artist talk and performance event featuring Ryan Dennison. Guests were invited to complementary dishes as a piece of Dennison’s Navajo culture. They were seated in a dimly lit ambient atmosphere noted with subtle hues peeking through the ceiling. The Diné transdisciplinary artist hails from Tohatchi, New Mexico, and began his talk by introducing himself to the audience in Navajo. “Diné,” meaning “person” in Navajo, reviving the indigenous, Navajo way of life as a means to connect one back to their indigenous roots to keep the culture alive. Although admittedly not fluent in the language, Dennison explained through archives of pictures from his community work, artwork and even childhood memories, that he manages to keep in touch with his roots through a variety of artforms.
New York Times co-chief theater critic Ben Brantley opened his second “Hamilton” review writing “Yes, it really is that good.” Four years later, it is still that good. “Hamilton: an American Musical” began its Broadway run on August 6, 2015 at the Richard Rogers Theater. Since then, the smash hit, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has gained a level of fame few other performances could imagine. That stardom, dozens of different cast members, the tsunami of cash (cheap seats at Rogers start at $300) and criticisms of historical inaccuracies are seemingly unable to worsen the performance. It is still that good.
The New Mexico Lobos cruised to an easy victory over New Mexico State on Saturday at Dreamstyle Arena behind a big first half run in a game that finished 83-58. The Lobos played probably their most complete half of basketball of the season in the first half against the Aggies. Things were close early on, until the Lobos put together an impressive 17-point scoring run that saw NMSU held scoreless for over seven minutes of game action and build a 20 point lead that set up the rest of the game. “I thought from about the five minute mark in the first quarter until about five minutes left in the second quarter, defensively we were really good and converted down there in transition” head coach Mike Bradbury said.
And on the last day of November, the 2018 rap scene was put to shame by Earl Sweatshirt. “Some Rap Songs” is a dangerously over simplified title for Earl’s latest album as it turns out be a carefully calculated album disguised in a mask to look like a loose, free flowing piece of work. Upon first listen, this might sound like a dismissible album that seems messy and jumbled but, this is the fundamental element that Earl uses to capture listeners and hold them down for the full ride and not just a single track. Each song serves as a puzzle piece to a larger image but, as the album continues it’s evident that the pieces to this circular narrative aren’t for the same puzzle. What you end up with is an abstract collage of tellings from Earl’s life.
On Friday the University of New Mexico lit up with luminarias for the annual Hanging of the Greens. Students, alumni and community members gathered outside of the UNM bookstore to start their campus stroll, but after a cup of hot chocolate first. Whether referred to as luminarias or farolitos, thousands of these little lights decorated campus. School organizations who participated created their own designs out of the glowing paper bags.
The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico finished up another semester last Wednesday. Here is a recap of some of the highlights of this semester. Reaction to the Cut Sports The Senate wrote profusely commending the student-athletes of men’s soccer, men and women’s skiing, and women’s beach volleyball and denouncing the regents’ decision to cut the sports.
Battery on healthcare personnel at UNMH On Nov. 12, a suspect was transported to University of New Mexico Hospital after he was unresponsive during a bed check at the Metropolitan Detention Center, according to a report. When he was told nurses at UNMH would give him an IV, he became violent. As one nurse attempted to place a tourniquet on his arm in order to draw blood, the suspect kicked her in the left arm. The nurse said her arm was sore, and she thought it may bruise. Two correction officers who transported the suspect to UNMH witnessed the incident. The correction officers confirmed the nurse’s statements were true. The case will be sent to the District Attorney’s Office.
It’s 2018 and only 14 out of the 50 U.S. states have laws against minors attending gay conversion therapy camps. This startling fact is what the film “Boy Erased,” starring Lucas Hedges as Garrard Conley, is attempting to change or at least bring awareness to. With Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe backing Hedges as his character’s parents, this heartbreaking story serves as coming of age tale that (as the film states) 700,000+ LGBTQ youth have had to endure. Playing the antagonist is Garrard’s father, a preacher of a local church, and Victor Sykes (Joel Edgerton) who leads Love In Action (LIA), the gay therapy camp that Hedges’ character attends after being forcibly outed as gay to his parents.
This Saturday, the Southwest Film Center (SWFC) will host the 2018 Cherry Reel Film Festival in the Student Union Building. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., guests are welcomed to gather and enjoy "a film festival for student filmmakers, by student filmmakers.” The event is sponsored by Canon, and has a $5 entry fee which is cash only. Students presenting their work this year have the opportunity to win a new DSLR and lens that value over $2,500.
The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Senate unanimously denounced new Title IX recommendations made by the federal government Wednesday night — recommendations most of them didn’t even read. Resolution 15F was a condemnation by ASUNM senators of the recently released Title IX recommendations by the Department of Education. It also called upon President Stokes and the Board of Regents to release separate statements in opposition of the recommendations. Finally, it encouraged UNM students to participate in the 60-day comment period on policy and practices. Rather than the student government, the resolution was authored by nursing student Elisa Davidson. Sponsoring senators included Senators Selina Montoya, Rachel Montoya and Mohammed Assed. Davidson, a sophomore, also works at the Women’s Resource Center — one of two confidential reporting sites on campus.
The Lobos knew that Ahlise Hurst could shoot — she had showed it in practice, she just hadn’t exhibited it in a game yet. Hurst tied the freshman scoring record with 39 points in a performance that Nike McClure said should be a warning to the Mountain West as the Lobos clawed their way to a hard-fought 84-80 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday evening. “That was incredible,” McClure said of Hurst’s performance. “This is going to give her the confidence she needs to shoot her through the rest of the season, especially as a freshman. I think you guys need to watch out for her in the Mountain West these next couple of years because she can shoot from anywhere.”
The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico convened for their final meeting of the Fall 2018 semester on Wednesday. The meeting was business as usual for UNM student senators and leaders, which resulted in six appropriations that were passed. Of the roughly $9,120 requested in appropriations, ASUNM voted to grant at least 56 percent of all requested funds.
Thanksgiving weekend is over and everyone is back to their usual bustle and hustle. However, the holiday season is upon us with Hanukkah and Christmas fast approaching. This is a collection of holiday tunes from a variety of genres and artists to suit your holiday mood. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy A swing take on the song “You’re a Mean One,” iconic to the book and movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss. The song describes the Grinch who is the least holiday spirited Who of Whoville. In this rendition of the sound saxophone, trumpet decorate the swing beat.
University of New Mexico Press has donated over 400 pounds of books to Operation Gratitude for American troops who are away from home this holiday season. Operation Gratitude is a non-profit organization that assembles and sends care packages to troops who are deployed overseas. The non-profit organization has been in operation since 2003.The care packages are also sent to military children, first-responders, veterans, new recruits, wounded-heroes and their caregivers, according to Operation Gratitude’s website. Each care package contains snacks, hygiene products, entertainment and handmade items, as well as personal support, in the form of cards or letters.
In the North Pacific Ocean, there exists a vortex of debris and trash that is estimated to contain at least 80,000 metric tons of plastic. A report in March of this year in the scientific journal, Nature Research, suggests the amount of plastic pollution in one 1.6 million square kilometer section of the ocean is increasing exponentially. This 1.6 million square kilometer section is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), and it is a microcosm of the effects that our society’s rampant growth and insatiable appetite for consumption have on our planet.
School of Medicine students and staff at the University of New Mexico North Campus celebrated Giving Tuesday with hot chocolate and a chance to donate. The event, Hot Chocolate and Gratitude, hosted donation bins for Roadrunner Foodbank, South Valley Clinic, homeless shelters and a bin for Hoodies for Humanism. Erika Anderson, the program coordinator for the School of Medicine, said the new tradition at UNM is focusing on improving people’s lives with the little things.
The U.S. Department of Education released new Title IX guidelines last Friday, and it’s unclear how the standards might affect colleges around the country, including the University of New Mexico. Due to the agreement brokered with the Department of Justice in 2016, UNM might have different standards than other schools regarding sexual harassment and sexual assault investigation and procedures. The agreement with DOJ mandated that UNM implement training, revise University policy on reporting to better resolve sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations, eliminate the hostile environment and ensure Title IX state are adequately trained. UNM still has to provide reports until 2020.
Solutions by The State News
