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Opinion

Column: Racist Halloween costumes are never okay

Sol Traverso | October 28

The controversy over the offensive nature of certain Halloween costumes has been revisited once again this year. NBC canceled Megyn Kelly’s show for comments she made about blackface as a Halloween costume. On her show “Megyn Kelly Today,” Kelly posed the question to her show’s all-white panel on the topic of ‘blackface,’ and asked, “What is racist about that?” The next day she apologized for the comments. “What is racist? You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid, that was okay as long as you were dressing up as a character,” Kelly said.

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News

ASUNM Recap: $4 million difference between SFRB requests and available funds

Justin Garcia | October 25

In this year’s Student Fee Review Board process, organizations across the University of New Mexico requested $4.5 million more than what was available, according to Becka Myers, chair of the SFRB. Myers, who is also president of Associated Students of UNM, told Senators during Wednesday’s Full Senate meeting that about $17.6 million had been requested, while only about $13.1 million was available for the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters. In the latest Board of Regents meeting, interim Provost Richard Wood stated that the University faced a $2.1 million shortfall in student fees due to decreasing enrollment. He added organizations relying on student fees could face cuts of up to 12 percent if they were fully implemented.

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News

Purple Thursday to bring awareness about domestic violence

Madison Spratto | October 25

There’s a purpose behind the purple today. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in recognition of that LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center asked the University of New Mexico campus to wear purple today. It also happens to be the day of observance and all around the country communities are partaking in “Purple Thursday.” Linda Lindquist, director of LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, said Purple Thursday is a chance for the campus to observe and show solidarity in awareness of domestic and intimate relationship violence.

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News

WRC hosts program to prevent gendered violence

Megan Holmen | October 25

The University of New Mexico Women’s Resource Center (WRC) supports the UNM community in a variety of services, including the Gendered Violence Prevention Program. According to WRC Outreach Specialist Caitlin Henke, the Gendered Violence Prevention Program focuses on both sexual violence awareness and prevention, in addition to bystander training. According to the WRC website, “The Gendered Violence Prevention Program trainers have presented to Res Life, the Greek Community, Athletics, CEP, New Student Orientation, LoboRESPECT Student Leaders and advisors. Trainers have trained students and staff within our new Peer Educator Model.” Reina Davis, the outreach coordinator for WRC, said the program was established in 2013 by the first author of “The Grey Area” training, an online training that UNM requires students to take.

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Culture

Five and Why: Local drag queen Avery Taureaux's favorite albums

Yana Apostalon | October 25

With the help of some make up and carefully crafted outfits, Freddie Bell turns into Avery Taureaux on the stages of Sidewinders Bar, Albuquerque Social Club, Twist Nightclub, Zullo’s Bar and Bistro and The Clubhouse; Alternative Lifestyle Club. What started with being an attendee at RuPaul’s Drag Race event at Sidewinders, dressed as the famous Naomi Smalls, turned into several performances in clubs across Albuquerque as Avery. As a wardrobe stylist, Avery puts thought into the functionality and aesthetic of each outfit. Her routines involve drops and intensive choreography so there is little room for wardrobe malfunctions.

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News

SHAC offers free STI testing for students

Anthony Jackson | October 25

Students at the University of New Mexico can stay healthy and be sexually active thanks to an on campus resource — the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC). UNM’s SHAC services provide free sexually transmitted infection tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, offered twice a month on select Tuesdays — also known as STI Testing Tuesdays. Free HIV tests are also provided twice a month on select Thursdays.

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News

UNM centers offer free condoms

Justin Garcia | October 25

Gonorrhea — nobody wants it. Yet, there has been a 67 percent increase in reported cases since 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Gonorrhea is not alone. The CDC estimates there are 1.7 million cases of chlamydia in the U.S., a 22 percent increase from 2013. Syphilis cases are also up by 76 percent.

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Music

"Dirty Computer" a beautiful expression of sexuality

Veronica Apodaca | October 25

Janelle Monáe’s album “Dirty Computer,” released in April of this year, is a bold expression of her unique experiences with sexuality and self-expression, and how these experiences have been shaped by American society. Monáe, who also came out as pansexual this year, uses “Dirty Computer” as a way to give a voice to women and their sexuality, something which is often ignored. “Dirty Computer” is beautifully crafted, with the sounds of several of the songs clearly influenced by artists of the 1970s and 80s. These vintage elements are mixed in with more modern, electronic sounds evocative of the computer in the album’s title. This is particularly noticeable in the album’s second track, “Take a Byte,” in which Monáe creates an image of a herself as a sexual being who is both confident and playful.

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Music

These Days: A sit down with Wallows

Colton Newman | October 23

Taking the American Express Stage at Austin City Limits the morning after Paul McCartney headlined on the same stage, drawing thousands, would seem like a daunting task. But to the California indie rock band the Wallows, it was nothing but a punch line in a joke. On stage lead singer Dylan Minnette sent a friendly jab at Paul McCartney stating that because he was on stage before them, Paul McCartney was their opener. This was just the start to a performance that was in the simplest form just pure fun for the band and audience.

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Opinion

Letter: Bashing Trump will not help Democrats

Daily Lobo Readers | October 23

Editor, I seem to be in the minority in today's national Democratic Party. I disagree with the tendency of most Democrats (including political candidates for Congress and those in the news media) to constantly bash Donald Trump over his obnoxious personality and his divisive comments.

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Opinion

Letter: Taproom doesn't mitigate dangers of alcohol

Daily Lobo Readers | October 23

Editor, Many people who were taught that having sex with anyone they are not married to is sin — drink booze to turn off their shame and guilt. Many men who were taught that having sex with men is sin, many women who were taught that having sex with women is sin, drink booze to turn off their shame and guilt.

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Music

A playlist of creepy songs for Halloween

Megan Holmen | October 23

This playlist is comprised of songs that are about serial killers, zombies, witches and all other kinds of folk lore, supernatural and paranormal. Many of these songs seem to be like any other on first listen, but when paying closer attention to the lyrics it is clear that the subject matter is far from ordinary. “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” by Sufjan Stevens This song on Sufjan’s album titled “Come on, feel the Illinoise” features piano, soft guitar and Sufjan’s gentle voice. The song tells the story of American serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who killed 33 boys between 1972 and 1978 in Cook County, Illinois. Sufjan’s music is frequently quirky and discusses a variety of topics. In fact he has an entire album dedicated to birds. This album focuses all things Illinois related and is not the only chilling song featured on the album.

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News

ASUNM and student org to discuss future behind closed doors

Anthony Jackson and Justin Garcia | October 22

A University of New Mexico engineering club’s status, funding and future are up in the air — and all of it is being decided behind closed doors. Members from the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico and the UNM chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) will meet privately in the ASUNM conference room on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Confusion over SAE follows their announcement to withdraw their club charter from ASUNM, not from the Student Activities Center (SAC). Club charters are handled through the SAC, not ASUNM. Once chartered, a student organization can request money and is officially recognized by the University.

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Culture

Broadway sensation "Wicked" makes stop at Popejoy

Veronica Apodaca | October 22

Popejoy Hall, known for attracting high profile performances to New Mexico, saw the return of the national touring production of the Broadway phenomenon “Wicked” on Oct. 17. The show tells the story behind the two iconic witches of “The Wizard of Oz.” Its powerful narrative of female friendship and the far-reaching effects of oppression told through a clever script and beautiful songs has made it an international success, and Albuquerque audiences share in the enthusiasm. “Albuquerque seems to be incredibly receptive to Broadway,” said Jan Turri, the local publicist for the Broadway in New Mexico series at Popejoy. “Popejoy is one of the best houses, and it’s the perfect place for Broadway.”

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Sports

Football: Fresno State’s defense stonewalls UNM in 38-7 victory

Matthew Narvaiz | October 22

The University of New Mexico football team was beaten, battered and bruised in a 38-7 thumping by the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday evening at Dreamstyle Stadium. In head coach Bob Davie’s assessment, it was a product of an “unpolished” offense and a culmination of unnecessary penalties. Nine Lobo penalties — which accounted for 125 yards — didn’t help out much either, as Davie pointed out in the press conference after the game.

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News

Why the CD-2 election is making national headlines

Danielle Prokop | October 22

A New Mexican congressional race is making headlines in national news. The candidates are Yvette Herrell, a four-term Republican member of the state legislature, and Xochitl Torres Small, a water attorney and former staffer for Democratic New Mexican Senator Tom Udall. Congressional District 2 (CD2) encompasses roughly 19 counties in central and southern New Mexico. In total area, the district is larger than the state of Pennsylvania. It’s a huge variety stretching as far north as portions of Bernalillo, southeastern mining and oil areas, swathes of farmland and the second largest city in the state, Las Cruces.

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News

GO bond to fund UNM construction if passed

Tom Hanlon | October 22

This November, voters will be able to decide if the University of New Mexico will receive funds to renovate its chemistry building, construct a new Reserve Officer Training Corps building and build a new career center for the UNM Taos branch. These projects are all part of General Obligation Bond D, which will be on the general election ballot this November. GO bonds are a type of municipal bond often used to fund brick and mortar projects on universities.

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Culture

Hundreds of runners participate in Duke City Marathon

Justine Lopez | October 22

Sunday, hundreds of runners gathered downtown at Civic Plaza for the 35th annual Duke City Marathon. The marathon kicked off at 7 a.m. and was followed by a marathon relay, half marathon, 10k and 5k. Runners took their mark and dashed down 3rd Street at the sound of the starting pistol. Some participants took off clad in tutus, and others sported no shoes at all. A family of five wore different colored shirts with Pokémon characters printed on the front. Every runner wore a bib indicating which event they were in. University of New Mexico alumna, Holly Armstrong, participated in the 5K race this year alongside her husband. She said she did not train prior to the race but wanted to take part to enjoy herself.

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News

"Walk for Freedom" seeks to abolish modern slavery

Alyssa Bitsie | October 22

Members of the Albuquerque community came together for A21’s “Walk for Freedom” event at Alameda Open Space on Saturday morning. A21 is an international organization working to abolish slavery in the 21st century. The non-profit organization was formed in 2008 and works to eradicate human trafficking through awareness, intervention and aftercare, according to the organization’s website. The A21’s “Walk for Freedom” is a global walk in 50 different countries with over 450 walks in total, all held on Oct. 20, said the event’s host Jessica Otero.

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News

Early Voting — where to cast your ballot in New Mexico

Gabriella Rivera and Anthony Jackson | October 22

Registered New Mexico voters can begin early voting this Saturday, Oct. 20 at more than a dozen locations across Bernalillo County. Early voting will last from Oct. 20 through Nov. 3. Polls will be open Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will not be allowed to cast any ballots from Nov. 4 through Nov. 5, said Jaime Diez, a deputy clerk from the Bernalillo County Clerk’s office. However, Diez said voters can still cast absentee ballots if absentee voters did not receive them sooner.