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ASUNM Senate passes spring budget with changes to executive pay, legislative stipend

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico Senate passed the spring 2025 budget bill on March 12 during a full senate meeting that ran late into the night, after much of the allotted time was used for debate over discrepancies in pay raises for ASUNM executive staff and senators. By the end of the meeting, student service agency employees and other hourly paid executive staff were awarded an extra 60 cents per hour on top of their $12 per hour — a number that has remained since New Mexico’s last change to the state minimum wage — and senators an additional $150 to their stipend. The stipend is paid on a per-semester basis, meaning that each senator will now be paid $650 total for the one-year term they are elected for.

UNM students, faculty protest following Palestinian student activist’s arrest at Columbia University

On March 10, the U.S. Education Department announced that sixty universities are under investigation for allegations related to antisemitic discrimination. The University of New Mexico is not on the list. Two days earlier, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Columbia University alum and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was involved in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University, according to the Columbia Daily Spectator. Khalil is a legal United States resident with no criminal record, according to The Associated Press.

ASUNM presidential candidates debate campus issues

On March 11, Associated Students at the University of New Mexico presidential candidates Andrew Norton and Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber participated in a debate hosted by the UNM College Democrats. Vice presidential candidate and Finance Chair Hope Montoya, who is running unopposed, gave a speech supporting Norton’s vision for ASUNM. The candidates discussed food, housing, safety and the role of athletics on campus.

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Sonia Nazario speaks at Albuquerque Museum

On March 14, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sonia Nazario gave an author talk and signing for her book “Enrique’s Journey” at the Albuquerque Museum. Her talk was framed by recent cuts on museum funding, and celebrations of cultural diversity. “Not a lot of museums take on these topics, so congratulations to the Albuquerque Museum,” Nazario said. Nazario’s writing focuses on several of America’s “most intractable problems,” including hunger, drug addiction and immigration, according to her website.

ASUNM presidential candidate: Tazz Jaber

Elections for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico begin 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 26 and close 5 p.m. Thursday, March 27. Undergraduate main campus students can cast their ballots at vote.unm.edu. Beyond the candidates listed here, Finance Chair Hope Montoya is running unopposed for vice president, and 16 candidates are vying for 10 senate seats. Information about them can be found at election.unm.edu/candidates. Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber (ballot #1) is running for president of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico. Jaber is the current ASUNM vice president. His campaign focuses on issues such as parking, digital IDs, student housing, safety and the completion of projects that began during his time as vice president.

ASUNM presidential candidate: Andrew Norton

Elections for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico begin 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 26 and close 5 p.m. Thursday, March 27. Undergraduate main campus students can cast their ballots at vote.unm.edu. Beyond the candidates listed here, Finance Chair Hope Montoya is running unopposed for vice president, and 16 candidates are vying for 10 senate seats. Information about them can be found at election.unm.edu/candidates. Andrew Norton (ballot #2) is running for president of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico. Currently serving as the executive director of Student Special Events, Norton’s platform focuses on strategic decision-making, student services and amplifying student voices, he said.

REVIEW: ‘Invincible’ Season Three finishes strong

This review contains spoilers. The third season of “Invincible” finished up on March 13. Season Three as a whole is very strong and perfectly builds on the seeds that were planted in Season Two. The main conflict of the season comes between Mark Grayson, aka Invincible, and Cecil Stedman as their moral philosophies clash. This conflict can be seen throughout the entire season, making for great storytelling. A lot of characters get really good development. Mark’s story arc is compelling and helps viewers feel for him. Viewers also get some background on Cecil through a new  understanding of why he operates things the way he does.

Travis Broadhurst elected president of GPSA

The University of New Mexico Graduate and Professional Student Association election results are in: Civil engineering doctoral candidate Travis Broadhurst will serve as its next president. Broadhurst has been active in GPSA for the past three years, serving as the director of Boards, Committees and Elections and as the sustainability director. He has also been a civil engineering department representative to the GPSA council for the past two years.

Education Department launches investigation into UNM for ‘race-exclusionary practices’

On March 14, the U.S. Education Department Office for Civil Rights announced investigations into 45 universities across the country, including the University of New Mexico, for allegedly engaging in “race-exclusionary practices” in their graduate programs. In its announcement, the department alleged that the universities violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by partnering with a nonprofit that supports historically underrepresented candidates in obtaining Ph.D.s. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities that receive federal funding. The Education Department also initiated investigations into six universities for allegedly awarding race-based scholarships, and one university for allegedly having a program that “segregates students on the basis of race.”

Robots dance with DJs and lasers for Albuquerque City Brights celebration

On Feb. 28, the Cafe Entropy in downtown Albuquerque hosted a robot laser show as part of the City Brights and Albuquerque Art Walk events. The event took place through March 7. During this particular night, artist Jordan MacHardy was on hand to discuss the robots and the experiential art exhibit. “We’re building out an experiential art museum here in this whole space,” MacHardy said.

Water, writing and the wild: Bookworks hosts talk with author Zak Podmore

On Feb. 11, Bookworks hosted author Zak Podmore to talk about and sign his recent book “Life After Dead Pool: Lake Powell’s Last Days and the Rebirth of the Colorado River.” Bookseller and partner in Bookworks, D.J. Green, said the event was part of the Writing in the Wild program, which is in partnership with the Leopold Writing Program. The Leopold Writing Program’s website reads that a percentage of proceeds go to the program, in support of its “mission to inspire an ethic of caring for our planet by cultivating diverse voices through the spoken and written word.​”

Men’s basketball: Lobos continue to dance

For the first time since 2012, the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team won a game in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the next round. This was the Lobos’ second year in a row making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament after falling short against Clemson last year. This year, however, the Lobos went head-to-head against the Marquette University Golden Eagles, beating them 75-66 on Friday, March 21. Both teams felt each other out in the first few minutes of the game. Then, the Lobos got hot offensively as they started to rack up points.

Architecture student talks struggles with wheelchair accessibility at UNM

Jayson Agos, a University of New Mexico junior and architecture student, called attention to  difficulties that students with disabilities can face on campus. When Agos came to UNM, he was still able to walk but was later unexpectedly paralyzed from the waist down, he said. It was then that he began to notice the ways he said UNM was unsuccessful in accommodating students with disabilities. “My first semester here at UNM was a dark semester for me,” Agos said. “I struggled a lot because there was so much that caused me issues just to get to class.”

OPINION: Bobbleheads of the week — NBA, March 9-14

Where there’s a victor, there’s a loser, and sometimes certain athletes contribute to their team’s shortcomings. These athletes are favorably called bobbleheads. Another week of NBA basketball has gone by — and with that, another week filled with bobbleheads.

Albuquerque Isotopes announce ‘City Roots’ alternate identity and five-game series

On Monday, March 10, the Albuquerque Isotopes announced five promotional games for the 2025 season as part of an upcoming “City Roots” series. The new alternate identity features designs by Rebecca Zook, the Isotopes’ manager for digital and social media marketing, with a Zia sun symbol in a “505” emblem and a stylized “Duke City” logo.

UNM celebrates Mardi Gras

On Tuesday, March 4, the University of New Mexico held a Mardi Gras event in the Student Union Building. Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States began in the 18th century when French settlers arrived in Louisiana, marking what is known as “Fat Tuesday,” according to the New Orleans website. Celebrations involve parades, colorful clothing and king cake, according to the website. The SUB event included a live jazz performance by local guitarist Dimian DiSanti and his musical group, mask decorating and traditional Cajun food, including jambalaya and king cake.

Comic, March 10, 2025

New Mexican Ukrainian organization, UNM professor react to Trump-Zelenskyy clash

On Feb. 28, a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office grew heated and ended with Zelenskyy leaving early. Following the meeting, a New Mexican Ukrainian organization and a University of New Mexico professor shared their reactions to the clash with the Daily Lobo. During the meeting, Trump told Zelenskyy, “You’re not acting at all thankful” in reference to the support Ukraine has received from the United States since Russia’s invasion. Later in the meeting, Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of running propaganda tours, campaigning for former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania and being ungrateful for U.S. aid.

Maxwell Museum unveils new fermentation exhibit

On Saturday, March 8, the University of New Mexico’s Maxwell Museum of Anthropology uncorked its newest exhibit. The exhibit, titled “Entangled Cultures: How Humans and Microbes Co-create through Fermentation,” explores how microbes and the process of fermentation have influenced and interacted with humans throughout history. The exhibit, consisting of about 20 items, presents how fermentation — a technique used to extend the shelf life and improve the nutritional value of foods — likely spurred human ancestors' development of larger brains, smaller digestive systems and expansion into new environments. Human interactions with microbes — microorganisms essential for fermentation — are given little attention by anthropology despite their potential major contributions to human evolution, according to Toni Gentilli, archaeologist and Maxwell Museum curator of exhibits.

UNM experts react to Trump DEI overhaul efforts

Since President Donald Trump’s reelection, he has repeatedly targeted federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs that seek to increase diversity within the government. These efforts could have negative impacts, including in New Mexico, according to UNM experts. Executive orders on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 directed federal agencies to terminate their DEI programs, before a federal judge largely blocked the orders on Feb. 21, according to The Associated Press. While the executive orders did not specifically define DEI programs, DEI refers to “programs that ensure people from different backgrounds, cultures, identities, and experiences feel accepted in their environments, whether at school, work or other organizations,” according to The Columbus Dispatch.