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Earth Month: NM environmental leaders talk sustainability

Penelope Loyd Sment | April 20

This Earth Month, two sustainability activists spoke about the efforts the University of New Mexico has been taking to address the climate crisis and its role in environmental issues. While the University’s efforts have been a good start, there is still more work to do, they said.  The clearest example of action taken by UNM on environmental matters is the University’s strategic sustainability plan, released in October 2025, with goals set to be accomplished by 2030. The plan outlines multiple objectives for both transforming campus operations and building sustainability engagement and culture on campus. The goals tackle energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use, waste management, transportation and limiting waste in food and dining. 

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Culture

Annual ‘International Festival’ celebrates culture with food, song, dance

Lexis Lovato | April 20

The International Festival made its annual return to the University of New Mexico for the 21st time on Thursday, April 16, with food trucks and local vendors on Cornell Mall. The festival was hosted by a variety of University international programs and organizations where students and faculty created booths to teach visitors about different items of each culture, including food, crafts, jewelry, art and other souvenirs. This year featured a variety of food options made by student organizations, food trucks and local food vendors including Le Paris Bakery and Seoul Gimbap.

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News

University presidential finalists, campus visits announced

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 20

The University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents has announced the five finalists to fill the role of University president when Garnett Stokes’ retirement takes effect in July. Each of the candidates will visit Main Campus over the next four weeks, where community members are encouraged to engage with the finalists directly and submit feedback after the forum. All forums will be held in the Student Union Ballroom C.

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News

‘Sport as a Public Good’ talk spotlights gaps in youth sports education, access

Shin Thant Hlaing | April 20

There’s little that people enjoy more than play. Unfortunately, when it comes to our youth, we often fail in nurturing that love, former President of the U.S. Tennis Association and Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA Brian Hainline said. On Wednesday, April 15, Hainline spoke at the University of New Mexico Physics and Astronomy Interdisciplinary Science Building and said sports should be a public good to an audience including local sport leaders and athletes. He highlighted what he called an inadequate systemic support for sports in the U.S.  Hainline’s lecture was hosted jointly by the UNM School of Medicine and Alumni Association. 

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News

Target-anchored retail development coming to South Campus

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 20

Just west of The Pit, a major retail center will begin construction next month. The development will stretch across 365,000 square-feet and include a Target, Marshalls, Home Goods, Burlington and Old Navy, in addition to several smaller retailers and restaurants. It is scheduled to finish construction in fall 2027. Lobo Crossing is a project the University of New Mexico has been trying to develop for nearly a decade, the Chief Operating Officer of Lobo Development Corporation Tom Neale said.

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Culture

Meet the Lobos asking ‘What’s out there?’

Addison Fulton | April 20

The University of New Mexico has its own aerospace research lab where Lobos touch the stars. Just a ten minute drive from Main Campus is the COSMIAC lab. COSMIAC, or Configurable Space Microsystems, Innovations and Application Center, is a Tier-2 Research Center that focuses on space exploration. Daniel Garcia, a research engineer with UNM COSMIAC, said COSMIAC is special because of the people involved.  “Space is hard. Space is really hard. And the fact that we have a group, a cohort here at COSMIAC, that is almost singularly focused on trying to be a part of this really difficult challenge, is really special. 
And the kind of way we operate at the center here, it is evolving, and we’re trying to evolve with it. And in the midst of all of that, the thing that remains is these incredible people that are focused and interested and dedicated in the work,” Garcia said. “To come from this community, engaging in what is one of the rapidly growing industries, in this city and in the world, sort of centered here at this lab is really special.”

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Culture

‘Bing Tea’ brings boba for ‘Bos

Addison Fulton | April 20

The black food truck with pink and white detailing that houses Bing Tea has become a common fixture at University of New Mexico events.  Bing Tea is a mobile food truck selling drinks and desserts at various locations, including frequent appearances at Silent Lights and International Festival. Students often crowd around to enjoy classic flavors such as taro, matcha and more unique offerings including “Honeydew You Love Me,” a melon flavored tea with custard swirl. Bing Tea is a family-operated business, run by husband and wife David and Hieu Le.

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Sports

Football: Linebackers anchor down defense during scrimmage

Edge Garcia | April 18

The Lobo football team wrapped up their third week of spring practice on Friday, April 17. The University of New Mexico held its second scrimmage throughout practice as they inch closer to their annual spring game. Linebackers kept making play after play during the scrimmage. The linebacker position has a case to be the strongest position group heading into next season.

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Sports

Baseball: Lobos fall to Red Raiders

Elizabeth Bolke and Marley Herndon | April 14

The Lobos returned to Santa Ana Star field after their weekend series win against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for a rematch with the Texas Tech University Red Raiders who run-ruled them the last time these teams matched up and ultimately crushed the Lobos again, 10-5.  The game began with Ethin Woltz, the first of 10 pitchers the Lobos threw in this bullpen game, spinning two scoreless innings while Lobos designated hitter Damian Garcia started scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first.

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News

Attorneys claim client mischaracterized by former Law School Dean

Paloma Chapa | April 13

On Wednesday, April 8, attorneys Julio Romero and Kelly Sanchez sent a letter to University of New Mexico leadership addressing  inaccuracies and alleged “mischaracterizations” of their client by former UNM Law School Dean Sergio Pareja in a letter he sent to UNM leadership on March 31.  Romero, Sanchez and the ACLU represented a former law student who raised due process violations against the law school after meeting with Vice Dean Steven Homer on Nov. 19, 2024, regarding what the client alleged was retaliatory  allegations of misconduct made against her by another law student. Romero and Sanchez wrote that the law school received audio of the Nov. 19 meeting with the student and Homer over the disciplinary violation that captured Homer “prematurely interrogating the student and telling the student he had already decided the student’s truthfulness,” before giving her an opportunity to select between a formal or informal investigation. 

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Culture

Exhibit showcases students’ expressions of nature, culture

Leila Chapa | April 13

Students from two different classes, “Introduction to Art and Ecology” and “Biodiversity, Creative Practice, Justice,” explored nature journaling as a practice of visual and literary skills, culminating in a showcase beginning last week. The exhibit, titled Nature Journaling as Environmental Pedagogy, featured spreads of pages from students’ nature journals that they worked on over the semester. Subhankar Banerjee, the University of New Mexico professor of both classes and founder and  director of the Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities, said that he felt the exercise was necessary in a time where students are living in “the digital space.” 

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Sports

Baseball: Lobos sweep Aztecs out of first place

Elizabeth Bolke and Marley Herndon | April 13

In a series between two of the top teams in the Mountain West, the Lobos came out on top by sweeping the three-game set and taking first place in the Mountain West standings. After losing to Texas Tech University earlier in the week, the University of New Mexico was able to win three straight against the San Diego State University Aztecs on April 10-12. Game one of the series was an absolute thrill ride. Starting pitcher Cristian Mogen was looking for a bounce-back start after a rough outing his last time in Las Vegas, and he delivered in a big way. He gave the Lobos a quality start, going 7 innings, allowing 3 runs and striking out 11 while walking just 1 runner.

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News

Experts warn against permitted killing of Mexican wolves

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 13

On Feb. 24, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service released a now-expired document authorizing designated individuals in Catron county to kill a Mexican wolf on private land or “in the act of biting, killing, or wounding livestock on Federal land.” Some experts warn the permitted killings fail to save cattle and could threaten the endangered species.  The permit’s duration spanned from Feb. 19 through April 4, or until a wolf was taken, stating that it be done “as quickly and humanely as possible.” No wolves were reported to have been killed under the permit, according to New Mexico Conservation Lead for WildEarth Guardians Leia Barnett.  Senior Conservation Advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity and author of the book “Predatory Bureaucracy” Michael Robinson said persecution of the Mexican grey wolf by the federal government has historically occurred on behalf of the livestock industry. 

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Sports

OPINION: Terrific Ten: NHL Power Rankings

Simon Reseigh | April 13

We’ve entered the final stretch of the NHL season, where playoff dreams come true and others come to a screeching halt. Several teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, but the race for the Eastern and Western Conference wild-card spots is shaping up to be a photo finish. Here are the picks for this week’s top 10 teams in the NHL.

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News

REVIEW: ‘Project Hail Mary’ makes unique twist on alien subgenre

Paulina Acosta-Marta | April 13

When the world is full of darkness and existential threat, how can science fiction adapt? When Earth can be more frightening than space, how can we tell captivating stories that take place beyond our world? You go the other way; you make them heartwarming. That’s exactly what Phil Lord and Chris Miller did. “Project Hail Mary” is a sci-fi film based on the novel of the same title, released in March 2026, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Lord and Miller.  The movie starts with Grace, played by Gosling, waking up in space and having no recollection of how he got there. After discovering he’s on a mission to save Earth from a sun-consuming microbe, Grace must overcome odds, finding a best friend along the way. 

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Culture

Sustainability office looks to engage students

Addison Fulton | April 13

The University of New Mexico is a campus shaded by trees and underscored by a commitment to a more sustainable future. One of its guiding forces in this mission is the UNM Office of Sustainability.  Sustainability Engagement Coordinator Alejandría Lyons said the work of the office is largely two-fold, dealing on one side with University operations, changing the policies and practices of institutions to reflect sustainability goals. The other aspect is more student-facing, including “embedding sustainability culture at UNM,” Lyons said. “We help with the sustainability aspects such as food waste, such as recycling, use more sustainable practices and be in partnership to make UNM a greener campus, so on the whole, that’s what the Office of Sustainability does,” Lyons said. 

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News

Protesters rally, Trump threatens death of Iran’s ‘whole civilization’

Paloma Chapa | April 13

On Tuesday, April 7, protesters gathered at the corner of Central Avenue and University Boulevard in response to President Donald Trump’s threats to wipe out the Iranian civilization if the country didn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his 8 p.m. deadline.  “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.  The war between Iran and the U.S. had been ongoing for six weeks before the two countries agreed on a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline, according to CBS News. 

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Sports

Men’s Basketball: Lobos lose key contributor to transfer portal

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 13

At the end of the 2024-25 basketball season, the University of New Mexico men’s basketball faced a mass upheaval, losing every single player and coach for the 2025-26 roster. This offseason will have slightly more continuity, though not by much. After the NCAA Transfer Portal opened on Tuesday, April 7, only one player has announced his intention to remain with the Lobos while seven players have declared they will enter the portal. In his first year as head coach, Eric Olen took the Lobos to the semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament and finished the season with a 26-11 record.

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News

REVIEW:‘Life Is Strange: Reunion,’ a beautiful farewell to the partners in time

Rodney Prunty | April 13

After the previous entry in this beloved series “Life Is Strange: Double Exposure” failed to deliver, Deck Nine Games needed to make sure the next installment steered the franchise back on track. On March 26, “Life Is Strange: Reunion” was released, becoming the seventh installment in the series. While having some minor flaws, “Reunion” largely accomplishes their goal. “Reunion” picks up where “Double Exposure” left off with fan-favorite protagonist Max Caulfield, but unlike “Double Exposure,” she’s not alone, as they pair her up with her partner in time Chloe Price. 

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Sports

Eagan Era Begins For Women’s Basketball

Wyatt S. Padilla | April 13

The University of New Mexico welcomed its seventh women’s basketball coach on Wednesday, April 8, at an introductory press conference that saw Amy Eagan assume the role as decade of Mike Bradbury officially ended. Eagan faces the task of retaining the players on the roster, transfer hunting for new additions and staff building, all to build a roster for next season that can compete for a Mountain West title. Eagan has experience competing at the top and the success that follows, with an overall coaching record of 329-191 that spans across five different stops. Under her belt of 17 seasons, she has six conference titles, five NCAA DII Tournament appearances and a DII National Runner-up trophy.