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BioPark hosts Penguin Awareness Day

Elizabeth Bolke and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 27

On a day when most other animals chose to be indoors, the Albuquerque BioPark hosted an annual event for Penguin Awareness Day. The event, which took place on Friday, Jan. 24 was in the Penguin Chill building, which mimics the penguin's typical habitat. This event offered guests a chance to see three types of penguins that live in Penguin Chill. While the BioPark does host a fourth species, the little penguins are not part of the chilled habitat. The little penguin enclosure is part of the new Australian exhibit, but the colder weather didn’t permit them to be outside.

Culture

Snapdragon fundraiser brings awareness to local animal shelter

Emmett Di Mauro and Elijah Ritch | January 27

On Saturday, Jan. 25, Snapdragon Tea, located in the Brick Light District near the University of New Mexico, held a fundraiser for the Roots Animal Sanctuary. This was the second and last weekend the event was held. The Roots Animal Sanctuary, located in Tijeras, is a nonprofit that “provides a safe and loving forever home for those who have come from a difficult background,” according to its website. The fundraiser was done in the style of Snapdragon’s frequent tea parties, where patrons can indulge in a three-course meal that is specially curated for the specific event. Reservations had to be made online in advance for the full tea party menu, and 10% of the proceeds from the tea party sales and any of Snapdragon’s vegan sandwiches purchased during the fundraiser went to Roots.

News

How the Trump presidency could affect reproductive rights in New Mexico

Dylan Anthony | January 27

During the Sept. 10, 2024 presidential debate, Trump praised himself and the Supreme Court for the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. “The states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land,” Trump said in a video he posted to Truth Social post in April 2024. On Oct. 1, 2024, Trump reinforced his stance again, posting on X that he would veto any national abortion ban put through Congress in favor of allowing every state to decide for itself how to regulate abortion.

News

How the Trump presidency could affect immigration in New Mexico

Elliott Wood | January 27

President Donald Trump’s campaign was headlined by promises to carry out the largest deportation operation of immigrants who lack permanent legal status in American history. To carry out the deportations, the Trump administration plans to work with local police, targeting those who have criminal records first, according to the 2024 Republican Party Platform. Working with state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws would require a Memorandum of Agreement — or MOA — between the law enforcement agency and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to authorize and train employees on enforcement techniques, according to the American Immigration Council. Though there was previously an MOA between ICE and the New Mexico Corrections Department, there are no such active MOAs in the state of New Mexico.

Sports

OPINION: Bobbleheads of the week — NFL divisional round edition

Rodney Prunty | January 24

Last week, these three players were getting ready to help their teams get past the divisional round with a chance at keeping their Super Bowl chances alive. This week, they are sitting at home wondering what plays they could’ve done differently to avoid being labeled as bobbleheads.

News

People’s March held in Albuquerque in response to Trump presidency

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 24

Sunday, Jan. 19 On Jan. 19, hundreds of protesters rallied and marched at Civic Plaza during the People’s March in response to President Donald Trump’s return to office. Protesters chanted and carried signs highlighting areas another Trump presidency may impact, including reproductive rights, immigrant rights, environmental justice, affordable healthcare and Palestinian rights. Politicians and community members spoke to the crowd during the rally, including former United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D), Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers, poet Hakim Bellamy and Albuquerque First Lady Elizabeth Kistin Keller.

Sports

Men’s basketball: Lobos speed past Bulldogs

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 22

The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team came away with a commanding victory against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Monday, Jan. 20, winning 95-67. It was all Lobos from start to finish. UNM came ready to play, jumped out to a 16-0 start and never relinquished the lead. The Lobos were able to stifle Fresno’s fast pace and didn’t allow a bucket for the first five minutes of the contest. The Bulldogs played too fast for their own good, leading to careless turnovers and missed shots early on.

News

UNM Board of Regents votes to amend free speech policies

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 20

During a governance committee meeting on Dec. 5, 2024, members of the University of New Mexico Board of Regents passed amendments to UNM’s free speech policies, which will allow groups to rent spaces at UNM regardless of the nature of their speech. Robert Schwartz and Paula Tackett, the committee meeting’s two Regent attendees, voted on amendments to the Regents' Policy Manual Section 2.1: Free Expression and Advocacy, Section 2.2: Speakers from Off Campus and Section 2.8: Visitors to the University. The amendments went into effect Dec. 19.

Culture

Stars from ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Twilight’ and more attend Albuquerque’s Comic Con

Maria Fernandez | January 20

The Albuquerque Comic Con held its 15th annual gathering at the Albuquerque Convention Center this past weekend. Featuring celebrity panels, meet and greets and multiple areas for vendors to sell artwork and memorabilia, the Albuquerque Comic Con sold out of tickets for its Saturday events. Celebrity guests and fans alike were excited to be in attendance, including “Better Call Saul” and “Xena: Warrior Princess” star Patrick Fabian, who made his first Albuquerque Comic Con appearance. He said he was surprised by the large turnout.

News

Anti-algorithmic discrimination bill introduced to New Mexico Legislature

Addison Fulton | January 20

Ahead of the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, Rep. Christine Chandler (D) sponsored House Bill 60, the Artificial Intelligence Act, which seeks to mitigate algorithmic discrimination. Algorithmic discrimination is any condition in which the use of an artificial intelligence system results in unlawful differential treatment of a person based on their ethnicity, gender, disability and other groups legally protected from discrimination, according to the bill. The legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 21 and ends March 22. Examples of algorithmic discrimination have been found in algorithms like COMPAS, or Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions, which is meant to calculate the odds that a defendant will reoffend. COMPAS flagged almost twice as many false positives for Black people than white people, according to a 2016 ProPublica investigation.

News

New Mexico legislative session begins

Addison Fulton | January 20

The 2025 New Mexico legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 21 and ends March 22. This session marks New Mexico’s 57th legislative session. Legislative sessions occur in New Mexico annually. Sessions last 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years. During legislative sessions, New Mexico lawmakers meet to discuss and rule on various proposed bills. In order for a bill to make it to the docket, it must be sponsored by a member of Congress, then referred to and discussed by a committee. Each piece of legislation is typically referred to two or three committees, according to the State Legislature handbook.

News

How the Trump presidency might affect UNM

Dylan Anthony | January 20

In October 2023, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would close the Department of Education during his administration. It is unlikely that this idea will gain traction, according to NPR. The DOE provides funding for public schools and higher education. It also awards funding, such as federal Pell Grants, to undergraduate students with financial need, according to the DOE. Any defunding of the DOE could result in changes for New Mexican education through less federal funding and less oversight of educational systems, according to Bailey Rutherford, senate president pro tempore of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico.

Culture

Guild Cinema screens documentary on the science of reading

Addison Fulton and Elijah Ritch | January 20

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema hosted a screening of the documentary “The Right to Read.” The event was presented by the May Center for Learning and the International Dyslexia Association-Southwest Branch. The proceeds went to benefit May Center students. The May Center, which is located in Santa Fe and led by Executive Director and co-founder Amy Miller, is an organization that is focused on empowering “students with learning differences to be successful, confident learners,” according to the mission statement on its website. The organization has multiple programs, including the May School, which serves students through 8th grade with learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD and language processing disorder.

Sports

Men’s Basketball: Lobos dismantle Broncos

Rodney Prunty | January 20

The University of New Mexico men's basketball team was able to get back in the win column as they put on a show at The Pit against another conference opponent, the Boise State Broncos on Friday, Jan. 17. Coming off of a disappointing 71-70 loss to conference opponent San José State, the Lobos outplayed and outcoached the Broncos. The Lobos blew out Boise State 84-65. Throughout the first half, it was clear Boise State had no answer for the Lobos’ offense, and a big reason for that was guard Donovan Dent. Dent was everywhere on the floor — one moment making a flashy pass to a teammate, the next doing an impressive finish at the rim. Donovan Dent was just doing Donovan Dent things.

News

REVIEW: Ethel Cain confronts listeners with the grotesque on ‘Perverts’

Elijah Ritch | January 20

On Jan. 8, alternative musician Ethel Cain released her newest project, “Perverts.” This marks her first release since her 2022 debut album “Preacher’s Daughter,” which garnered Cain critical acclaim and a devoted cult following. Ethel Cain, aka Hayden Anhedönia, is also a character and the protagonist of much of the artist’s discography. Her work encompasses a wide range of genres and styles, from Springsteen-esque heartland rock to haunting, epic ballads. Cain frequently explores themes like generational trauma, religious indoctrination — particularly growing up Queer in an evangelical Christian community — and sexual violence. After the release of her debut album, Cain “wrote on Tumblr about the ‘irony epidemic’ that had turned her dead-serious lyrics about sex, death and the divine into meme fodder,” according to Stereogum.

Culture

Sci-Fi and Sci-Fact exhibition explores how science fiction has shaped our world

Emmett Di Mauro and Elijah Ritch | January 20

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque is presenting the Sci-Fi & Sci-Fact exhibition until June. The exhibit “explores the ways that science fiction and scientific fact overlap and help create our modern world,” according to the museum’s website. The exhibit is on loan from the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, where it initially debuted in December 2023. The exhibit explores the relationship between science fiction, scientific inventions and the future via displays that include memorabilia and props from books, films and television shows. Information plaques on the walls throughout the exhibit provide additional context on how science fiction has shaped reality and opened “doors for tomorrow’s creators.”

Sports

OPINION: College football National Championship winner prediction

Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh | January 18

The College Football Playoffs will come to an exciting conclusion on Monday, Jan. 20, when the Ohio State Buckeyes face off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for an all-or-nothing national championship. With Atlanta being painted shades of green and red from opposing fans, here are predictions for the potential winner of the National Championship.

Sports

OPINION: Bobbleheads of the week — NFL Wild card edition

Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh | January 18

Wild Card Weekend came to an exciting conclusion when six NFL teams advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs. However, with great success also comes disappointment, as the losing teams grappled with teammates whose bad performances crumbled a potential run at a Super Bowl. These players are favorably called bobbleheads. With a long road ahead for AFC and NFC contenders that advanced, here is a list of bobbleheads who helped buy their team a ticket to Cancun instead.

News

City Council passes resolution to prohibit overnight camping in public spaces

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 13

Last month, the Albuquerque City Council voted to pass ordinances O-24-56 and O-24-58, which prohibit camping in tents or any other structure intended for spending the night in parks and public spaces. During a city council meeting on Dec. 16, 2024, O-24-56 passed on a 6-3 vote and O-24-58 passed on a 5-4 vote. Some public commenters expressed concerns about how the ordinances would impact Albuquerque’s unhoused population. Both bills were sponsored by city councilor Renée Grout, who represents District 9. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller did not sign either bill but did not exercise his veto power, meaning both bills went into effect.

News

Outgoing regent pushes for neutral position on divestment from Israel

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 13

On Dec. 19, after public comment during the final University of New Mexico Board of Regents meeting of 2024, Robert Schwartz became the first regent to formally speak publicly about University divestment from Israel. Students, faculty members and community members in support of Palestine have been speaking about the topic at Regents meetings since February. The agenda for the Dec. 19 Regents meeting initially listed “Consideration of Administration Analysis of Recommendations Regarding Divestment from Israel and Certain Companies” as an action item, but it was later removed, according to an email from the Board of Regents’ office provided to the Daily Lobo. During the meeting, Schwartz said that the decision to remove divestment from the agenda was “cowardly,” and that UNM should take a neutral position regarding divestment.