Multimedia

Four UNM Departments to host departmental convocations

Throughout the week of Monday, Dec. 9, graduating students at the University of New Mexico will celebrate their accomplishments. About 1,600 students from the Albuquerque campus will receive their degrees, according to UNM Newsroom. In addition to the main commencement ceremonies held on Thursday, Dec. 12 and Friday, Dec. 13 at The Pit, some UNM departments are holding convocation ceremonies for their graduating students. Convocations are generally smaller and give departments the opportunity to celebrate graduates in a more personal atmosphere, according to the UNM Departmental Convocations website.

Western New Mexico wolf sanctuary fundraises to absorb Colorado sanctuary

Hidden among the grassy hills of western New Mexico in a community called Candy Kitchen is the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, a nonprofit that houses wolves, wolfdogs, New Guinea singing dogs, foxes and coyotes. Founded in 1991 as The Candy Kitchen Wolf and Wolfdog Rescue Ranch, Wild Spirit is now in the process of absorbing the Indigo Mountain Nature Center, a nonprofit wolf and wildlife sanctuary based in Lake George, Colorado. Wild Spirit has grown to become one of the largest canid sanctuaries in North America, according to Executive Director Brittany McDonald. It provides sanctuary for animals from across the country and uses their stories to educate the public, McDonald wrote in a statement to the Daily Lobo.

United Graduate Workers petition for chosen name recognition and neutral gender markers

The University of New Mexico United Graduate Workers launched a petition on Nov. 20 that calls for UNM to update systems to accurately reflect chosen names and gender markers for their users. According to the petition, components of the University system, including email accounts and the course registration website, are denying the ability for transgender students and workers to use their preferred name. This contradicts UNM’s Policy 2720, which prohibits discrimination based on gender and gender identity, the petition reads.

Fernando Lovo named as next UNM Athletics director and vice president

On Nov. 24, the University of New Mexico announced the appointment of Fernando “Fern” Lovo as the next vice president and director of athletics starting Sunday, Dec. 1. Lovo comes to UNM after serving as executive senior associate athletics director for operations at the University of Texas Austin. He has also worked for Ohio State University and in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Lovo said he got his start as an equipment manager for the University of Florida’s football team.

Lobo basketball player allegedly attacked by teammate; UNM investigates misconduct

A University of New Mexico basketball player was allegedly attacked by a teammate following an argument on a plane ride to a Thanksgiving tournament, KOB reported on Monday, Dec. 2. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, KRQE investigators released an interview with redshirt freshman Shane Douma-Sanchez, who said he was injured during the fight that took place Thursday, Nov. 26 over an airplane seat. In an interview with KRQE, Douma-Sanchez said that when the plane landed in Palm Springs for the team’s Acrisure Classic tournament, a teammate hit his already-injured shoulder and punched him in the face, fracturing his nose.

Comic Nov. 18, 2024

‘I was number 11 of the people that were bayoneted’

On May 8, 1970, 11 individuals at the University of New Mexico were injured by National Guard members armed with bayonets during a Vietnam War protest. One of these individuals was Daily Lobo photographer and reporter Stephen Part, who was stabbed with a bayonet in his back as he leaned over to help a fellow student. Now a retired history and government teacher, Part said he was carrying his press badge and wearing a helmet labeled “press” when he was stabbed. “I felt something like pressure — it wasn't immediate pain. I stood up and my belt slid up over the puncture … I put my hand back there and there was blood,” Part said.

Mayling Armijo interview

How does your experience and resume qualify you to lead the city of Albuquerque? “I did 12 years in local government and three years at the state, so I understand how every component of local government works, and I've managed large budgets in the Navy and large battalions. I've been in austere environments ...

UNMH joins nationwide trauma care study

Earlier this year, the University of New Mexico Hospital partnered with a national research network to conduct a trial on changing the timeline by which two chemicals are administered in trauma care. Calcium and vasopressin are used as a standard part of patient care, but the “CAlcium and VAsopressin following Injury Early Resuscitation” — or CAVALIER — study is investigating whether giving them to patients earlier in the care timeline will improve survival rates. The chemicals are commonly used for patients who have lost a lot of blood, according to the Linking Investigations in Trauma and Emergency Services — or LITES — Network.

UNM mandates new cybersecurity training for all employees

On Oct. 14, the University of New Mexico announced that it would require new annual cybersecurity training for all University employees. The training, which is called “Securing the Human,” covers basic cybersecurity principles. Through the course, employees learn how to identify phishing attacks, the importance of password security, and which steps to take if there is suspicion of a threat. The training is one of four mandatory training courses for UNM employees this year. The other courses teach basic and emergency safety procedures, as well as steps to take to prevent harassment, according to UNM Newsroom.

Men’s basketball: Lobos’ second-half effort leads to win over Texas Southern

The Lobos were energetic from the jump in their game against Texas Southern University on Sunday, Nov. 24, and it showed. They beat the Tigers 99-68 in their largest margin of victory of the season. After winning the tipoff and a quick 3-point attempt from Mustapha Amzil, the Lobos stole the outlet pass but were unable to convert. The next time down, Tru Washington got a steal, leading to a breakaway dunk for the Lobos’ first points.

REVIEW: ‘The Fall’ earns its place at Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema

On Nov. 8 and 9, Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema screened the new restoration of the 2006 cult favorite “The Fall.” “The Fall” is set in a hospital in Hollywood in the 1910s. It depicts the unlikely friendship between Roy, a stuntman who was badly injured on a film set, and Alexandria, the child of Romanian immigrants who has a broken arm from harvesting oranges. The majority of the film’s action takes place within a fantastical adventure story that the bored Roy tells to the precocious Alexandria.

New Mexico LGBTQ+ advocates prepare for Trump presidency

As former President Donald Trump prepares to take office, LGBTQ+ advocates in New Mexico are preparing for the administration’s potential impact on Queer and transgender rights in the state. New Mexico is considered one of the most protected states in the country for LGBTQ+ people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico. The state’s Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Act was updated during the 2023 legislative session, extending its scope and expanding definitions. 

Artist collects bad photos of the moon

In August 2022, astrophotographers Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne posted to Instagram what is widely considered to be the best photo of the moon ever taken. On Nov. 1, 2024, artist Ariel C. Wilson displayed a collection of some of the worst. In her exhibit at the Sanitary Tortilla Factory in Albuquerque, Wilson showcases crowdsourced “bad photos of the moon” — low-quality images of the moon taken on cell phones by ordinary citizens. The gallery’s website explains that the exhibit is meant to explore the blur between professional and amateur artists, as well as investigate human relationships with photography, permanence and the moon.

Exodus Ensemble breaks the fourth wall

From Nov. 6 to Nov. 24, Santa Fe-based theatrical group Exodus Ensemble went on tour in Albuquerque with its interactive, immersive sci-fi theatrical production, “ZERO.” The Exodus Ensemble, which typically specializes in immersive theater with a focus on audience interaction, held its shows at the Downtown venue Chatter. ZERO follows four characters — or players — who have been placed into a game by a sentient, murderous, humanoid artificial intelligence named Daisy. Only one will make it out. At the beginning of the show, audience members pick a player to support, then compete in simple mini-games to win points to help their character be the one to survive.

Wheels Museum hosts reading on ‘The Horse of the Sidewalk’

On Saturday, Nov. 23 the Wheels Museum hosted a talk with author Baker H. Morrow about his most recent anthology, “The Horse on the Sidewalk.” The anthology discusses Albuquerque’s place as a post-World War II “boomtown.” “You get the facts and figures, so many miles of roads, so many new houses, so many subdivisions,” Morrow said. “But one thing that struck me, having spent a fair amount of time when I was a kid out there, was what life was like for the kids themselves.”

Men’s basketball: Physical game leads to a victory over Grambling State

The University of New Mexico men's basketball team faced off against the Grambling State University Tigers on Thursday, Nov. 21. From the start of the game, both teams displayed a physical play style, indicating it would be a long night. In the end, the Lobos proved they could be aggressive and outplay their opponents at the same time, walking away with an 80-58 win. When the first half started, Grambling State was all over UNM, making it clear that the Tigers were not going to make it easy for the Lobos. Grambling State jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead, being physical on both defense and offense. The Lobos, however, were not looking to lose the game, and they immediately matched the energy that Grambling State brought.

Los Poblanos hosts lecture on migratory birds

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Laura Banks, president of the nonprofit Bird Alliance of Central New Mexico, spoke about migratory birds to a nearly full audience at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. Banks told the Daily Lobo that during this time of year, the most visible birds in New Mexico are sandhill cranes, Canada geese, waterfowl and different species of ducks. Migratory birds almost double their body weight during migration season to store fat, which they use as fuel while flying, according to Banks.

Women’s basketball: Lobos crush South Carolina State in 80-38 victory

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team dominated the South Carolina State University Bulldogs with an 80-38 win at The Pit on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Head Coach Mike Bradbury said he is proud of the team for their victory. “I thought we were much better in the second half,” Bradbury said, adding that the Lobos “are going to have a much better year than they did last year.”

REVIEW: Jacques Audiard’s ‘Emilia Pérez’ is misguided yet entertaining

A genre-defying epic, the film is a crime/comedy/romance/musical that tells the story of a Mexican defense attorney named Rita — played by Zoe Saldaña — who is contacted by Juan Del Monte, a drug lord — played by Karla Sofía Gascón — who needs help covertly obtaining gender-affirming surgery. The latest from renowned French director Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez” made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where the film took home the Jury Prize, which is essentially the festival’s third-place award. Its four leading actresses — Saldaña, Gascón, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz — collectively received the Best Actress award.