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Opinion

OPINION: Campus protest coverage is impossible without student journalists

Lily Alexander | May 13

Somewhere between 3 and 4 a.m. on April 30, a rapid series of dings from my phone awoke me suddenly. I was immediately alert – I knew what this meant. A couple of hours earlier when I resigned myself to the necessity of sleep, I turned up my ringtone to full volume. This way, I would hear notifications from my group chat with Daily Lobo reporters Paloma Chapa, Leila Chapa, Ella Daniel and outgoing editor-in-chief Maddie Pukite. If anything drastic happened while the reporters were barricaded inside the Student Union Building, covering its occupation by pro-Palestine protesters, I would be aware and ready to drive to the University of New Mexico to pick them up.

Sports

Men’s basketball: the Pitino era continues

Thomas Bulger | May 13

After three seasons of improvement year-to-year, the University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach, Richard Pitino, agreed to a contract extension through the 2028-29 season. The extension follows the team's most successful season in a decade, earning their first National Collegiate Athletics Association tournament appearance since 2014. In a May 7 press release, UNM Director of Athletics Eddie Nuñez credited the program’s success as the driving factor in the extension.

News

The SUB’s history with anti-war protest

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | May 13

On May 8, 1970, after three days of occupying the Student Union Building in protest of the Vietnam War, 131 University of New Mexico students were arrested. Fifty-four years later, 16 protesters were arrested after they occupied the SUB in solidarity with Palestine amidst the war in Gaza. The Vietnam War protests at UNM followed United States President Richard Nixon’s order to invade Cambodia on April 31, 1970, according to a UNM timeline. UNM President Ferrel Heady sent a telegram to Nixon disapproving of the invasion, according to a Daily Lobo article from May 6, 1970.

Culture

What do you want for dinner?

Marcela Johnson | May 13

Food is one of life’s most basic necessities. For students attending the University of New Mexico, the campus and surrounding areas offer different dining options. UNM has one dining hall, La Posada (LaPo), located in the residence area of campus. There are also four on-campus markets, located in the Student Union Building (SUB), Student Residence Center Commons (SRC), Dane Smith Hall and the UNM Bookstore. Angel Baca, student success leader for the Associated Students at UNM’s Emerging Lobo Leaders and spring 2024 graduate, shared his advice for incoming students who will dine on campus.

Culture

Student activity fees: What are they and what do they do?

Arly Garcia | May 13

University of New Mexico student activity fees can be a little daunting when you first spot them on your bill, but they don’t have to be a mystery. “Revenue generated by the student activity fee is used to support a variety of student activities that enhance the academic and intellectual environment at UNM,” UNM Policy 1310 reads. There are three fees students pay, which include “a facility/information technology debt service fee, student activity fee and student government fee,” according to the policy.

Culture

5 and Why: 5 ways to make friends in college

Maria Fernandez | May 13

It can be daunting for new students to try to make friends in college. Here are five ways I recommend new students engage with the University of New Mexico community and make some new pals. .

News

State representatives call for solidarity with UNM pro-Palestine encampment

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | May 10

Two New Mexico representatives sent letters to University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes in solidarity with the pro-Palestine Duck Pond encampment, the longest standing protest in UNM history, on Tuesday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 8. Stokes visited the encampment on Thursday, May 9. In their letters, Representative Eleanor Chávez and Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero expressed concerns about New Mexico State Police using excessive force on protesters who occupied the Student Union Building April 29-30. They also asked Stokes to meet and work with the students who drafted the Israel divestment resolution.

Culture

UNM witnesses the historic chartering of the National Pan-Hellenic Council

Elizabeth Secor | May 9

On Saturday, May 4, the University of New Mexico Divine Nine Greek Life chapters established the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) in a milestone over a decade in the making. The Divine Nine consists of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities. Kaelyn Moon, president of the NPHC and member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., made a speech during the chartering ceremony on the history of the Council at UNM. The effort has been ongoing since 2010 with undergraduate Black Greek life members researching, writing proposals and speaking with UNM leadership and Albuquerque’s Black Greek life alumni community, Moon said in her speech.

Culture

Pride Convocation brings campus LGBTQ community together

Marcela Johnson | May 6

The Unviersity of New Mexico LGBTQ Resource Center’s 13th annual Pride Convocation honored graduates and awardees on Friday, May 3. Attendees and speakers paraded into the Honors College forum to Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” to begin the evening’s festivities. The celebration included speeches from LGBTQRC Director Frankie Flores, UNM President Garnett Stokes and UNM Division for Equity and Inclusion President Assata Zerai. Madison Otero, UNM senior and co-chair of Juniper Reimagined – UNM’s Queer and Trans student alliance – served as the student speaker for the event. In her speech, she thanked the center and spoke to her fellow graduates about what to hold on to and what to let go.

Culture

All about graduation ceremonies

Sadie Hopkins | May 6

There are roughly 22,000 students enrolled at the University of New Mexico, meaning that hundreds – if not thousands – of students will be graduating this weekend. Thousands of attendees are expected to be at the main graduation ceremony. Undergraduates and master’s students must RSVP for University Commencement by Monday, May 6 at 12 p.m. The ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 5 at The Pit, and students should prepare to arrive an hour early. From there, the main undergraduate ceremony will commence.

Culture

Francesca Cicconetti knows ball

Thomas Bulger | May 6

Francesca Cicconetti’s life has been dominated by sports. From an early age, she watched games with her family, which led to a high school career in volleyball. At the University of New Mexico, she covered sports for the Daily Lobo and started a temporary job with the New Mexico Ice Wolves. Cicconetti graduates from UNM with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Her family moved to Albuquerque when she was young; later, she attended Volcano Vista High School. Cicconetti graduated in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and originally wanted to go out of state for college, but stayed close to home and doesn’t regret a thing.

Culture

Estrada’s creativity knows no bounds

Lily Alexander | May 6

“I was like, ‘F*ck, I’m not getting a job,’” Katrina Estrada said about her 2022 interview to be a freelance photographer at the Daily Lobo – during which she burst into laughter when a pigeon attacked then photo editor Mackenzie Schwartz. A week later, she was hired. She soon became the multimedia editor, and later, the photo editor. She graduates from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in film this spring. “I chose film because I’ve always been in love with the art. I think it started with my love for photography that started at a very young age, and then it blossomed into wanting to delve into other visual medias,” Estrada said.

Culture

Mackenzie Schwartz shows artistry and strength

Maria Fernandez | May 6

Writer, photographer and powerlifter Mackenzie Schwartz is graduating from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and three years at the Daily Lobo under her belt. Schwartz has had a passion for photography since high school and served as the Lobo photo editor for three semesters. She received the Mark Holm Photojournalism Award in 2023, which annually recognizes one Lobo photographer. “(My passion) has grown more over the years, working at the Daily Lobo (and) attending sports, protests and campus events,” Schwartz wrote.

Culture

Daily Lobo twins for the win

Arly Garcia | May 6

Paloma and Leila Chapa, Daily Lobo staff members and Women’s Soccer Club founders, are graduating from the University of New Mexico this spring with degrees in environmental planning and design. The twins started at UNM in 2019 and quickly became involved with the campus community. In September 2023, Paloma became multimedia editor for the Lobo and helped build the video desk. Leila joined the Lobo as a videographer in February 2024. The two were excited to create videos together – a longtime passion of theirs – and gain new experiences at the Lobo, they said.

Culture

BillyJack Davidson is a writer

Thomas Bulger | May 6

BillyJack Davidson has worked for the Daily Lobo as the men’s basketball beat reporter this past season, covering community events on the side. He graduates from the University of New Mexico this spring with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. Davidson was born and raised in Albuquerque and said he has no intention of leaving. As a third generation Lobo, he said he is proud to graduate from UNM as it has been his dream from a young age. Davidson chose liberal arts because it allowed him to explore every subject available, he said.

Culture

Outgoing editor-in-chief graduates, beloved by all

Karina Bolaños | May 6

The Daily Lobo’s outgoing editor-in-chief, Maddie Pukite, has spent their time at the University of New Mexico and in student publications making change. Pukite graduates this spring with two bachelor’s degrees – one in political science and one in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies – and two minors – one in Honors Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and one in Journalism & Mass Communication. Pukite served as a reporter, managing editor and editor-in-chief throughout their four years on Lobo staff. While doing so, they maintained a steady college schedule, taking 18-21 credits per semester.

Culture

Kiva Club holds ‘Honoring Our Mothers’ Powwow during Nizhoni Week

Maria Fernandez | May 3

On Sunday, April 28, the University of New Mexico Kiva Club hosted its annual Nizhoni Days Powwow on Johnson Field. The theme for this year’s powwow was “Honoring Our Mothers,” to honor women of every Indigenous community at the event, according to Kiva Club Communications Chair Lea Aguino. The Powwow marked the end of Nizhoni Days, a week-long celebration held by UNM American Indian Student Services that included board games, culture-focused conferences and craft classes. Nizhoni translates to "beautiful" in Diné, according to Aguino.

News

16 arrested after pro-Palestine protesters occupy the SUB

Ella Daniel and Paloma Chapa | May 1

On Tuesday, April 30 at around 3:30 a.m., 16 pro-Palestine protesters – five of them University of New Mexico students – were arrested by UNM Police Department officers at the Student Union Building after they occupied the space. New Mexico State Police, dressed in riot gear, participated in the response. The protesters filled the second floor of the SUB with tents, food and supplies, writing pro-Palestine messages on the walls with chalk and marker. As of April 30, at least 34,535 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Aljazeera. Two protesters, including UNM alumni Sofia Jenkins-Nieto, were pepper-sprayed by UNMPD officers.

News

Letter: A new generation for the peace movement

Ken Carpenter | May 1

Stupid and ignorant old men start wars; young people and innocent civilians die in them. A new generation of the best and brightest among us has stepped up around the globe once again to oppose the madness of war. They are following in the steps of the Buddha, St. Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, Hannah Arendt, Dorothy Day and Martin Luther King Jr. They are our best hope for our future, and we must support and protect them. The blame for the current wars in the Middle East is on all of us – the murderous terrorists of Hamas and other groups willing to sacrifice their own civilians, the Israeli government and radical settlers who have held Palestinians under a brutal military occupation for more than 75 years and are guilty of the outrageously disproportionate slaughter of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and the United States government, which has flooded the region with deadly weapons and financed Israel’s war machine. If we don’t stop this now, we are facing another world war which may be fought with nuclear bombs.

News

UNM encampment stands in solidarity with Palestine, other universities

Ella Daniel and Paloma Chapa | April 30

This story will be updated as the protest continues. Students, alumni, faculty and community members have been camped out at the Duck Pond since Monday, April 22 in solidarity with Palestine and students at universities nationwide. Encampments in support of Palestine have been set up on dozens of college campuses across the U.S., leading to hundreds of student arrests, according to the New York Times. Police officers have been present at the University of New Mexico encampment for the majority of Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The protesters are calling the University to divest from Israel and call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and for the Board of Regents to employ the divestment resolution written by the UNM Law Students Against Imperialism. UNM has received grants from the U.S.-Israel Binational Foundations, according to The Jewish Virtual Library.