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LETTER: United Graduate Workers of UNM urge University to begin negotiations

  Dear President Stokes, Provost Holloway, Dean Coonrod and Regents of the University of New Mexico, As of Jan. 4, the United Graduate Workers of UNM (UGW-UE local 1466) was certified as the first union of graduate employees under the New Mexico Public Employee Bargaining Act. Graduate employees have long provided vital contributions to the teaching and research mission of UNM, yet struggle without adequate pay, healthcare or input in their working conditions. Collectively bargaining with graduate employees strengthens our entire university and the state of New Mexico by providing a quality learning environment for our undergraduate students and allowing researchers to focus on innovation and discovery. 

Nonbinary students navigate social roadblocks, personal safety

  The decades-long trials of nonbinary people continue even at the University of New Mexcio, and two students in particular — Ari Williams and Noe Fields-Perkins — have felt the struggles of standing out against the majority. Williams, a Washington-based film student at UNM, identifies as both nonbinary and transgender and is forced almost daily to question the societal guidelines that align with and rely on a binary gender construct to determine social roles. “Boy or girl, when you don’t pass as one or the other or both, your worth is put into question, the validity of your gender is put into question, your humanity is put into question,” Williams said.

Comics January 18, 2022

REVIEW: ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ is a beautifully minimal take on Shakespeare’s classic play

  “Macbeth” has been done a thousand times over, both on stage and on film. You may know it for its timeless story of ruthless ambition or you may know it as that Scottish play you had to read for your high school English class. Either way, Shakespeare’s play has had some staying power and “The Tragedy of Macbeth” is only another testament to the English playwright’s genius. The film, having just been released on Apple TV+ on Friday, Jan. 14 after a limited theatrical run, follows — you guessed it — Macbeth and his bloody journey to become king of Scotland prompted by a strange encounter with a trio of witches.

REVIEW: ‘Red Rocket’ is a raucous romp

  This review contains spoilers Sean Baker’s newest film “Red Rocket” is a solid addition to his catalog of endearing, embodied tributes to the lives of marginalized groups in America. Released for limited theatrical release on Dec. 10, “Red Rocket” tells the story of Mikey, a charming, egoistic former porn star, as he wedges his way back into the home of his estranged wife and proceeds to wreak havoc in such a way that only a cisgender, heterosexual white man who has never been told “no” in his life could ever accomplish. “Red Rocket” follows Mikey (Simon Rex) as he sometimes charms and sometimes weasels his way back into his “old life” in Texas, before he moved to California some years ago. 

UNM requires 3-ply medical-grade masks indoors

  The University of New Mexico is requiring a three-ply or better medical-grade mask when indoors, effective Jan. 17. This decision, which updated the previous mask policy that allowed cloth masks, was made in response to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases and the increased infectiousness of the omicron variant. According to UNM spokesperson Cinnamon Blair, Student Affairs will be distributing proper masks across campus for students struggling to source proper masks or otherwise do not currently have appropriate masks. Masks will be distributed in high-traffic classroom buildings on campus, as well as in the Student Union Building and Johnson Gym.

‘We’re in this together’: Lobo Prevention Pack protects campus

  To advocate and educate – this is the goal of the University of New Mexico’s campus COVID-19 prevention team, the Lobo Prevention Pack. Students lead efforts to ensure that the campus community is not only safe but also accurately informed about the pandemic raging around them. From spreading accurate information about COVID-19 when the pandemic started in March 2020 to educating others about vaccinations when those became available, this team has been adapting to new trends as the pandemic has progressed.

‘Prepared for the worst’: University faculty teach amid omicron surge

  As the state of New Mexico consistently breaks 3,000 new COVID-19 cases daily attributed to the new, highly infectious omicron variant, the University of New Mexico has no current plans of moving to remote learning for the spring 2022 semester. Even as the school tightens up its COVID-19 protocols, many faculty members still feel apprehensive about returning for an in-person semester. Meagan Vigus, a teaching associate in the linguistics department and member of the United Graduate Workers of UNM, said her primary frustrations with coming back in person lie in the inadequate and chaotic communication between the University and its faculty, particularly in the recent announcement that UNM is requiring medical-grade masks indoors.

Locals tentatively support ABQ Community Safety department

  The new Albuquerque Community Safety Department began responding to emergency calls last September and acts as a non-law enforcement dispatch team that handles issues within the community, like mental health crises, that the police may not be trained to handle. After just over four months of operation, multiple community members are tentatively hopeful that this department will bring solutions to the city. Since ACS was created, the department has responded to over 1,500 calls, including 911 calls that get redirected to them and the 311 hotline that connects to them directly. “(There) is a huge need for us … (with) the amount of calls that go through that are not appropriate for police. 

New cafe, plant nursery brews love for coffee, plants

  Power Plant, a new cafe and plant nursery, opened its doors to the Albuquerque community on Saturday, Jan. 15. With a large emphasis on collaborating with artists, the shop aims to become a local hub for young artists to gather and show art. The space is co-operated by Tytianna Harris and Juan Jimenez. They aim to continue having a studio space in the shop that artists can rent to showcase their art, similar to how the space was used before Power Plant started up. “We've had, actually, photographers, videographers or different business owners who just come in and use it like a photo studio,” Harris said. 

Ask the Editors: What we’re bringing with us in the new year

  QUESTION: What are you bringing to the new year? With a new year and new semester often comes new goals, habits and more. However, the Daily Lobo editors are looking back on our past and deciding what we want to keep with us as we move forward. Here’s a glance at some of our favorite things, whether it’s film, television, books or sports, for you to peruse. Megan’s Pick: SHOW: “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry At a time when you often feel like you need an escape, you can find one from the living room of your own home in the “Star Trek” universe.

5 and Why: 5 ways UNM senior plans to stay well during school

  With the new semester often comes a new set of challenges, but University of New Mexico senior Matilde Jacobson is ready to start the spring semester with plans ahead of time on how to balance school and life. Jacobson sat down with the Daily Lobo to share what she does to stay well throughout the school year. Work toward a career Work is fulfilling and, in Jacobson’s case, it happens to align with her interests and career plans. Jacobson used to work in a lab, but is preparing to begin an internship in Washington D.C. with the Emerging Infections Surveillance Program, an organization that conducts studies on different infectious diseases.

Daily Lobo alumni report for their communities

  Intense socio-political turmoil only heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic has made for great complexities in journalistic media. Two Daily Lobo alumni, Makayla Grijalva and Danielle Prokop, graduated, respectively, in 2019 and 2020, and have since found their passion as public watchdogs in reporting for local communities. “Trying to unpeel the layers of bureaucracy is one of the fundamental things that we can do to live in a democracy,” Prokop said. Since graduating from the University of New Mexico with bachelor’s degrees in international studies and journalism, Prokop has worked in a multitude of positions in different news organizations. 

Spirit Program competes in nationals

  The University of New Mexico spirit program traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida to compete against cheer and dance teams from around the nation at the 2022 UCA & UDA College National Championship, which took place from Jan. 14-16. At nationals, all-girl cheer ranked fifth out of 10 teams with an event score of 91.4833 in the Division 1A Game Day category. They placed sixth in the finals with an overall score of 87.05. Meanwhile, co-ed cheer ranked 15th out of 17 teams under Division 1A Game Day, achieving an event score of 82.6667. In the Small Co-ed Division 1A category, co-ed cheer ranked No. 10 out of 11 with an event score of 65.55. 

Men’s basketball sunk by rebounding troubles against Boise State

  The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team lost to Boise State University 71-63 at The Pit on Saturday, Jan. 15. UNM remains without a conference win after four games. Head coach Richard Pitino, who was back on the sideline for the first time since contracting COVID-19, made it clear why UNM lost. “They are bigger, they are stronger (and) they are older for sure,” Pitino said. “But we have to be scrappier, dirtier and meaner, especially when you are as undermanned as we are.” Where the Lobos are undermanned is at the center position, and they more than likely will be for the remainder of their season. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, UNM has lost Valdir Manuel, Gethro Muscadin and Emmanuel Kuac, all inside presences expected to play the majority of minutes at center. 

REVIEW: ‘Euphoria’: Slow and steady wins the race

  This review contains spoilers for season one and the first episode of season two After season one was released in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a two-year filming delay of the next season, “Euphoria” returned to HBO with its second season premiere on Jan. 9. While most of the episode felt boring, overproduced and disjointed, it seems to be a setup for a sexy and violent story reminiscent of the show’s critically acclaimed first season. The appeal of “Euphoria” lies in its shocking provocativity, character dimension and humor, making the show more than just your average teen drama. 

UNM grads navigate next steps

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a unique set of difficulties for college students, some have been able to take these changes in stride and find unique opportunities to connect. Fall 2021 University of New Mexico graduates Datenzing Tamang, Sami Sosa and Mia Amin have found ways to blaze new paths for themselves, even when the road ahead is as uncertain as it has ever been. “If the pandemic has done something good, it’s brought people together. I think people want to help each other,” Amin said. Originally from Nepal, Tamang moved to New Mexico for college and graduated with her bachelor’s in computer science. This spring semester, she will be taking time to gain field experience before pursuing graduate studies.

UNM associate professor receives ‘career-altering’ grant

  Jessica Richardson, an associate professor of speech and hearing science at the University of New Mexico, was awarded a $2 million grant in November funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a sect of the National Institutes of Health.  This five-year grant will be used to study and improve the treatment of aphasia, a condition in which those affected lose the ability to communicate or understand language, in stroke patients. This research is focused on combining traditional language therapy techniques with transcranial stimulation, a noninvasive electrical brain stimulation thought to help “shape” brain activity, to enhance language recovery outcomes.

LETTER: For good of New Mexico schools, Congress must act on DOI’s new recommendations

  Even when we’re grateful for something – for example, the jobs and state revenue we get from oil and gas production – that doesn’t mean we should cut ourselves short and ignore our own needs. We deserve to get the best deal we can. But when it comes to oil and natural gas, we’ve settled for a bad deal for a very long time. While families in New Mexico face rising gasoline prices at the pump, oil and natural gas companies are getting the deal of a century. Not only are they cashing in on higher prices, but they pay pennies on the dollar to lease our public lands for development and evade having to pay New Mexicans what we’re rightfully owed in royalties. 

UNM LEAF meets with attorney general's office on divestment complaint

  Investigation on the legality of the University of New Mexico Foundation’s indirect investment in fossil fuel companies is ongoing, and the UNM Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight aren’t giving up. After an initial intake meeting with the office of the attorney general on Dec. 17, 2021, where they reviewed the legal arguments and historical background of their complaint filed last October, the office is still in the process of reviewing all the information. UNMF, which funds scholarships and campus initiatives at the University, has an estimated $32.5 million of its Consolidated Investment Fund, the investment pool for endowment assets of the University and UNMF, indirectly invested into fossil fuel stock, according to Gabe Gomez, managing director of UNMF marketing and communication.