UNM responds to protest against Tomi Lahren presence on campus

By: Maddie Pukite | Sep 19

Since protesters gathered at the Student Union Building on Sept. 15, the University of New Mexico has released a statement condemning actions made that night that caused  speaker Tomi Lahren to leave early. The Daily Lobo spoke to 11 protesters — nine UNM students and two non-students — about their experiences that night, reinforcing that those protesting remained nonviolent.

The protest was in opposition to the Turning Point-sponsored event “Talking with Tomi” that was held inside of SUB Ballroom B featuring speaker Tomi Lahren, a Conservative commentator. Protesters gathered outside and inside the SUB, chanting and speaking against the racist and hateful rhetoric Lahren has spread in the past.

Queer people navigate dating in the digital age

By: Zara Roy | Sep 19

With online dating more popular than ever, the queer population has been particularly piqued in interest by the allure of meeting digital strangers. In 2020, 55% of lesbian, gay and bisexual people surveyed reported using dating apps at some point in time: about twice the rate of straight populations, according to a study from the Pew Research Center.

Still, many members of the LGBTQ+ community on dating apps struggle to make meaningful connections over the internet. One of the primary issues is the sheer difficulty in getting past the small talk phase, according to Amethyst Gallegos, a student at the University of New Mexico.

Students of color denied entry at Turning Point event at UNM

By: Gabriel Saiz, Maddie Pukite | Sep 16

Multiple students of color were denied entry at the Turning Point USA-sponsored “Talking With Tomi” event at the University of New Mexico Student Union Building’s Ballroom B on Thursday, Sept. 15. Students who were denied entry did have tickets but were turned away by Turning Point staff, according to Tyler Jacobs, one of the UNM students who was denied. Multiple witnesses at the event reported seeing students being denied entry.

“Pretty much I was the first person of color to try to get in and then immediately after two white people came in and (the event organizers) said, ‘They look normal, they can go in’,” Jacobs said.

ASUNM approves over $16,000 for three student organizations

By: Gabriel Saiz | Sep 16

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico granted over $16,000 to three student organizations during their full senate meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The ASUNM senate sent three appropriations in total to the president’s desk while acknowledging that their budget for this semester is dwindling.

“Our appropriation budget that we’re currently sitting at is roughly about $65,000 for the remainder of the semester,” Sofie Carillo, senator and finance committee chair, said. “I know for next week’s cycle we already have five appropriations submitted and one of them is up to $15,000 requested.”

UNMH hosts Suicide Awareness Week

By: Annya Loya | Sep 12

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center is honoring Suicide Prevention Awareness Month by presenting a full week of events for the UNM community. The week was kickstarted with an annual walk for suicide awareness on Johnson Field on Saturday, Sept. 10. 

Different departments and organizations were present at the walk offering resources for people dealing with mental health issues. Among the participants were Student Health and Counseling, the LGTBQ+ Resource Center, the Veteran & Military Resource Center, UNM Hospital, Agora Crisis Center and the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico.

City Council fails to override veto, securing safe outdoor spaces for unhoused

By: Zara Roy | Sep 12

On Sept. 7, 2022, the Albuquerque City Council failed to override a vetoed bill which would have placed a moratorium on safe outdoor spaces for 12 months or until the amendment of the Integrated Development Ordinance. With a vote of 5-4 for overturning the veto, this project, which will provide temporary occupancy spaces for tents and vehicles as well as access to social services, will remain intact.

Among the five council members who voted in favor of the overturn were Brook Bassan, Dan Lewis, Renee Grout, Clarissa Pena and Louie Sanchez. Six votes were needed to override the veto, making for a narrow win for safe outdoor spaces.

Legal cannabis lowers Big Pharma's stock market value

By: Maddie Pukite | Sep 6

With recreational and medicinal cannabis now becoming legal in many states, the newly formed legal cannabis industry is showing an effect on many pharmaceutical firms' stock market value.

Sarah Stith, a researcher at the University of New Mexico, alongside Ziemowit Bednarek and Jacqueline M. Doremus from California Polytechnic State University, published findings that pharmaceutical firms will lose billions of dollars because of cannabis sales.

ASUNM senate meeting promises increased student engagement

By: Gabriel Saiz | Sep 1

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico kicked off their first full senate meeting of the semester on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The meeting consisted of the passage of three bills, the appointment of a new senator and the approval of funding for a student organization.

The first two bills, 1F and 2F, reduce the required open office hours to be held by senators from twice to once a week. Bill 2F would also add a weekly required visit to senators’ sponsored student organizations, with their total outreach hours increasing from 12 to 14 hour minimum.

UNM grad workers hold walk-in amid University bargaining

By: Maddie Pukite | Aug 23

The United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico held a walk-in on Monday, Aug. 22 to call attention to the continuous pushback they face from the University at the bargaining table and to show that, “the semester doesn’t start until the grad workers show up.”

“(We’re here) to just keep showing the University that we're a strong union, that we've got a lot of very engaged members, and it would be within, you know, in their best interest to negotiate a very strong contract with us … for the health of the whole university,” Samantha Cooney, Union bargaining team member, said.

Grad union bargaining reaches tension over retracted raises, grievance clause

By: Maddie Pukite | Aug 22

The United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico just wrapped up another bargaining session on Friday, Aug. 12 and are preparing for the next on Monday, Aug. 29, with a walk-in planned for Monday, Aug. 22. While the Union is making progress, they still face difficulties from the University, according to Samantha Cooney, a member of the bargaining committee.

“We've made a lot of movement with the UNM bargaining team towards an agreement on what those assistantship contracts should say and how much clarity we should have the right to before starting our job duties each contract period,” Cooney said.

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