News

News

Lobos-turned-lobbyists at ‘UNM Day’

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | February 9

Cherry, silver and turquoise coated the Roundhouse in Santa Fe as students, staff and administrators of the University of New Mexico journeyed up to the State Capitol for “UNM Day” on Wednesday, Feb. 4. “It’s just been an amazing day. I think no matter what happens, our students are having fun and they’re learning, and that’s very important to me, so that’s one of the reasons I love doing UNM Day,” the Executive Director of Associated Students at UNM Governmental Affairs, Alana Baca, said. ASUNM held meetings with lawmakers throughout the day to lobby for their legislative priorities, encapsulated in HB 170; the UNM Basic Needs Project that requests $1.4 million from the state.

---

News

Thousands protest against ICE during ‘National Shutdown’

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 2

Thousands marched in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday, Jan. 30, to protest against President Donald Trump’s Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a nationwide strike that called for no school, work or shopping for the day.  Chants of “Abolish ICE” and “Immigrants are welcome here” echoed throughout the Civic Plaza and streets of Downtown Albuquerue. City of Albuquerque offices in Downtown, including City Hall, closed at 1 p.m. as a result of the protest to “minimize vehicle traffic from Downtown workers,” according to the  City of Albuquerque.  

---

News

ASUNM President announces transportation, AI initiatives

Shin Thant Hlaing | February 2

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico kicked off the spring semester with a number of announcements from ASUNM President Andrew Norton on executive priorities at the first full senate meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 28.  Many of the initiatives involved student transportation, both for those with and without a personal vehicle. Among these initiatives were the creation of a student parking committee, an “alternative parking system” and an increase in funding for parking and the potential for a partnership with Uber. The Uber partnership would be focused on providing free or reduced fares for students using the app within a 10-mile radius of the campus. 

---

News

UNM Athletics unveils $58 million plan for University Stadium upgrades

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | February 2

The University of New Mexico released its next phase of improvement plans for University Stadium on Jan. 23. The upgrades will focus on the critical infrastructure, accessibility and safety needs of the stadium. The plan is part of the first phase of the University’s “Stadium of the Future,” intended to modernize University Stadium and the South Campus Sports and Entertainment District.  Interim Vice President and Director of Athletics Ryan Berryman said that the increased attendance at football games this season highlighted some of the problems with the stadium.

---

News

Over 1000 march in Albuquerque after Minneapolis nurse killed by ICE

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 26

Over a thousand protesters demonstrated in Albuquerque on Sunday, Jan. 25, marching from the Bernalillo Metropolitan Courthouse to Civic Plaza to demand the removal of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents from communities around the country and expressing solidarity with Minneapolis, Minnesota, after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was fatally shot by ICE agents the day before.  Pretti was an intensive care nurse who worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at a VA hospital in Minneapolis. He had participated in protests following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, according to the Associated Press. 

---

News

Student government previews legislative priorities

Shin Thant Hlaing | January 26

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, students and staff from the University of New Mexico will participate in “UNM Day,” an annual event at the state legislature meant to increase the University’s lobbying presence at the capitol.  This year, the legislative priorities of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico are the “Basic Needs Fund,” an upcoming bill meant to address non-academic barriers to education access, and a Capital Outlay request to improve parking security for T-Lot and P-Lot.

---

News

ASUNM, PATS launch long-awaited nighttime ‘LoboLift’ escort program

Elizabeth Bolke | January 26

LoboLift will run Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the last pickup at 10:45 p.m. When calling LoboLift, the dispatcher must  verify the rider’s LoboID before a vehicle is sent to the pickup location, to ensure safety. Each LoboLift vehicle has a camera to provide security, and if there is suspicious activity, the LoboLift driver can relay that information directly to UNMPD via the vehicle’s radio.  Each cart is driven by trained student employees with no services being provided across city streets.

---

News

Protesters pressure lawmakers during NM legislature opening day

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 26

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, over 1,000 protesters marched throughout the chilly morning from Santa Fe Plaza to the New Mexico State Capitol on the opening day of this year’s legislative session and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State of the State address.    The march was organized by Youth United for Climate Crisis Action and sponsored by 25 organizations, including University of New Mexico Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight, New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition, New Energy Economy and Tewa Women United, according to a YUCCA press release.   The protest was part of the “We Got Us” mass mobilization that aimed to “put forward a people-centered vision for the future, show up for one another in the face of systemic failure and make our movements’ collective power impossible to ignore,” the press release reads.  

---

News

Elected officials condemn Trump administration in Albuquerque ‘Free America Rally’

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 19

Hundreds gathered at Civic Plaza on Sunday, Jan. 18  to express their disapproval of President Donald Trump’s administration, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions, the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Trump’s “fascism,” according to the event flyer.   Among those who spoke at the rally were New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D), New Mexico Women’s March Founder and Chair Samia Assed and community organizer Selinda Guerrero.  Haaland was one of many rally speakers who encouraged attendees to vote in this year’s midterm elections. 

---

News

KUNM programming to increase focus on local news

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 19

New Mexico’s largest nonprofit newsroom and National Public Radio affiliate, KUNM, is proposing a new program schedule to shift more local news segments into primetime listening slots. The changes could go into effect this spring, pending a review by the KUNM Radio Board on Feb. 3. “The top line for us is more local news for the most people, that’s why we’re making a program change,” KUNM’s General Manager Jeff Pope said.

---

News

Homeless shelter organizers speak on cold fighting $820k state grant

Penelope Loyd Sment | January 19

In a first for the New Mexico Office of Housing, a new grant program to prepare for winter emergencies was announced earlier this month, with $820,000 distributed to shelters across the state, giving a maximum amount of $20,000 to each homeless shelter.  The funding seeks to help shelters prepare for the needs of people with unstable housing conditions during the winter by increasing the holding capacity of shelters and other living facilities and distributing greater amounts of warm food and drink, hygiene supplies including pads and tampons, and warm clothing, according to a New Mexico Department of Workplace Solutions press release. 

---

News

NM AG announces legislation to protect victims of AI deepfakes

Addison Fulton | January 19

On Thursday, Jan. 15, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and State Representative Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) announced legislation meant to curb the spread of harmful images generated by artificial intelligence. The legislation will be voted on during the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Jan. 20.  The “Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act” would establish requirements that generative AI servers and social media platforms embed markers or “signatures” into images, allowing law enforcement to trace illegal AI generated content back to its source, as well as allow the New Mexico Department of Justice to investigate tech companies for infractions, Torrez said during a press conference at the New Mexico Department of Justice office in Albuquerque. 

---

News

Grad students seek statewide study on healthcare expansion for higher ed workers

Paloma Chapa | January 19

Members of United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico collaborated on a House Memorial that, if passed, would request the Legislative Finance Committee of the New Mexico Legislature launch a study on the feasibility of expanding health insurance to all higher education educators, including temporary part-time faculty and graduate student employees, according to the memorial.   The report requested by the memorial would have a deadline of Oct. 1 of this year. The 2026 legislative session is set to begin on Jan. 20 and end on Feb. 19. 

---

News

UNM ARTSLab merges technology and art

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 19

Across University Boulevard from the University of New Mexico main campus sits the UNM ARTSLab, a place that many students have not entered, but likely noticed due to the large mural painted on the outside of the building. The ARTSLab provides technology and support to interdisciplinary research conducted within the College of Fine Arts, ARTSLab Director Stewart Skylar Copeland said. “We try to support and maintain cutting-edge equipment and technology that researchers can use and incorporate in the research they’re doing, and we support it and provide access to multiple users to that equipment,” Copeland said.

---

News

Community reacts, hundreds march against U.S. strikes on Venezuela

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 12

Within 24 hours of the United States military incursion into Venezuela, code-named  “Operation Absolute Resolve,” Albuquerque was among several cities across the country that saw protests against the attack. Hundreds marched from Robinson Park to Civic Plaza on Jan. 3, chanting “stop the U.S. war machine,” and "Venezuela isn’t yours.” On Jan. 3, the U.S. military launched airstrikes on the La Carlota military airbase in Caracas at 2 a.m. local time, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now being held in federal jail in New York City awaiting trial, according to NPR. 

---

News

Lovo no longer a Lobo, Berryman named interim AD

Alex Joe | January 3

After just over one year as the University of New Mexico’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, Fernando Lovo has accepted a job to become the next Athletic Director for the University of Colorado Boulder. The CU Boulder Board of Regents unanimously approved the hire on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025.  The terms of Lovo’s contract span five years, keeping Lovo in Colorado through 2030. His new contract includes a base pay of $600,000 per year in addition to another $600,000 for media activities and community relations. During his time at UNM, Lovo’s contract had a base pay of $400,000 per year over a five-year term. Lovo may have to pay UNM approximately $800,000 as his contract states that he would owe 50% of his base salary for the remainder of the contract term if he were to terminate the contract.

---

News

United Gradworkers call on law school to reinstate working hours

Paloma Chapa | December 9

During the University of New Mexico’s annual “Hanging of the Greens” on Friday Dec. 5, members of United Graduate Workers of UNM spoke with visitors and handed out petitions outside the UNM Bookstore, calling on the UNM School of Law to reverse a decision cutting graduate student working hours, which would make some law students ineligible for health Insurance. The petition seeks to reinstate the working hours for UNM third-year law student Cam Rosenberg, who developed chronic illness while attending law school. Rosenberg is potentially facing their 10-hour work week being reduced to six hours, which would take away their health benefits, according to the petition.