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Chimps prioritization of play

Shin Thant Hlaing | March 25

A new study led by University of New Mexico alumni and faculty members reveals that mother chimpanzees prioritize play with their children even in difficult situations, like food scarcity. The study, published March 14 in the journal “Current Biology,” might shed light on the importance of play to development in other primate species, and help us learn more about our evolution, according to lead researcher and UNM alumna Kris Sabbi. Co-authors include UNM professors of anthropology Melissa Emery Thompson and Martin Muller, UNM anthropology graduate student Megan Cole and UNM alumna and University of Michigan Research Lab Coordinator Isabelle Monroe.

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GPSA Presidential elections: Michel Rivera Ramirez

Maria Fernandez | March 25

Michel Rivera Ramirez (ballot #3) is a second-year University of New Mexico School of Law student running for the Graduate Professional Student Association President with a focus on employment and labor law. If he were to win the election, Rivera Ramirez’s main priority would be preparing to advocate at the New Mexico legislature for better state investment into UNM, he said. “This will include more funding for scholarships, assistantships and other services that graduate students can benefit from,” Rivera Ramirez wrote.

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Anthony Tomaziefski and Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber win ASUNM elections

Lily Alexander | March 25

On Thursday, March 21, Anthony Tomaziefski and Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber were elected to be the next President and Vice President, respectively, of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico. The two current ASUNM senators campaigned on campus accessibility and safety, and ASUNM involvement and outreach. A total of 1,080 students voted – 7% of the undergraduate student body – with Tomaziefski and Jaber each receiving 418 votes.

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ASUNM Presidential elections: Makayla Otero

Maria Fernandez | March 18

Makayla Otero (ballot #5) is a junior at the University of New Mexico pursuing a dual degree in political science and psychology. She has also served as President of the Pre-Law Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Otero said she was first inspired to run for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico Presidential election her freshman year when she was first involved in ASUNM. Otero first served as an Associate Justice before taking on the Chief Justice role this school year.

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ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential elections: Galen Oston and Tivon Oston

Maddie Pukite and Jaymes Boe | March 18

Brothers Galen Oston (ballot #3) and Tivon Oston (#4) hope to bring changes to the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico in the upcoming spring elections. Running as brothers allows them to complement the skills the other brings to the table, Tivon Oston said. Neither of them has prior experience in ASUNM, which is something they want to use to their advantage to bring an outside perspective and change to the institution as a whole. “I think there's no way around the fact that there needs to be changes,” Galen Oston said.

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ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential elections: Gabriel Gurulé and Crystal Nguyen

Nate Bernard | March 18

Gabriel Gurulé (ballot #2) and Crystal Nguyen (#1) are running for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico President and Vice President, respectively, and bringing experience and integrity to the position, Nguyen said. If elected, their presidency would center around experience, safety, sustainability and development, according to their campaign Instagram profile. Gurulé has been an ASUNM Senator for four semesters while Nguyen has been a Senator for two. They have both held various positions within the Senate, such as Gurulé as President Pro Tempore in fall 2023 and Nguyen as the current Steering and Rules Committee Vice Chair.

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ASUNM Presidential elections: Julián Ángel

Arly Garcia | March 18

Associated Students at the University of New Mexico presidential candidate Julián Ángel (ballot #1) is a junior studying Chicanx and Latin American Studies. Ángel was inspired to run for ASUNM President because he believes the ASUNM President's positions to UNM’s diversity, student support services and connection to state legislation provides tools to improve the Lobo experience through a community effort, he said.

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ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential elections: Isabel Castañeda and Ria Schultz

Lily Alexander | March 18

Isabel Castañeda (ballot #4) and Ria Schultz (#2) are vying for the roles of President and Vice President of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico, respectively, with a primary focus on improving campus inclusivity and accessibility. Castañeda — who has been involved in ASUNM for a year — currently serves as the director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Schultz is ASUNM’s President Pro Tempore and has held various Senate positions over the past three years.

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ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential elections: Anthony Tomaziefski and Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber

Karina Bolaños and Maddie Pukite | March 18

Two current senators for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico, Anthony Tomaziefski (ballot #6) and Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber (#3) are running for ASUNM President and Vice President, respectively focusing on accessibility, safety, involvement and outreach. Tomaziefski and Jaber’s campaign centers on education and student outreach to address their concerns surrounding the lack of accessibility on campus, safety and bridging the gap between students – specifically Greek Life – and ASUNM, they said.

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Stokes delivers State of the University on campus climate, campus safety and engagement

Karina Bolaños | March 8

On Monday, March 4, Garnett Stokes, President of the University of New Mexico, gave her annual State of the University address. She reflected on UNM’s past as it embarks on its future with discussions of safety, student success and overall campus climate at the forefront of her speech. Stokes discussed several avenues of achievement across campus, including student and alumni achievements and campus connections. She also touched on safety and scarcity. “Before we talk about the future, it is our responsibility to honor the past,” Stokes said.

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UNM Children’s Hospital gives away free gun locks to community

Maria Fernandez | March 4

While supplies last, The University of New Mexico Children's Hospital is giving away free gun locks – devices that prevent firearms from discharging – upon request in response to the recent rise in gun-related injuries to children. The program is in collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Health, which provided UNM Children's Hospital with 3,000 gun locks. Additional shipments from the NMDOH to UNMCH locations across the state are available for free upon request, according to safestoragenm.org.

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Have a ball at Albuquerque’s new dog parks

Sydney Freland/ Daily Lobo | March 4

In February, the Albuquerque Parks & Recreation Department celebrated the opening of seven new dog parks around the City. These parks are smaller in size compared to others, according to a City of Albuquerque news release.

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LoboEats app targets food insecurity with free event leftovers

Elizabeth Secor | March 4

This past February, the University of New Mexico launched LoboEats, a mobile app created to help connect students and faculty on Main Campus with available, free, leftover food from campus events. The LoboEats app was developed by a team of Honors students led by Sarita Cargas, UNM Honors College Associate Professor to help combat food insecurity at the University. In 2022, the app created by UNM alum Biraj Silwal won the UNM and Central New Mexico Community College Mobile App Contest.

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NMSUPD uses body-cameras; UNMPD doesn’t

Lauren Lifke and Lily Alexander | March 4

The New Mexico State University Police Department has been utilizing body-worn cameras since 2011. The University of New Mexico Police Department has not. NMSUPD began using body-worn cameras in response to industry standards and best nationwide law enforcement practices, according to Justin Dunivan, Deputy Chief of NMSUPD. “This program has been a great success for our department,” Dunivan said.

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Albuquerque brings the energy to affordable transportation

Nate Bernard | March 4

As of Feb. 22, Albuquerque residents will now be able to rent affordable electric vehicles (EV) through the GoForth Affordable Mobility Platform car-sharing program. The average price of a new EV in 2024 is around $50,798, according to Find My Electric. The program allows people to rent electric vehicles for $5 per hour or $50 per day plus tax, according to Stefenie Griggs, the program manager for Forth’s locations in the Southwest. “We fully recognize that new EVs aren't totally accessible for all folks, and especially if you're talking about folks that are low income. The program is meant to bridge that gap in access to EVs to make sure everyone can have access to clean and sustainable transportation,” Griggs said.

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Students stand in support of Palestine at Regents meeting

Karina Bolaños | February 19

On the afternoon of Feb. 15, Protesters entered the Board of Regents meeting and stood silently along the walls, donning keffiyehs, Palestinian Flags and stickers that read “Freedom for Palestine” to stand united with those speaking in support of a divestment resolution. Just before dozens of protesters walked out of class and gathered at Zimmerman Plaza to listen to speakers discuss the ongoing crises in Gaza, they marched throughout the University of New Mexico ringing chants of “No Peace on Stolen Land” and “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” across campus.

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New graduation requirements give high school students increased flexibility

Nate Bernard | February 19

Next year’s high school freshmen will see different graduation requirements due to a bill signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Feb. 9. The new requirements seek to increase school attendance and graduation rates by giving students more choices in the classes they take, according to Lujan Grisham’s press release. “High school should be about preparing students for the real world while providing more opportunities to pursue their unique interests and future careers,” Lujan Grisham said in the press release.

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College affirmative consent bill heads to governor’s desk

Lauren Lifke and Lily Alexander | February 19

The New Mexico Senate passed an amended bill Tuesday, Feb. 13 that would require state-funded colleges to include affirmative consent in their policies and procedures on sexual activity. House Bill 151, sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Thomson (D) and four other House Democrats, defines affirmative consent as “affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity.” Affirmative consent cannot be given by a party who is unconscious or incapacitated, cannot be implied or assumed and can be revoked at any time, according to the bill. “With this, I’m hoping that particularly women – but everyone – realizes that their body belongs to them. They don’t owe anybody anything. Taking you out for dinner doesn’t mean you owe them sex. Being their girlfriend doesn’t mean you owe them sex,” Thomson said.

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Taylor Swift incident draws attention to AI-generated pornography

Lauren Lifke | February 12

Since the rise of Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT’s release in 2022, victims have been targeted by pornographic AI-generated images that have, in some cases, circulated on social media websites like X, formerly Twitter. Deepfakes are videos or images in which a person’s “face or body has been digitally altered so that they appear to be someone else, typically used maliciously or to spread false information,” according to Oxford Languages. Recently, these have risen in the form of pornographic images. In late January, pornographic AI-generated images of Taylor Swift started to circulate the internet and gained thousands of views on X, according to the Associated Press. Mary Rice, associate professor of literacy at the University of New Mexico, specializes in AI’s role in education. The Swift incident was not a random act that sprung up on its own, Rice said.

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Syphilis rates rise in New Mexico

Nate Bernard | February 12

New Mexico had the second highest syphilis rate in the United States in 2022 and ranked highest in the nation for congenital syphilis – an infection that occurs when a mother passes syphilis on to their fetus through pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria that produces sores on the infected person. If left untreated, the bacteria can invade the nervous system, according to the CDC. Syphilis cases are rare but increasing, as seen in CDC data.