News

News

Haaland talks data centers, free graduate tuition during Law School visit

Paloma Chapa | May 4

During a Q&A style conversation at the University of New Mexico Law School on Monday, April 27, Law Students spoke to New Mexico gubernatorial candidate from the Pueblo of Laguna Deb Haaland about a variety of topics including data centers, economic stimulus, healthcare and the Israel and Palestine conflict.  Haaland opened her remarks by recalling her “depression and frustration” over not passing the  bar exam after graduating from the UNM Law School.  “You do all the work, and the Creator makes you take a sharp right turn or a left turn, and you have no clue why,” Haaland said. “I feel very strongly that if I had passed my bar exam, I wouldn't be standing here as the Secretary of the Interior.”  

---

News

City Nature Challenge puts local biodiversity on the map

Paloma Chapa | April 27

The Albuquerque City Nature Challenge, taking place from April 24-27, is inviting everyone to become citizen scientists through documenting the city’s biodiversity in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia Counties, as part of a global collaborative effort to document wildlife observations of all kinds.  R.H. Mallory Center for Community Geography Associate Director Laurel Ladwig said the City Nature Challenge is a way to get people to know the nature around them while helping create an urban biodiversity map using the iNaturalist app or website, and that Albuquerque has participated in the challenge since 2019. Ladwig said that habitat is everywhere in the city, citing her experience with some trees in a restaurant parking lot along I-25. 

---

News

Meet Gwich'in elder, caribou protector Sarah James

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 27

Albuquerque’s final annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow drew over 100,000 participants and attendees from tribes across the country to Expo New Mexico on April 24-25.  One of the attendees was Neets’aii Gwich’in elder Sarah James from Arctic Village, who came from Alaska for the Pow Wow. James is internationally-known for her efforts to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas development.  She won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2002, and is among multiple Native women authors in the book “Worlds within Us: Wisdom and Resilience of Indigenous Women Elders.” 

---

News

One year in, 250+ hrs served by ABQ RIDE volunteers

Shin Thant Hlaing | April 27

When riding the bus in Albuquerque, passengers may have seen people in neon shirts. These people are volunteers with the newly-launched ABQ RIDE Transit Ambassador program.  Launched last year on April 1, 2025, the program is one of two programs for which ABQ RIDE recruits volunteers. The volunteers seek to promote a safer environment for bus passengers by providing education of ABQ RIDE’s Rules to Ride, and being another set of trained eyes to monitor service, according to the City of Albuquerque. 

---

News

Earth Month: NM environmental leaders talk sustainability

Penelope Loyd Sment | April 20

This Earth Month, two sustainability activists spoke about the efforts the University of New Mexico has been taking to address the climate crisis and its role in environmental issues. While the University’s efforts have been a good start, there is still more work to do, they said.  The clearest example of action taken by UNM on environmental matters is the University’s strategic sustainability plan, released in October 2025, with goals set to be accomplished by 2030. The plan outlines multiple objectives for both transforming campus operations and building sustainability engagement and culture on campus. The goals tackle energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use, waste management, transportation and limiting waste in food and dining. 

---

News

University presidential finalists, campus visits announced

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 20

The University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents has announced the five finalists to fill the role of University president when Garnett Stokes’ retirement takes effect in July. Each of the candidates will visit Main Campus over the next four weeks, where community members are encouraged to engage with the finalists directly and submit feedback after the forum. All forums will be held in the Student Union Ballroom C.

---

News

‘Sport as a Public Good’ talk spotlights gaps in youth sports education, access

Shin Thant Hlaing | April 20

There’s little that people enjoy more than play. Unfortunately, when it comes to our youth, we often fail in nurturing that love, former President of the U.S. Tennis Association and Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA Brian Hainline said. On Wednesday, April 15, Hainline spoke at the University of New Mexico Physics and Astronomy Interdisciplinary Science Building and said sports should be a public good to an audience including local sport leaders and athletes. He highlighted what he called an inadequate systemic support for sports in the U.S.  Hainline’s lecture was hosted jointly by the UNM School of Medicine and Alumni Association. 

---

News

Target-anchored retail development coming to South Campus

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 20

Just west of The Pit, a major retail center will begin construction next month. The development will stretch across 365,000 square-feet and include a Target, Marshalls, Home Goods, Burlington and Old Navy, in addition to several smaller retailers and restaurants. It is scheduled to finish construction in fall 2027. Lobo Crossing is a project the University of New Mexico has been trying to develop for nearly a decade, the Chief Operating Officer of Lobo Development Corporation Tom Neale said.

---

News

Attorneys claim client mischaracterized by former Law School Dean

Paloma Chapa | April 13

On Wednesday, April 8, attorneys Julio Romero and Kelly Sanchez sent a letter to University of New Mexico leadership addressing  inaccuracies and alleged “mischaracterizations” of their client by former UNM Law School Dean Sergio Pareja in a letter he sent to UNM leadership on March 31.  Romero, Sanchez and the ACLU represented a former law student who raised due process violations against the law school after meeting with Vice Dean Steven Homer on Nov. 19, 2024, regarding what the client alleged was retaliatory  allegations of misconduct made against her by another law student. Romero and Sanchez wrote that the law school received audio of the Nov. 19 meeting with the student and Homer over the disciplinary violation that captured Homer “prematurely interrogating the student and telling the student he had already decided the student’s truthfulness,” before giving her an opportunity to select between a formal or informal investigation. 

---

News

Experts warn against permitted killing of Mexican wolves

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 13

On Feb. 24, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service released a now-expired document authorizing designated individuals in Catron county to kill a Mexican wolf on private land or “in the act of biting, killing, or wounding livestock on Federal land.” Some experts warn the permitted killings fail to save cattle and could threaten the endangered species.  The permit’s duration spanned from Feb. 19 through April 4, or until a wolf was taken, stating that it be done “as quickly and humanely as possible.” No wolves were reported to have been killed under the permit, according to New Mexico Conservation Lead for WildEarth Guardians Leia Barnett.  Senior Conservation Advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity and author of the book “Predatory Bureaucracy” Michael Robinson said persecution of the Mexican grey wolf by the federal government has historically occurred on behalf of the livestock industry. 

---

News

Protesters rally, Trump threatens death of Iran’s ‘whole civilization’

Paloma Chapa | April 13

On Tuesday, April 7, protesters gathered at the corner of Central Avenue and University Boulevard in response to President Donald Trump’s threats to wipe out the Iranian civilization if the country didn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his 8 p.m. deadline.  “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.  The war between Iran and the U.S. had been ongoing for six weeks before the two countries agreed on a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline, according to CBS News. 

---

News

ASUNM meetings broadcasting bill awaiting approval from legal counsel

Shin Thant Hlaing | April 6

The Associated Student at the University of New Mexico STREAM Act — mandating ASUNM Full Senate Meetings be live streamed or recorded — passed last October, but the bills implementation and official inclusion into the lawbook still awaits approval from the Office of University Counsel, ASUNM President-Elect Hope Montoya said. University Counsel is a body that provides legal advice to various administrative organs including ASUNM, according to the Office of University Counsel.  “I guess you could kind of call it a stoplight system. Green signifies that the bill is okay to be included into the lawbook. Yellow signifies that there are parts of the bill that require edits. Red means no, don’t include it in the lawbook,” Montoya said. 

---

News

Pay-what-you-can model debuted in SUB

Shin Thant Hlaing | April 6

Last month, the La Ventana hot food location in the University of New Mexico Student Union Building’s Mercado convenience store began piloting the new Fare Share program, which aims to alleviate food insecurity across Main Campus.  The program allows anyone with a valid LoboID to choose one entree, one side and one drink from La Ventana’s selection of food and beverages, then pay whatever they wish for what they’ve chosen. Fare Share may be used by customers once a day. Any excess revenue, meaning payment that exceeds the cost of providing the meal, is donated directly to the Lobo Food Pantry.

---

News

Law school faces alleged failure to protect students against sexual misconduct

Paloma Chapa | April 6

After law students sent an open letter on March 2 raising concerns about the University of New Mexico Law School administration, the University continues to face pressure with renewing Law School Dean Camille Carey’s contract.  The letter alleges multiple failures, including protecting students and ensuring accountability in disciplinary matters involving Associate Dean Steven Homer and Carey, including a case of sexual misconduct. On Feb. 26, the ACLU wrote a letter to the Provost’s Office alleging that “problems at the law school are serious and merit attention.”   

---

News

Page beats out incumbent Broadhurst for GPSA President

Elliott Wood | April 6

Marisa Page will be the new president of the University of New Mexico’s Graduate and Professional Student Association, defeating incumbent Travis Broadhurst in the election held from March 23-27, according to unofficial results posted after the ballots closed.  Page, a GPSA council member and Native American Studies doctorate student, defeated Broadhurst 135 votes to 120, amounting to a 5% margin of victory. 

---

News

Montoya, Salinas win ASUNM election

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 6

Hope Montoya and Owen Salinas will be the next president and vice president of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico, according to unofficial results from the ASUNM Elections Commission. Montoya and Salinas ran on a platform of expanding advocacy for students. Their major policy plans are “Lobo Print+,” to give students a credit for printing on campus, and continuing an effort to partner with ride share apps Lyft and Uber to get discounts for UNM students. This Spring election saw 1,408 students cast their ballots in an election that had three candidates for ASUNM president and vice president and 11 candidates for senate. Montoya won with 581 votes and Salinas with 567.

---

News

Tuition increase fails at Regents meeting

Shin Thant Hlaing | March 23

On Tuesday, March 17, the University of New Mexico Board of Regents contemplated using student facility fees to close a gap in funding required to complete several ongoing infrastructure projects, namely the construction of the new humanities building The proposed fee increase  would be accomplished using a $30 increase to the facility fee, and a $30 decrease to the mandatory student fee. However, the Lottery and Opportunity Scholarships do not cover expenses that are associated with capital, such as facility fees. 34,000 students in New Mexico receive financial assistance through the Opportunity Scholarship, and 10,000 students received Lottery scholarships during the spring semester of 2025, according to Source NM. 

---

News

UNM Law school under scrutiny over administration’s actions

Paloma Chapa | March 23

Multiple University of New Mexico law students say they have lost trust in the UNM Law School administration, with 14 law student organizations signing an open letter urging the Provost and Board of Regents to decline to “recommend the renewal” of Law School Dean Camille Carey’s contract. Some students’ concerns with the administration include lack of local student representation, unstable faculty retention, retaliatory and inconsistent practices and failing to protect students and ensure accountability in cases of sexual misconduct, the letter reads.   The letter comes after Carey spoke before the New Mexico House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 21, where she testified on a number of issues, some of which were brought forth to the committee by students and faculty. 

---

News

GPSA Presidential candidate: Travis Broadhurst

Elliott Wood | March 23

The incumbent GPSA President Travis Broadhurst, having previously served as sustainability director and director of boards, commissions and elections, is running again for president (ballot #2). While president, Broadhurst reinstituted the Parking and Transportation Services Advisory Committee — with representatives from the graduate, undergraduate, faculty, staff and athletics communities among others — which provides feedback and input on parking and transportation matters around campus, he said.  Broadhurst led an initiative, in collaboration with the UNM School of Medicine Dental Hygiene Clinic, to subsidize the cost of dental cleanings for graduate students who may no longer fall under their parents’ insurance. 

---

News

GPSA Presidential candidate: Marisa Page

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 23

The University of New Mexico’s Graduate and Professional Student Association will be holding elections for president, council chair and considering nine constitutional amendments. Voting will take place from 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27. There are two candidates for GPSA president and one candidate for council chair. To view the amendments, candidates and cast your ballot, go to gpsa.unm.edu. Marisa Page is a member of the GPSA council and on the legislative steering committee running for GPSA President (ballot #1). “I think that we need to build community at the University, and I think that people, especially grad students, need a safe space to be heard and seen,” Page said.