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UNM launches first comprehensive Sustainability Strategic Plan

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 10

After over a year of preparation and planning, the University of New Mexico announced its first comprehensive Sustainability Strategic Plan to organize the University’s sustainability goals into two main areas, on Oct. 29. The plan's two focuses are transforming campus operations and building sustainability engagement and culture. The first section of transforming campus operations contains measurable goals and objectives to create greater sustainability on campus, and the second section focuses on building culture and community within the University. The Director of UNM’s Office of Sustainability, Anne Jakle, said the first steps in the creation of the plan were to gather a baseline of data and to learn what the University community’s priorities are.

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First segment of ABQ Rail Trail now open

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | November 10

The first segment of the Albuquerque Rail trail opened to the public on Oct. 25, welcoming visitors to the trail which connects the Sawmill District to Tiguex Park. The following weekend, the Rail Trail was filled with dogs in costume for the inaugural “Howl-a-Day of the Dog” pet parade on Nov. 1. Uncertainty of the Rail Trail’s future began after the project kicked off, when Albuquerque lost $11.5 million in federal grant money, followed by a city lawsuit against the Trump Administration on Oct. 31, arguing that the grant was withdrawn “abruptly and without significant justification,” Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Operations Manager Sarah Supple wrote in a statement to the Daily Lobo. The city will continue to invest in the Rail Trail through local and state partnerships as the legal process moves forward, with the Central Crossing segment still on track to open next year, Supple wrote.

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Lobo food pantry feeds students during shutdown

Maria Fernandez and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 10

In light of federal funding for the anti-hunger Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lapsing on Nov. 1, many people are looking for other sources to find food. For University of New Mexico students, the Lobo Food Pantry can be one of those resources. The pantry is primarily student-run and allows students with a UNM ID to take up to 10 pounds of items, including fresh produce, canned goods and hygiene items per day, the Director of UNM’s LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, Lisa Lindquist, said. “Our biggest thing that we try to think about is we want people to feel comfortable using this space. What we see a lot are students saying, ‘Well, other people deserve it more than I do.’ And the truth is that that's just not true, that's a myth. Anybody who needs its food should come in and use it,” Lindquist said.

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How the government shutdown impacts UNM

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | November 3

The University of New Mexico community is bracing itself for the impacts of the federal government shutdown, which has been ongoing for over a month since lawmakers missed the deadline for government funding. UNM President Garnett Stokes sent a campus-wide email on Oct. 6, in which she wrote that the government shutdown may affect University federally funded research projects. UNM Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher and UNM Health Sciences Center Vice President for Research, Hengameh Raissy, addressed the UNM Research Community in a letter with guidelines to prepare for the shutdown on Sept. 29, before the government shutdown.

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What are GO Bonds?

Addison Fulton | November 3

This local election cycle, voters will be asked to consider where city funds should be allocated to a variety of issues and programs on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 4. General obligation bonds are funding dedicated to improvements to infrastructure and programs such as public safety, parks and recreation, libraries and street maintenance. In addition to the bond questions, there are elections for the City of Albuquerque Mayor’s Office, odd-numbered city council districts, Albuquerque Municipal School Board districts three, five, six and seven, the Central New Mexico Community College Board and the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority.

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Speaker hosted by conservative student organization draws tension, protests

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | November 3

For over four hours, approximately 30 people protested against the University of New Mexico chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative student organization that had a table set up near the Duck Pond on Monday, Oct. 27. Some students debated with members of TP-UNM, while others gathered and chanted. TP-UNM members were promoting an upcoming lecture that occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 29, titled “CRT: Education or Indoctrination,” with guest speaker Stephen Davis, a Turning Point USA contributor and host of the podcast “SMASH with MAGA Hulk.” Students protested Turning Point’s presence on campus, chanting “hey hey, ho ho, Turning Point has got to go.” Some protestors handed out “Lobos Against Fascism” stickers and sang “Bella Ciao,” “This Land is your Land,” “Solidarity Forever” and “John Brown’s Body.”

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ASUNM bill on broadcasting meetings highlights senator attendance issue

Elliott Wood | October 27

A bill on livestreaming meetings that passed during the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico’s full senate meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22, faced criticism from some senators, and highlighted issues of senator attendance at meetings this semester. Bill #11F, proposed by Senators Daniyal Hussain and Jillian Grandinetti, mandates that all Full Senate meetings be either livestreamed or recorded to “ensure public accessibility.” The method by which the meeting would be livestreamed was left intentionally vague, Hussain said, in order to allow for changes in methodology as they tested different solutions. The bill, which was eventually passed by a vote of 12 yays to two nays, with six abstaining or absent, will take effect next semester.

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Voter turnout expected to rise from last local elections

Wyatt S. Padilla | October 27

If you are planning to head to the polls for this year’s elections to make your voice heard on the local levels of government, you may see a drastic difference between the voting lines compared to just a year ago. Last year’s presidential election sparked massive voter turnout due to high voter enthusiasm, but municipal elections tend to garner less attention, even with the city’s top job on the ballot. Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller and Darren White are the top two candidates who lead this year’s election, according to Research and Polling, a local polling firm based in Albuquerque, published by the Albuquerque Journal.

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Journalist, political commentator discusses Israel-Palestine politics during UNM visit

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 27

During his appearance at the University of New Mexico, journalist, political commentator and author of “Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning,” Peter Beinart, spoke on topics ranging from Jewish identity and anti-Zionism, to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal and student activism. In the nearly-full Anthropology Building lecture hall on Tuesday, Oct. 21, Beinart took questions from students, staff, faculty and community members. “It was wonderful, it was great. I really appreciated that there were people of different perspectives who asked me challenging questions from different points of view,” Beinart told the Daily Lobo after the lecture.

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Search begins for next University President

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 27

With University of New Mexico’s President Garnett Stokes’ tenure coming to an end, the search for the next president has officially begun. During a Board of Regents meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Board announced that they have taken the first step in finding a replacement for Stokes, who in September announced her intention to resign at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. The Board will soon appoint an advisory committee tasked with carrying out a national search for the next president, according to a UNM press release.

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Peter Beinart, author of ‘Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning’ to speak at UNM

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 20

Journalist, political commentator and author of “Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning,” Peter Beinart, will be visiting the University of New Mexico to speak in a discussion-format lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m., at the Anthropology building lecture hall. The event is sponsored by Congregation Nahalat Shalom, the Unitarian Universalist Church and Muslims and Jews United, and is part of Beinart’s national book tour, according to a press release by the event organizers. “Beinart, a leading voice in American and Middle Eastern political affairs, will address his call for justice for Palestinians after decades of occupation, and a new paradigm for understanding Jewish victimhood,” the press release reads.

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Thousands march in Albuquerque’s second ‘No Kings’ protest

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 20

Frogs, chickens, bananas, pigs, unicorns, axolotls and dinosaurs marched alongside several thousand people in the streets of Downtown Albuquerque during the nation-wide “No Kings” protest. Many attendees wore inflatable costumes, including several different animals, inspired by the inflatable frog costumes and other animals appearing at the Portland, Oregon, Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility protests. University of New Mexico sophomore Jack Barkhurst attended the march on Saturday, Oct. 18, with a sign that read “No loyalty oaths in higher education! UNM Reject the Compact!,” referring to the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.

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UNM opens video production studio for staff and student use

Marina Olmstead | October 20

Equipped with high-definition cameras, microphones, studio lighting, a green screen, teleprompters and all the equipment needed to create media, a former professional recording studio has opened for student and staff video production. The studio is in Room 138 of the University of New Mexico’s Woodward Hall. Having opened Aug. 18, the studio is free for all users after completing a mandatory training. The studio brings access to these tools closer to students located on Main Campus, where they would previously need to visit the Mesa del Sol Aperture Center, a media creation site on South Campus.

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UNM hosts ‘know your rights’ talk on immigration

Paloma Chapa | October 20

At a presentation last week at the University of New Mexico, local immigration attorneys Olsi Vrapi and Amber Weeks spoke to and answered questions from international students and employees, discussing topics ranging from citizenship pathways and travel plans to legal rights during an immigration raid. The presentation was held at the Student Union Building on Oct. 14, and hosted by United Academics of UNM, the Graduate and Professional Student Association and the UNM Office of Academic Affairs. GPSA President Travis Broadhurst and UA-UNM President Ernesto Longa delivered opening remarks and Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Rodriguez attended the presentation.

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Mayoral candidates gather at UNM as election day closes in

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 20

As Election Day quickly approaches, the candidates for Albuquerque mayor continue to dash around the city with their packed campaign schedules. During their tour, they met at the University of New Mexico’s Student Union Building to discuss policing, public transit, the city’s economy and homelessness. The forum was hosted in part by students from the UNM Law School and held on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Of the field of six certified candidates, Mayling Armijo, incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez and Alex Uballez were the four present, alongside write-in candidate Patrick Sais, who will not appear on the ballot.

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Alex Uballez interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and resume qualify you to lead the city of Albuquerque? “I was most recently the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. I was its chief federal law enforcement officer, running an office of 200 people who reported directly to me, as well as hundreds of federal ...

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Mayor Tim Keller interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

What some of your experiences over the past eight years and what some of those accomplishments have been, and why that experience tells voters that they should give you another term? “I was born and raised here, and when I was first elected, we were in tough times. We had President Trump. Crime was ...

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Darren White interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and resume qualify you to lead the city of Albuquerque? “I dedicated my life to public service, from the time I was in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division until I left the city of Albuquerque in 2011. I think we can all agree that crime and homelessness are the two significant ...

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Louie Sanchez Interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and your resume help qualify you to lead the City of Albuquerque? “Well, the first thing is, I'm a 26-year veteran of the Albuquerque Police Department, where I worked every part of the city of Albuquerque. I worked Field Services. I worked the investigative impact team. I worked the gang unit, the auto theft unit, the air support unit, the organized crime unit. I worked in the New Mexico violent gang task force, and then I was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and Commander. So I worked at the higher levels of the APD organization.

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Community demands answers after police rule Jayvon Givan’s death a suicide

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 13

Dozens gathered in front of the Albuquerque Police Department’s downtown headquarters during a press conference on Monday, Oct. 6, demanding answers about the death of Jayvon Givan, a 29-year-old Black man who was found hanging by a chain from a wall pillar outside a vacant building near Corrales last year. Givan’s death was ruled a suicide with “no signs of foul play” on Sept 17, 2024, according to police reports, but the incident started circulating on social media after his cousin, unaware of his death, filed a missing person report with APD on Oct. 1 that revealed he had been dead for over a year. The day after the community press conference, Tuesday, Oct. 7, APD announced that they would seek an independent review of Givan’s death as it has “raised concerns from the community about circumstances surrounding the man’s death.”