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11 Senators elected with lowest turnout since 2014

Alyssa Martinez | April 24

Undergraduate student government elections saw the lowest voter turnout since 2014 for the final election of the academic year, according to statistics collected by the Daily Lobo. Just 837 students voted in the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) senate elections — representing about 5.6% of the undergraduate body this semester. Todd Moe, who heads the ASUNM Elections Commission, said he was disappointed with the turnout, but said the coronavirus pandemic — and the suspension of in-person classes — likely played a role.

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UNM Bookstore extends book rental return deadline

Makayla Grijalva | April 23

The University of New Mexico bookstore altered its spring 2020 textbook rental return policy to accommodate the unusual situation some students are finding themselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The change in policy includes a rental extension from May 16 to May 20, as well as options to return textbooks through a mail-in or a drive-thru drop off method. “In light of the current health crisis, the UNM Bookstore has revised the previous textbook rental return procedures and deadlines in order to adhere to the most recent public health guidelines and the University’s limited operations status,” a press release from UNM bookstore management said.

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New Mexico sees anti-quarantine protest as deaths, cases continue to climb

Justin Garcia | April 20

SANTA FE — Circling the mostly empty state capitol building, about 16 cars blared their horns in a parade-style protest Monday afternoon. Many had adorned their vehicles with American flags and slogans like “F the Governor” and “Reopen New Mexico.” “High NOON drive around the Capitol — honk horns, paint cars or bring signs. SHOW UP. Do not park and walk — stay in your vehicles!” the event post on Facebook read. The protesters called on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to “reopen” New Mexico after the state closed all non-essential business until at least April 30 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While much more subdued, the Santa Fe protest coincides with protests across the country to reopen the United States’ shuttered economy, despite warnings about the lethal consequences of doing so. The orders are meant to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus and are overwhelmingly endorsed by public health officials, doctors and researchers. Still, fear of the virus that has killed 40,724 American’s as of April 18 — including 58 New Mexicans — was not enough to keep Monday’s protesters away.

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30 candidates vying for 11 seats in ASUNM Senate

Alyssa Martinez | April 19

The student government senate election will persist in the face of the pandemic. Although the election will be held in an online-only medium, that did not stop a record 30 candidates from attempting to occupy one of the 11 seats available. Undergraduates can cast their votes from Monday, April 20 at 9 a.m. through Wednesday, April 22 at 5 p.m. via their my.unm.edu portal. With the coronavirus shuddering the lives of many Lobos, some current senators previously aired concern about how this election's participation will be impacted. This time last semester, 10 of the 15 total candidates were elected by just 6% of all undergraduates.

Across UNM, multiple facilities have condoms available to students for free.

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SHAC to hold campaign addressing sex during COVID-19

Makayla Grijalva | April 17

The University of New Mexico Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) will hold a campaign over social media entitled “Sex during COVID-19” to address uncertainties surrounding the spread of the disease during intercourse. “Intimacy and sex are more risky during a pandemic.” Health Promotions Manager Tiffany Martinez-Durant said. “So, that’s why we try and tell students if you’re actively dating someone where you are going to go meet up, you have to really vet your partner and consider the impact of public health, your loved ones, so forth and so forth.” Martinez-Durant said although people are generally aware of how the coronavirus spreads there are still many facts surrounding COVID-19 that many are not aware of, such as how the virus was found in fecal matter.

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UNM to receive $17 million for student relief

Liam Debonis | April 17

The University of New Mexico will receive at least $8.6 million from the federal government to use toward emergency relief grants for students. The money comes from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund established by the recent Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In total, UNM will receive $17,266,512 in “advance funds” from the U.S. Department of Education, according to the recipient agreement contract released by the Department. Of that figure, a minimum of $8,633,256 must be awarded in emergency financial aid grants to students.

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UNMH employees protest lack of PPE

Liam Debonis and Bella Davis | April 15

Spaced apart following social distancing guidelines, University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) employees and allies waved signs and chanted as passing cars honked in a show of support on April 15. “What do we need?” one protester shouted. “PPE!” the crowd shouted back. They assembled in front of the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) to protest the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) accessible to the staff.

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NM Supreme Court denies request for automatic mail-in primary

Andrew Gunn and Lissa Knudsen | April 14

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously ordered county clerks to mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters for the upcoming primary elections, while also denying their request for an automatic mail-in election. The ruling, which followed nearly two-and-a-half hours of constitutional quarreling and a lack of debate over public health consequences, means voters will have to fill out an absentee ballot application, complete the ballot at home and mail it in. Otherwise, voters will have to go against the advice of public health experts and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s stay-at-home order to vote in person on June 2. Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover confirmed in a text with the Daily Lobo that county clerks will be sending applications to voters whose voter registration address is up to date and “everything else will remain the same — there will be early and election day voting,” Stover said.

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Pay and safety top UNM staff concerns

Bella Davis | April 13

On April 2, the University of New Mexico announced that its period of limited operations was extended to April 30 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. With this extension comes new challenges for UNM staff. One of the biggest changes that came as a result of the extension relates to staff pay. Since the period of limited operations began, all employees have been sorted into three work tiers. Tier one employees are working physically on campus, tier two work remotely and tier three are on standby and available to report to work if needed. Regular staff in all tiers will continue to be paid until April 30, per new guidelines sent out by UNM Human Resources. However, no decisions have been made past April 30, according to HR Strategic Support Manager Amber Bailey.

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Zoombombing raises questions about OMA

Lissa Knudsen | April 11

On Friday afternoon, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) at the University of New Mexico announced they would not host a live presidential candidate forum online due to concerns about “Zoombombing.” A week before, an undergraduate student government meeting was hit with a couple of zoombombs, including profane and racist language. With public meetings transitioning to an online format as part of a far-reaching social distancing effort amidst the coronavirus pandemic, UNM and other public institutions have been forced to use video conferencing service platforms as a means to conduct the public’s business.

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Instructors adjust to teaching online

Amanda Britt | April 7

With classes officially starting online only this week, instructors across the University of New Mexico have felt pressure to make a smooth transition from tracking in-person to teaching remotely. While some professors choose to teach only by posting lecture slides or YouTube videos to Blackboard Learn, others, like Melisa Garcia chose to incorporate Skype, a video web conferencing service, into her teaching.

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Meeting to fast-track med students graduation canceled

Justin Garcia | April 7

A Board of Regents meeting that would have graduated medical students early was canceled Monday after a residency accreditation body issued new guidance on the matter. The cancellation comes as some medical schools across the United States, but largely in the pandemic’s American epicenter of New York City, are graduating students ahead of schedule to bolster hospital ranks to handle surges of COVID-19 cases. Health Sciences Center Public Information Officer Alex Sanchez said that some medical students at the University of New Mexico had expressed interest in early graduation as a means to assist the fight against the coronavirus last week.

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Lobo Food Pantry sees increase in demand, decrease in donations

Megan Gleason | April 6

As cancellations and operational changes to staples persist as a response to the global pandemic, the University’s Lobo Food Pantry remains a hub for hungry Lobos. Olivia Torres Jojola, coordinator of the Lobo Food Pantry, said the Campus Lobo Food Pantry had 158 students attend in March — a vast difference from the 50 to 70 students it would typically average. This increase came as the novel coronavirus hit New Mexico in mid-March. The LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center is hosting a weekly Campus Lobo Food Pantry pick-up service every Monday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. outside the University Advisement and Enrichment Center throughout UNM’s limited operations. According to LoboRESPECT, pre-made bags are available for students to pick-up, whether they drive or walk and include non-perishable goods, toiletries, diapers, feminine hygiene products and more.

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New Mexico's COVID crisis, by the numbers

Joe Rull | April 6

Check this page for the Daily Lobo's updated testing and confirmed case data for the COVID-19 outbreak in New Mexico, thanks to the COVID Tracking Project. This page will be updated daily as more data is produced and reported.

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UNMH begins clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments

Justin Garcia | April 5

The University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) started one clinical trial and is preparing another to examine potential treatments for COVID-19, as deaths and cases swell across the world. A trial for hydroxychloroquine, a drug typically used to treat malaria and lupus, started last week, while an upcoming trial for remdesivir, an antiviral developed during the 2015 Ebola epidemic, is in the works. Both trials are small parts of an unprecedented global research effort to find treatments and a vaccine.

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After veto, ASUNM Senate fails novel fee raise

Alyssa Martinez | April 5

Budget bills, Zoom bombs and the year-long fee raise debate sounded through the computers of student government leaders on the first of the month. As the University grapples with the unprecedented changes brought by the coronavirus pandemic, the student government assembled on Zoom Wednesday night to debate the reinstatement of a fee raise, already voted down by the student body and vetoed by the student-body president. The evening commenced with the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico’s President Adam Biederwolf announcing three major breakthroughs prompted by the pandemic.

Students study hard in Zimmerman Library on the evening of Dec. 2, 2018.

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Some college students excluded from stimulus checks

Liam Debonis and Alex McCausland | April 3

While many Americans wait eagerly for their $1200 stimulus check to come in the mail, some New Mexican college students have been left to fend for themselves. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the president of the United States signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act into effect on March 27, authorizing $1200 payments to individual Americans, along with a number of corporate bailouts. For 19 to 23-year-old full-time college students, however, their status as legal dependents or undocumented immigrants bars them from receiving stimulus checks, according to Business Insider.

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Dispatch: COVID cases, deaths continue to climb on Navajo Nation

Sharon Chischilly | April 3

GALLUP, N.M. — COVID-19 has gripped the Navajo Nation and given no sign of letting go as new cases and deaths continued to climb this week. As of the publication of this article, there are at least 241 cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths, according to the Navajo Nation Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service. In an effort to combat the spread of the disease, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer have called on Navajo Nation citizens to social distance and stay home.

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New Student Orientation weighs options amid pandemic

Beatrice Nisoli | April 1

New Student Orientation (NSO) may join the increasing list of services being transferred online in response to COVID-19. NSO, which typically occurs during the summer, is a mandatory two to three-day orientation for incoming University of New Mexico students. The purpose of the orientation is to welcome students to the UNM community through a combination of team-building activities and sharing resources for succeeding in a University setting. An online orientation option had been available for specific student populations previous to the technological shifts brought by COVID-19. Since this is an already existing initiative, an exclusively online orientation format could quickly extend to every incoming student should the need arise.

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Student employees to receive pay through May 15

Alyssa Martinez | March 31

University of New Mexico student employees were just given a big promise. University President Garnett Stokes announced in an email March 31 that student employees who meet eligibility requirements will be paid through the rest of the semester, regardless of whether or not they are actively working. “Some of you may still be working while others may not,” the email read. “Regardless, please know that the University values you.”