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Burqueños come together to view eclipse

Megan Holmen | January 31

A once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event occurred Wednesday, with the onslaught of a super blue blood moon eclipse. The last time this occurred was in 1866, according to Jim Greenhouse, an astronomer at the Albuquerque Natural History Museum. Lunar eclipses occur when the moon, earth and sun are all aligned, which can happen several times per year. However, this lunar eclipse is unusual, because it happened on both a blue moon and a super moon, Greenhouse said.

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Medical workers show their creative side

Ariel Lutnesky | January 31

There was a little bit more bustling than usual at the Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion Cafe in the University of New Mexico Hospital Wednesday afternoon, as the band, Goddess of Arno, prepared to play for an hour as a part of a concert series put together by the Arts-in-Medicine program. Program Director Dr. Patricia Ann Repar started the series “as a way for people in the University community to have an outlet,” said Melissa Sandoval, program coordinator for Arts-in-Medicine. “She ran into a lot of physicians and professors who (would) say, ‘Oh, I used to play guitar,’ or ‘On the side, I dabbled in this band.’ She really wanted an outlet for them to be able to show the other side of themselves, not necessarily the academic side.”

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UNM begins class on "Three Peoples" mural

Megan Holmen | January 31

This semester the University of New Mexico is offering a new class that focuses on the “Three Peoples Murals,” which were painted by Kenneth Adams in 1939 and originally funded through a grant from the Carnegie Corp. Located in the west wing of Zimmerman Library, the four murals depict the intercultural relationship between Native, Hispanic and Anglo Americans as the artist viewed those relationships at the time, which caused criticism for decades.

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Brief: UNM to test emergency system

Madison Spratto | January 29

The University of New Mexico will test its emergency alert system Tuesday at 11:02 a.m. The test will include a minute-long siren and alerts sent through all LoboAlert outlets including text messages, emails and RSS, meaning all websites that are constructed through the UNM web content management system will pick up the alerts automatically, said Byron Piatt, UNM’s emergency manager. He said the process of using message boards, like the ones in the Student Union Building, to display the alerts is also in the works. Prior to sounding the sirens, a LoboAlert will be sent out to warn the UNM community that it is a drill — during an real emergency, an alert would be sent out after the sirens sound off, Piatt said.

Dr. Emile Nakhleh, director of the Global and National Security Policy Institute, sits in his office on Jan. 27, 2017.

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UNM set to launch new master's program in security

Tom Hanlon | January 28

Graduate students from across the country will soon be able to earn a degree from the University of New Mexico directly related to global and national security. Last week UNM’s Global and National Security Policy Institute secured the next step in launching its master’s degree program. The program was approved by deans throughout the University as part of a multi-step process for establishing a graduate-level program. The GNSPI acts as an umbrella institution, covering all global and national security-related courses and research throughout UNM’s campuses.

Photo courtesy of Corey D.B. Walker?s Twitter page

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UNM kicks off Black History Month

Rebecca Brusseau | January 28

On Jan. 27, the University of New Mexico Africana Studies Program collaborated with African American Student Services to hold the 33rd Annual Black History Month Kick-Off Brunch. Speakers from the Africana Studies Program and Interim Provost Richard L. Wood attended the brunch and gave speeches addressing their ideas on the importance of the event. A representative spoke on behalf of Interim President Chaouki Abdallah. “Celebrating Black History Month allows us to nurture relationships within the University, in the New Mexico community and internationally,” Abdallah’s representative said. “These relationships can help move us forward in various ways”

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VEX Robotics Competition introduces kids to STEM

Amy Byres and Dalton Padilla | January 28

A three-team alliance merged victorious at the VEX Robotics Competition held at the University of New Mexico’s Centennial Engineering Center on Jan. 27, 2018. The winners of the best of three final rounds were: Navajo Prep Robotics from Navajo Preparatory School, School of Dreams Team 2 from School of Dreams Academy and the Cleveland Colts from Cleveland Middle School.

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New program helps you heal your gut

Ariel Lutnesky | January 28

An opportunity to reconnect with your body and feel more energized is coming in the form of a five-week-long online class starting Wednesday, called “Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Hormones.” Nicole White, a certified holistic health counselor and the instructor for the class, said the course is intended to help people feel better all around in their day-to-day lives. “It helps people naturally balance their hormones, increase energy, stabilize their mood and improve their sleep,” White said. “We spend a good amount of time on releasing stress and anxiety. Too much stress and anxiety can actually bring a lot of these symptoms on.”

A UNM student pulls out her UNM ID on Jan. 28, 2017.

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It's now easier to change the name on your LoboCard

Rebecca Brusseau | January 28

This month, the LoboCard office of the University of New Mexico implemented changes to policies regarding individual names on an ID. The new policy allows students, staff and faculty to change the name shown on their LoboCard to better reflect one’s preferred identity, which was previously restricted. This change has been pushed by LGBTQ+ community members, and it can benefit many people. Janice Devereaux of the LGBTQ Resource Center has been one of the key players in creating the LoboCard preferred name change. She has collaborated with UNM IT and the LoboCard office to facilitate this change.

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Thousands gather for March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Makayla Grijalva | January 25

Tens of thousands of abortion opponents took to the National Mall last Friday to demonstrate against the 1973 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Roe v. Wade.

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UNM discontinues Lynda.com services

Amy Byres | January 24

The University of New Mexico’s subscription to Lynda.com, a tutorial website for Adobe programs, Microsoft programs and more, was officially discontinued on Dec. 20, 2017, according to an email sent out to Lynda.unm.edu users by the Information Technologies Center for Student Success at UNM. “Increasing licensing costs, ongoing budget reductions and low overall utilization of Lynda.unm.edu all contributed to the difficult decision to discontinue this service in favor of competing priorities,” said IT Chief Information Officer Duane Ej Arruti.

A protester holds an anti-ART sign during the anti-panhandling ordinance protest on the afternoon of Jan. 24, 2017.

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Burqueños protest anti-panhandling ordinance

Madison Spratto and Rebecca Brusseau | January 24

Two months ago, former Mayor of Albuquerque Richard Berry passed an ordinance regulating interactions between panhandlers and motorists — Wednesday evening residents took to the streets in protest. On Jan. 24, the intersection of San Mateo Boulevard SE and Central Avenue was the site of a demonstration led by Act Now to Stop War & End Racism Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union Albuquerque Chapter condemning the city’s anti-panhandling ordinance. The ordinance, called the “Pedestrian Safety Ordinance,” restricts panhandling within Albuquerque metro areas — it was passed unanimously by City Council in early November 2017.

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Rolling Stone reporter to present at Kiva

Madison Spratto | January 23

In today’s information-saturated world, it can be challenging to separate which reporting is legitimate or “fake.” Matt Taibbi plans on tackling this topic in a presentation Wednesday evening at the Kiva Auditorium. Taibbi is an award-winning investigative reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine and the author of several books, such as “I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street.” His talk, “The Problems of Reporting in the Internet Age (and How to Counter Them),” will address issues directly relevant to journalism students, said David Weiss, department chair and associate professor for the Department of Communication & Journalism, who will facilitate the event. However, the information will also be of interest to the Albuquerque and University of New Mexico community.

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Lottery Foundation to lobby decrease in Lottery Scholarship funds

Madison Spratto | January 22

The Lottery Scholarship could be facing more defunding this week. The Lottery Foundation is lobbying to decrease funding Tuesday, according to a press release from the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Director of Communication Noah Michelsohn. In 2017 the Lottery Scholarship, which benefits around 26,000 students a year statewide, decreased from covering 90 percent of tuition to 60 percent.

President Stokes discusses her ideas on Jan. 19, 2018, as she prepares to start her position as the president of The University of New Mexico. She will begin her position on March 1, 2018.

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Q&A: The Daily Lobo sits down with future UNM president

Kyle Land | January 21

Starting March 1, Garnett S. Stokes will begin her five-year contract as the next president of the University of New Mexico — the first female president in UNM history. She has held the position of provost, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and interim chancellor at the University of Missouri, according to the UNM Newsroom. Stokes also held the positions of interim president, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Florida State University. Her positions at the University of Georgia also included: dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and head of psychology. The Daily Lobo sat down with Stokes to discuss her experience, where she thinks the University stands and her plans for the road ahead.

A woman?s rights supporter holds a sign while wearing a cat costume during the women?s march at the Civic Plaza. Hundreds of women, children and men attended the event in support of gender rights and other causes.

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2018 Women's March focuses on elections

Rebecca Brusseau | January 21

Hundreds gathered in Albuquerque’s Downtown Civic Plaza for the 2018 Women’s March Sunday morning. Marches like this one were held this weekend across the globe, from London to Washington D.C. to Albuquerque. The temperature dipped below 40 degrees, but participants bundled up and headed to the intersection of Fifth Street and Marquette Avenue to start their walk, which ended at Civic Plaza. Participants gathered at 10 a.m., and the first speakers at Civic Plaza began around 11 a.m. The event’s theme this year was geared toward inspiring young women to vote in the upcoming local elections.

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SUB taproom funding secured

Austin Tyra | January 18

Students at the University of New Mexico will soon be able to enjoy a new addition to the Student Union Building — a taproom. The concept for an on-campus taproom first came about in 2016 and was originally headed by Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Student Court Chief Justice Sara Collins and former mayoral hopeful Gus Pedrotty. The duos’ original proposal was presented to a number of UNM officials including ASUNM, the Dean of Students, the provost and the Board of Regents.

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Student org supports women in STEM fields

Ariel Lutnesky | January 18

Discrimination can be difficult to overcome. This can be especially true for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related fields. Ph.D. student Stephanie Fox, who studies evolutionary anthropology, is the president of the University of New Mexico’s Advancing Women in Science club, which is dedicated to fighting obstacles that women in science face. “Ultimately, we’d like a world where women are unequivocally treated equally to men in STEM fields,” Fox said. “We will keep fighting for that, but until then, we will try to equip women with the skills necessary to persist in STEM.”

Courtesy Photo from Karla Molinar Arvizo

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Gov. Martinez delivers address despite disruptions

Austin Tyra | January 17

Gov. Susana Martinez opened the 30-day New Mexico legislative session Tuesday with her last State of the State address before her second term comes to an end — but she was interrupted by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals activists who unrolled banners and chanted, “Undocumented, unafraid.” New Mexican Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, recently voted against the congressional DREAM Act, despite both men previously speaking in support of the resolution.

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Int'l student enrollment waxes and wanes

Rebecca Brusseau | January 17

International student enrollment rates at the University of New Mexico have experienced an ebb and flow over the past several years. According to the Global Education Office’s enrollment statistics, from 2012 to 2016 the amount of international students admitted to UNM increased from 1,060 students to 1,340 students. The percentage of increase in 2016 from previous years was only 0.64 percent, compared to 5.99 percent in 2015 and 19.85 percent in 2014. “Over the past three to five years, we have seen an increase in international student enrollment,” said Pablo Torres, director of International Recruitment and Admissions.