Opinion - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Opinion: Students’ religious affiliations ought to be respected in classroom rhetoric

Beatrice Nisoli | September 30

During my time as a student at the University of New Mexico, I have been pleased to observe professors not only encouraging discussion of social liberties in a healthy and intellectual manner, but also delicately sidestepping language or teachings that could threaten any student’s identity. Students’ gender, sexuality and race are always respected when acknowledged, and when these topics are discussed objectively, they are addressed in a purely impartial and educational manner. Of course, I cannot speak for all students’ experiences, but thus far I have been nothing short of thrilled with classroom decorum in this respect.

Opinion

"Borderlands 3" meets all expectations

Caitlin Scott | September 26

On Sept. 13, game developer Gearbox Software released the highly anticipated "Borderlands 3" for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia and Microsoft Windows. "Borderlands 3" comes seven years after its predecessor "Borderlands 2". The game improves on previous outings yet stays familiar in the best ways possible. There are returning characters from "Borderlands 2" such as ClapTrap, Mad Moxxi and Lilith, as well as newcomers like Ava. "Borderlands 3" is a much bigger game than the first, second and pre-sequel. It adds many layers of customization, from character clothing to special abilities and weapon class modification. There is a little bit of everything for every play style.

Opinion

Best milkshakes around UNM

Alanie Rael , Megan Holmen and Amanda Britt | September 26

Eating with Wolves is back and shaking things up with another review from the staff at the Daily Lobo. Editors Amanda Britt, Megan Holmen and Alanie Rael rated local restaurants in the Downtown and EDo districts on both their chocolate and speciality milkshakes. As temperatures get colder and fall approaches, Standard Diner, Holy Burger and 66 Diner all offer great options for this end of summer favorite. Each milkshake was rated on the following criteria: taste, atmosphere, service and presentation.

Opinion

Editorial: UNM Athletics unjustly criticizes Daily Lobo reporter

The Daily Lobo Editorial Board | September 23

On Saturday, the Lobo football team eked out a tight, exciting 55-52 victory against the rival Aggies. It was one of the most electrifying games at Dreamstyle Stadium in recent memory. Better still, it was done before a crowd of almost 30,000 people, suggesting that UNM football can be a desirable product for UNM students, alumni and the community. We’d love to be writing a triumphant editorial, touting the comeback of the once-great football program. Instead, Saturday's game was another reminder of the disgraceful and unjust treatment Daily Lobo reporters receive while covering UNM Athletics. In this most recent dust-up, Assistant Athletics Director of Communications Frank Mercogliano felt compelled to message a student and suggest he was endangering his journalism career.

Opinion

Intentional Walk Rule: College should not follow in MLB's footsteps

Caitlin Scott | September 23

On Feb. 22, 2017, MLB changed its intentional walk rule. Instead of four pitches leading to an intentional walk, managers can now signal from the dugout to have the player take first base — sans the four pitches. Players are now told to "take your base" as they near the batter's box. The rule was changed all in the name of shaving off seconds from game times. Yes, we're talking mere seconds of a game. According to SBNATION reporter Kelsey McKinney, eliminating the four pitches saves Major League Baseball one minute per walk. That’s one minute every 2.6 games.

Opinion

Learning about spoon theory

Megan Holmen | September 16

"Spoon theory" is a concept used within the chronic illness and disability community to describe the limited energy those living with chronic illnesses or disabilities have. The concept was coined by Christine Miserandino, a woman living with Lupus, and she described the units of energy she had as spoons when explaining her limited energy to a close friend. Those who relate to spoon theory or are a part of the chronic illness community often refer to themselves as “spoonies.” Though we all have limited energy, those of us with chronic illnesses or a disability have to be aware of our energy every second of every day because, once we are out of spoons, we are done with the day’s activities — even if there is more that needs to be done.

Opinion

"Fear and Loathing" in Taos Vortex

Luke Standley | September 6

Earthships, communes and now an anti-establishment art collective gone corporate: Meow Wolf hosted the second Taos Vortex music festival in history on Aug. 16 through 18. Vortex was, appropriately, a whirlwind. With colors and characters everywhere — some the delusions of an inebriated mind and others not — it’s easy to forget why it’s all there. Music. This year’s line up was admittedly disappointing compared to its predecessor, but that wasn’t going to kill my enthusiastic devotion to the memories of yonder. Iron & Wine, Snail Mail, Too Many Zooz, Wajatta, Empress Of; all honorable mentions, eclipsed by the orphic spectacles of Parliament, Funkadelic and Flying Lotus. They had three stages, all of which had setlists scribbled in sharpie by presumably an intern on the map of Kit Carson Park. “Spire,” the main stage was at the front of the park and was surrounded by bougie tents hosting beer taps.

Opinion

Eating With Wolves: Summer coffee review

Megan Holman , Amanda Britt and Alyssa Martinez | September 5

For all your comida concerns, the Daily Lobo presents: Eating with Wolves. In this edition, Daily Lobo reporters Amanda Britt, Megan Holmen and Alyssa Martinez rated Albuquerque coffee shops on their summertime drinks. For anyone wanting to hold onto summer for just a little while longer, they tasted classic house coffees and iced summer beverages. Each coffee shop was rated for their house coffee and a summer specialty. The reporters reviewed then based on multiple criteria: service, freshness, taste and ambiance.

Opinion

Column: Bees? It's not all about honey

Alanie Rael | September 3

While walking around the University of New Mexico’s main campus, I can’t help but see potential in the big green patches of grass distributed across campus. Not for more buildings or social areas for students, but for the creation of native bee habitats. Yes, native bees. It may not make sense to some people, but many species of bees don’t use hives as habitats the way honey bees do. Native bees — 70% of bee species — burrow in the ground instead.

Opinion

How to: Adobe Creative Cloud

Justin Garcia | August 26

You’re already paying for it. You might as well use it. In the spring 2019 semester, the University of New Mexico finalized a deal with Adobe that granted students access to the Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes Photoshop, Premiere (Pro and Rush) and the entire Adobe line-up. The new service comes from the new “mandatory IT technology fee” of $50. The fee came as a way to keep the lights on for IT, and to sweeten the pot (or make it worthwhile and prevent students from revolting, depending on your disposition about such things). Through this agreement with Adobe, UNM became a “Creative Campus.” At UNM Main Campus and the Health Sciences Center students can use the Creative cloud whenever they want. Here’s how to get started.

Opinion

UNM wall, a travesty

Andrew Gunn | August 22

While the vast majority of University of New Mexico students were enjoying their summer recess, the Albuquerque Journal revealed that the University had commissioned a study to examine campus security and provide suggestions for improvements. The study came back with an archaic recommendation: Wall off the flagship public university from the rest of the community. The “Main Campus Perimeter Security Access Study” suggests building an 8 to 10-foot tall, 13,000-foot long wrought-iron fence at a cost of approximately $1.6 million. The proposed barrier would encircle the entirety of the main campus, with at least 25 pedestrian entry and exit points and “controllable vehicle portals” for road access, according to the Journal article.

Opinion

Dispatch: South Korea

Emille Domschot | July 2

For several years, it has been a dream of mine to visit South Korea. I was intrigued by the beauty of the country, the culture, the food, manners and the language. I didn't know if I would ever get the chance to visit, but earlier this year I learned about the University of New Mexico's association with Dongguk University and the international summer school they offered. I decided to just go for it and apply for the program, and somehow, a few months later, I've ended up in Seoul. Already, my stay has been filled with adventures, from getting lost and looking for my dormitory until 2 in the morning, to climbing the rooftops of 14-story buildings, to sharing homemade food with a friendly local church and to trying to communicate with people when we barely know each other's language. I know this journey is going to be something I will never forget, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be here right now and to learn as much as I can on the other side of the world.

Opinion

Reaching for the other half

Makayla Grijalva | June 30

The idea of limpieza de sangre or being “pure blooded” is, simply put, outdated. In New Mexico, especially so in the northern part of the state, people subscribe heavily to their Spanish heritage, some even denounce any possibility that they could be part Native American. Limpieza de sangre dates back to early colonialism and was initially used as a way to create a social hierarchy, placing Natives at the bottom. Personally, I had the realization early on that I was not of “pure blood” and the reality is most nuevomexicanos aren’t either. Many who choose to identify solely with their Spanish heritage are a mix of Spanish, Indigenous and probably small amounts of other cultures as well.

Opinion

Inspection of Public Records Act: Know your rights

Amanda Britt | June 30

The Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) is a state law that provides the public with access to public information. As a part of New Mexico’s Sunshine Laws, citizens have the right to open access to state and local government information, with limited exceptions. University of New Mexico students and other members of the community should feel encouraged to seek out public records information, as it allows us to keep a watchful eye over institutions and government entities. Full transparency between government and its citizens is not only important for those seeking out the information but also ensures governments are operating with honestly and with integrity. Keep ‘em accountable. At the Daily Lobo, we’re aiming to give the public the tools to best understand what’s happening at the University.

Opinion

Column: Transparency is crucial for a healthy university

Makayla Grijalva and Justin Garcia | June 24

“Access to public records is one of the fundamental rights afforded to people in a democracy.” This is the first sentence found within the introductory paragraph of the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) compliance guide published by the office of the Attorney General for the State of New Mexico. In an attempt to exercise this right, the Daily Lobo has actively requested many of these public documents as a recurring and crucial part of our reporting process. We published a story on Monday, June 23, where transparency advocates told the Daily Lobo that blanket redactions of letters between the Custodian’s Office and unknown requestors may have violated the law.

Opinion

Column: Conference focuses on student residence life

Chris Mather | June 17

Last weekend, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, between 2,000 and 2,500 college students congregated on the campus of Louisiana State University for the National Association of College and University Residence Halls Annual Conference. The NACURH Annual Conference focuses on student leadership within residence halls and offers as a place for students to develop as leaders to better serve their university. As the National Communications Coordinator for The University of New Mexico Residence Hall Association, I was able to experience the conference first-hand along with a delegation of nine other passionate student leaders and one incredible advisor. The conference presented us with many opportunities to find out who we are as leaders and how we could bring leadership skills back to Albuquerque to serve the residence community on UNM’s campus.

Opinion

Column: How seaweed could save the ocean from climate change

Cole Space | April 30

The late 1700s welcomed the Industrial Revolution, and while no one can undermine the importance of this cultural shift within every economic sector, it also planted the toxic seeds of humanity’s death. The enormous increase of production due to coal powered machines in the late 19th century, also enormously increased the amount of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere. Forward thinkers within the late 1800s started to notice, and document, changes seen within the climate, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that scientists saw an unusual increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Fast forward to today, an even a blind jester can see the effects of climate change. From the icecaps melting, to droughts intensifying, these events are new and undeniably caused by our own avarice of production resulting in pollution.

Opinion

Column: Four ways to contribute to sustainability without breaking the bank

Sophia Sambrano | April 30

Sometimes going green is seen as something that is expensive and elitist, and while this can be true in some cases, I am a firm believer that we all can contribute to the earth in meaningful ways. Below are four free ways you can contribute to sustaining our environment.

Opinion

Column: ASUNM changes law based on hunches and assumptions

Kyle Land | April 25

Last night, the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico voted to remove a law requiring them to advertise their elections in the Daily Lobo. The bill passed 13 to 6. As editor-in-chief, I find the nature of the bill and the way it was introduced a little more than concerning. Frankly, the opinions expressed by those who supported this bill proved exactly why recent election turnouts have been at some of their lowest points ever. Firstly, one of the most baffling moments of the meeting came during a presentation Victoria Knight, Joint Council’s representative to ASUNM, made to the Full Senate. She said that President Becka Myers had asked the council how they would feel if they were in the Daily Lobo and this legislation was introduced?

Opinion

Column: The root causes of homelessness

Andrew Gunn | April 25

Early in the afternoon during the summer of 2017, 50-year-old Lou Molzhon was sleeping on a mattress under the Interstate 40 overpass at 12th Street. Described by friends and acquaintances as a kindhearted man who was quick to share a smoke, he had been living on the streets of Albuquerque for over a year. Under the bridge downtown, Molzhon didn't give his life away — it was stolen from him. Police and witnesses say that two assailants soaked him in gasoline and set him on fire. Molzhon later died of his injuries at the University of New Mexico Hospital. His attackers have yet to be apprehended. This is but a microcosm of the threats facing those experiencing homelessness in the United States, and the crisis is only getting worse. Homelessness has tripled in New York City since the turn of the century, according to the Coalition for the Homeless. A proposed homeless "navigation center" in an affluent waterfront neighborhood in San Francisco is facing immense backlash from residents, even as City Supervisor Aaron Peskin says the city's homelessness situation has reached a "boiling point".