Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Our professors should play music during exams

Arly Garcia | April 22

When discussing mental health at the university level, there is one topic that consistently comes up: test anxiety. Numerous studies have shown that test anxiety negatively affects college students, but how do we combat it? Maybe with the magic of music. About 25-40% of U.S. students suffer from test anxiety and for 10-35% of college students, it impairs their function, according to a study on test anxiety published in Advances in Medical Education and Practice. Music has been proven useful in calming the mind and body in other areas, so why don’t we use it at the University of New Mexico too?

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Opinion

5 and Why: 5 ways to destress in college

Elizabeth Secor | April 22

After three years of college, I have discovered ways to destress when life gets overwhelming. I am by no means a professional, but here is what I practice. 

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Opinion

Letter: New Mexicans have more to be thankful for this Tax Day By: Paige Knight

Paige Knight | April 15

This Tax Day, we all have much to be thankful for as we consider the bounty of public goods and services that are made possible with our tax dollars. These include a school system that offers a free education to every child, the roads and other transportation infrastructure that make it possible for us to move about our cities and state, the first responders who keep our communities safe, no or low-cost health care coverage for a majority of New Mexicans, our plentiful parks, libraries, museums and so much more.

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Opinion

Opinion: No Labels: The scam that keeps on scamming

Nate Bernard | April 8

Many Americans are exhausted from our two political giants, Democrats and Republicans. Their divisiveness inflames and divides us every four years. A substantial 63% of Americans believe “a third party is needed” because the Republican and Democratic parties do “such a poor job,” according to a September 2023 Gallup Poll. While party diversity within our government would be ideal as it gives greater representation to those with differing opinions, Americans must treat third-parties with the same seriousness as our major parties and must not vote for third-party candidates based solely on their outsider status.

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Opinion

Opinion: The Clippers need to move

Rodney Prunty | April 8

When the Los Angeles Clippers acquired NBA superstars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, this was seen as a great move for them and would surely guarantee a long future of success both in the league and in their city. The recruitment of their newest additions was also to compete with their cross town rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, after they acquired Anthony Davis to pair with Lebron James. All of this happened back in 2019, and since then, the Clippers have been falling short, the franchise has been shrouded in mediocrity and, all the while, the Lakers won an NBA Championship.

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Opinion

Review: Isotopes concessions knock it out of the park

Elizabeth Secor | April 8

The Albuquerque Isotopes unveiled their new concession items right before the current season. The latest food up to bat has me singing, “Take me out to the concession stands.” The ballpark's executive chef, Jim Griego, is the mastermind behind these new dishes. Griego wanted to create food that made coming to the stadium a culinary experience (that requires lots of napkins). 

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Opinion

Review: Feminine and queer work ‘In Bloom’ at Masley Hall

Shin Thant Hlaing | March 29

“In Bloom” is an art exhibition in Masley Hall, constructed  by Generation Action University of New Mexico, that features the budding talents of 13 undergraduate artists. The variety of the mediums presented drives home not just the different experiences of the artists, but the different ways in which those experiences can be articulated. The exhibition spotlights works on femininity and Queerness, and is open to the public until March 29. Generation Action UNM is an organization with ties to Planned Parenthood that advocates for reproductive health care and abortion care. While the chosen works managed to cover multiple spheres of feminine and Queer experience, most of the artworks outwardly came across as focusing more on the feminine experience.

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Opinion

Review: 'Love Lies Bleeding': Brutal beauty and faithful 1980s Albuquerque female bodybuilders

Sadie Hopkins | March 25

Late last week, theaters saw the release of writer/director Rose Glass’ first feature with A24, “Love Lies Bleeding.” Since the debut of the first official trailer, this film looked like it would quickly become a massive success – not only with a specific crowd of niche filmgoers but with the public, too. Unsurprisingly, having been considered among the best at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, it delivered, brutally. “Love Lies Bleeding” follows Lou (Kristen Stewart) in Stewart’s most powerful and excellently executed role to date, a withdrawn gym manager (Ed Davis) and Jackie (Katy O’Brien) – an aspiring bodybuilder – through an off-kilter romance, set in1980s Albuquerque.

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Opinion

Review: Querencia shows a love for home through dance

Valeria Brenes | March 4

Querencia “comes from the word ‘querer’ — to love. It means love of place and people. Querencia can refer to your place of refuge, your home or your homeland,” artistic directors Marisol Encinas and Amanda Hamp wrote in the program. On Thursday, Feb. 29, dancers gathered at Rodey Theater at the University of New Mexico to put on their yearly Querencia performance, which was gorgeously brought together through the contemporary dance and flamenco departments.

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Opinion

Opinion: Past, present and Afrofuturism

Addison Fulton | February 26

One of my favorite writers is Octavia Butler because her work is unlike anything I’d ever read. What I love most about her work is that it pushed literary boundaries around gender, violence, race and power that I had not yet been exposed to. The first story by Butler I ever read was “Bloodchild.” It follows a species of insect-like aliens that use human men to carry and birth their eggs. I heard about it through my boyfriend who read it as part of an English assignment and wanted me to read it too so I could feel his discomfort.

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Opinion

Op-ed: 2024 Black History Month: Revitalizing the revolution By Imani Knox

Imani Knox | February 26

In the month of February, we enter a time of reflection and re-embrace what the Black Community has done and continues to do – not only at the University of New Mexico, but in our ever-evolving world. Black History Month starts Feb. 1 and ends Feb. 29 and is a nationwide celebration that highlights those who have paved the way for Black Americans to be where they are today. As we enter this month at UNM, we emphasize the theme of “Revitalizing the Revolution” and bringing life to change in environments where growth is critical. What does “Revitalizing the Revolution” mean, exactly? To me and so many of the Black students here on campus, it means being able to have the courage and passion that so many of those who came before us demonstrated with every step they took that will allow us to open doors and improve the Black experience.

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Opinion

Letter: APD commits immoral sweeps of unhoused encampments

Courtney J Angermeier | February 19

Dear Editor,  I am writing to express my outrage regarding the Albuquerque Police Department’s recent sweeps of homeless encampments in Albuquerque. They have been brutal, ignoring the basic right of unhoused residents’ humanity. They are legitimate residents of this city and they deserve to be treated as such.

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Opinion

Ask the editors: How do you show love to your loved ones?

Katrina Estrada , Lauren Lifke , Karina Bolaños , Lily Alexander , Maddie Pukite and Kelsa Mendoza | February 16

  With another Valentine's Day week coming to a close, we find chocolate wrappers tossed in trash cans and roses slowly drying under the sun. Six editors at the Daily Lobo came together to reflect on how we show love to those around us.  Time shared over a meal  As someone whose primary love language is quality time, I let the people in my life know that I love them by existing around them as much as I can. Having the ability to exist in the same space as another person without feeling anxious, performative or uncomfortable is precious. 

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Opinion

Opinion: Love at first sight: fact or fairytale?

Arly Garcia | February 12

Does love at first sight exist?  People who have experienced it would encourage you to believe that it does, but the research is not in their favor. Of course, if we are going to discuss love, we need to first define the feeling. Merriam-Webster gives nine separate definitions for love as a noun. Most commonly employed are: “a strong affection for another” and an “attachment, enthusiasm or devotion” to something or someone. 

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Opinion

Opinion: Valentine’s Day date destinations in Albuquerque

Sadie Hopkins | February 12

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, but don’t panic just yet. Whether you’re in a relationship or not, there’s no reason to treat the upcoming holiday like it's any other day. There are many great ways to spend it, and some ideas cost as little as nothing. For those living on campus, getting around Albuquerque can be challenging, so nearby spots are a great option for date-night. Sueños Coffee Co., located near Lobo Rainforest, is a classy cafe and a great option for a low-key date. Micah Harris, a University of New Mexico student, gave Sueños Coffee Co. credit for its catering to the student body.

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Opinion

Opinion: Stanleys are not the sustainable trend you want them to be

Sadie Hopkins | February 5

It’s no secret that the environment has been troubled for quite a long time now. Humans, unfortunately, do not live in an environment of endless resources. However, sustainability practices are becoming increasingly more common – such as recycling, composting, or thrifting. Evidently, not all sustainable practices are created equal. An absence from the recent media may cause someone to see two reusable water bottles – say a Serborni bottle from Amazon and a Stanley bottle – but see no difference. The former water bottle is deemed a “dupe” by the public – a more affordable option compared to the latter. These bottles both hold beverages, maintain temperature and are sleek and convenient. Seemingly the main difference is that they vary in price and, oddly enough, levels of popularity.

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Opinion

Opinion: Taylor Swift is everywhere, but why?

Sadie Hopkins | January 29

It seems more and more that reading about any major event – music related or not – will, in some way, lead to Taylor Swift. Evidently, a news cycle without a piece on Swift isn’t a news cycle at all, and it feels dystopian. Two catalysts have led to Swift’s sudden massive explosion in popularity and funneled in more media attention: the beginning of the Eras tour and her new relationship with Travis Kelce – tight end for the Kansas City NFL. These are somewhat normal events for celebrity outlets to cover. However, the impact that Swift’s coverage has had on the media, public behavior and the environment itself is something rather unfamiliar and alarming.

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Opinion

Opinion: Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us’ film adaptation incoming amidst criticism

Kelsa Mendoza | January 22

Trigger warning: Sexual assault, abuse  A film adaption of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel, “It Ends With Us,” is being released in June, 2024. Due to the themes she flimsily depicts in her novels and the glorified ways in which she chooses to portray them, I am dismayed by the choice of bringing it to the big screen.  The book made it to #1 on the Publisher’s Weekly adult list in 2022 and sold over 1,000,000 copies. In 2023, it became the second best-selling novel of the year. Hoover is a particularly unique case because she forewent traditional marketing plans and gained her demographic when TikTok users elevated her work several years after it was published.

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Opinion

Editorial: Trump must be held to the law, but the Court must do so with extreme care

Maddie Pukite | January 12

This upcoming February, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case that will decide if Trump is ineligible to remain on the ballot given his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, as reported by the Colorado Newsline. The conservative build-up of the court – a third of the Justices being appointed by Donald Trump – and the weight of the question will require a critical opinion to remove Trump from the ballot, but it is imperative that they do so.  When the Supreme Court decides a case, they interpret the Constitution and set precedents that will be used to determine the outcome of future court cases. This case calls Section 3 of the 14th Amendment into question – a section that has never been interpreted by the Supreme Court before, according to AP.   

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Opinion

Review: Falling for the “Anatomy of a Fall”

Mel Treat | January 10

As awards season kicks off, there’s one movie I’m hoping gets its flowers. “Anatomy of a Fall,” directed by Justine Triet, is a nuanced tale of morality, victimhood and human connection, all wrapped up in a courtroom drama.  The film follows Sandra (Sandra Hüller) as she’s put on trial following her husband’s death from a mysterious fall. Their blind son Daniel, (Milo Machado Graner), is a key witness in the case who fights between loyalty to his mother and his duty as a witness. The dichotomy between the courtroom and home scenes are brilliant. We see the motherly, vulnerable side of Sandra alongside her colder, more serious side. Her chemistry with her lawyer and friend Vincent (Swann Arlaud) is electric. Anytime the two share a scene, the affection they have for one another is palpable.