Opinion - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Letter: What is Albuquerque doing to attract commerce?

Daily Lobo Readers | September 10

Editor, Several cities across America are competing to host Amazon's second headquarters! The company is looking for a city with a population of at least one million people, a strong university system and a stable and business-friendly environment. The winning city would see an investment from Amazon of $5 billion and 50,000 new jobs created. As much as I would love to see Albuquerque win this bid to have Amazon boost the New Mexico economy, I hate to admit we have a slim-to-none chance of having Amazon build their second headquarters here.

Opinion

BioBlog: Politics, science and Thomas Jefferson

Guest Columnists | September 7

Editor's Note: This piece was originally published online in the UNM BioBlog on Sept. 12 2012. This is part of our new project to help connect the Daily Lobo audience to more members of our community. In February of this year, the New York Times published an article called "Why don't Americans elect scientists?" — the essay noted that while other nations value leaders who hold advanced degrees in science (German Chancellor Angela Merkel has a doctorate in physical chemistry), it is often a liability in the United States. In the 2012 House of Representatives, for example, there are only nine scientists among the 435 members; compare that with the 200 who are lawyers. In the United States, science has become a tool to exploit public opinion on controversial issues, or as the article put it, American politicians use numbers “to provide decoration rather than information.”

Opinion

Letter: Don't be swayed by media misinformation

Daily Lobo Readers | September 6

Editor, “Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed, by the masses.” — Plato The Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels is generally thought to have said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

Opinion

Letter: Trump's appeasers/enablers are the real snowflakes in safe spaces

Daily Lobo Readers | September 6

Editor, Here, in the reality-based community, The reason there are no statues of Nazi War Heroes in Germany is because, they lost, just like the treasonous confederacy. These statues are not historical relics of the Civil War, but 20th century symbols of propaganda and Jim Crow White Supremacy. If they belong anywhere, they belong in museums. Poor Trump snowflakes.

Opinion

Fall Sports Issue: Column — How to plan a great tailgate

Matthew Narvaiz | September 4

Football season is among us. And with football comes the pregame festivities — a tailgate. Tailgates are a national treasure for football fans, regardless of the team they root for. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy some grilled meats, ice-cold brews and being in the presence of close friends and family? Probably haters, that’s who. But a tailgate can always be improved with the proper preparation, starting with purchasing everything needed to actually gear up for one, and also following some universal rules that won’t ruin your, or anyone else’s, experience. Here's a list some of those preparations needed.

Opinion

Letter: Athletics budget issues would be unacceptable for anyone else

Daily Lobo Readers | September 4

Editor, Math is not everyone’s strong point. Many of us admittedly try not to bother with it. But when you are getting ripped off, it pays to start asking questions about numbers. Students here at UNM have been suffering. Tuition costs are rising, and lottery scholarships are falling. Each and every one of us have been sacrificing whether we know it not. Consider for a moment on how you sacrifice.

Opinion

Fall Sports Issue: Letter — With a new athletics director, it’s time to clean the books

Daily Lobo Readers | September 4

Editor, The recent announcement by the University of Eddie Nuñez’ appointment as the new UNM Athletics Director symbolizes more than a new hiring — this is a badly needed opportunity for UNM Athletics to hit the reset button. As a graduating senior and as a former student government staffer, I have seen nothing but fiscal mismanagement from the UNM Athletics Department during the time I have been in college. Last year, it seemed as though there was always a new financial controversy from the Athletics Department.

Culture

Fall Sports Issue: Column — Greatest sports movies of all time

Robert Maler | September 4

Sports has often served as a way of bringing people together who otherwise may not have anything in common with each other—but discussing where things in sports rank all-time is almost a sure-fire way to tear it all down. Here is a list of where some of the more notable sports movies rank, according to the Daily Lobo sports editor that may be fun to pick apart. The categories focus on the “big three” American sports and other popular sports genres in film. Some otherwise fine films were not considered for the list if it was determined that they fell into romantic comedy status or relied too much on nostalgia, for example “Jerry Maguire” and “Field of Dreams." Baseball: Editor Pick: A tie right off the bat (pun intended). “The Natural” (1984) and “Major League” (1989). Many people consider Robert Redford’s portrayal of Roy Hobbs his finest acting role.

Opinion

Fall Sports Issue: Column — Most memorable moments in Lobo history

Matthew Narvaiz | September 4

There are moments that define sports history at large. Spectacles such as the recent Mayweather-McGregor boxing match that, according to UFC president Dana White, sold 6.5 million pay-per-views — which would make it the most sold pay-per-view event of all time — and put on a 10-round show, that saw Floyd Mayweather win via TKO over the young-gun Conor McGregor. In other cases, there was one of the most famous Finals appearances, that saw — as many consider the greatest of all-time — Michael Jordan, while experiencing flu like symptoms, push his way to a 38-point performance to grab a 3-2 lead over the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals.

Opinion

Letter: A new year, a challenge

Daily Lobo Readers | August 30

Dear UNM Community, I ask you each to consider something right now: How can you reach out and welcome the stranger in your midst? Are you bold enough to see — really see — another person? Do you recognize that you can make a difference in someone's life? My son will not be a sophomore this year at UNM.

Opinion

Letter: Why do some old people get cranky?

Daily Lobo Readers | August 30

Editor, I hear you already. All old people aren't cranky. I have a friend who is 96 years old and is the delight of all who know her. She is independent. She works in her garden every summer. She drives herself to church and the grocery store. She exercises a couple of times a day. She lives in a very small humble house, but it's her place, and she takes care of her home. Too often, my wife and I are out and "hear" crotchety old people. Often they are battering the waitress about the service or the food. Often we get out of their way at the grocery store in fear of being maimed for life by a grocery cart. When visiting in Florida, we look both ways when crossing the road more than once, because of several occasions we've almost been run over by a senior adult.

Opinion

Column: ART project could hinder pedestrian safety

Nichole Harwood | August 28

According to the Albuquerque Rapid Transit official website, in reference to the UNM/Nob Hill area, “designated eastbound travel lanes at University shift from the south side of the street to the north side, expect major delays for commuters. Commuters are advised to use extreme caution at the University intersection. Southeast intersection work is scheduled through September.” But how likely is the advice to use extreme caution heeded in light of the traffic flow and delays? The ART project has been ongoing, and as of the start of the UNM fall semester, it is still working towards completion. Questions about the process of construction as well as ART’s impact on the traffic flow for the City of Albuquerque are continually arising.

Opinion

Letter: Student trainings bear redress by administration

Daily Lobo Readers | August 27

Editor, After the recent DOJ investigation at UNM over student sexual assault concerns, LoboRespect Advocacy Center has gained relevance into the new semester with mandatory "Grey Area" training for students. But aren't there other trainings that the University can provide us to improve campus safety? It was in light of this mandatory training that I got to thinking about the recent crime surge we've seen on Central and in Albuquerque at large. To my knowledge, there is no University-mandated training for students on how best to handle robbery, carjacking or aggressive panhandlers; a mass violence event or disaster or how to report such incidents to law enforcement.

Opinion

Letter: Well-deserved recognition — Retirement of a selfless woman

Daily Lobo Readers | August 27

Editor, The University of New Mexico student population will miss the contributions of Mrs. Debbie Morris. Mrs. Morris retired this summer as the director of the Student Activities Center. According to the UNM news website, she moved from the small town of Tucumcari to Albuquerque to attend UNM in the footsteps of her father and brother. She received her B.A. and M.P.A at UNM and started out as an accountant in Student Activities in 1983.

Opinion

Letter: Wolves and you

Daily Lobo Readers | August 27

Editor, I’m David J. Forjan, and I aim to save Wolves. This letter is entitled, "Wolves and You," because as you’ll see, the persecution of wolves is the same kind of persecution that most of you will have to confront. But first, I’ll share this quote, because you all should never forget that your natural idealism should be preserved at all costs. It’s a quote from Matthew Norman, who said:

Opinion

Column: Hope for young professionals

Kael Krepfl | August 24

Entering the workforce for the first time can be a scary experience whether you’re a high school student or even a college graduate. Regardless of the situation, being prepared can have a major impact on how you may be viewed by potential employers. With so much emphasis on preparation, many may wonder what resources are available to them, and how they can get access to the information they need to better prepare themselves for the job market.

Opinion

Letter: A call to action

Daily Lobo Readers | August 23

Editor, Debate over issues like abortion and immigration reform does more than push our red buttons. It often makes us shut down, disown our relatives and unfriend friends on social media. But we have to tackle it. On Thursday, June 15, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly signed a memo rescinding an Obama-era plan called the Deferred Action for Parents of Childhood Arrivals. It was one of two major reforms promoted to help solve our currently unworkable immigration system.

Opinion

Letter: Trump is the enemy of the people

Daily Lobo Readers | August 23

Editor, In an apologetic attempt to rationalize the dire state of the nation, political commentators blame the institution of democracy, and by extension, the American people, for the “election” of vulgar impotence and erratic incompetence. While the psychological assessment is correct, the political assumption is false and needs qualification. Despite widespread political immaturity, the people are in fact not at fault here. Donald Trump is an absolute minority president with the support of perhaps roughly 20 percent. He was rejected by the popular vote, which he lost by three million. This defeat still consumes him. It led him to install the so-called “Commission on Election Integrity” which aims at suppressing enough votes to secure future elections. Trump knows he can win elections only through manipulation.

Opinion

Letter: UNM Africana Studies' take on white supremacist activities in Charlottesville

Daily Lobo Readers | August 20

Editor, On August 1, 2017, the University of New Mexico was thrust into national social discord when the Mentoring Institute was called out for a racially insensitive tweet. Days later, the University of Virginia was thrust into political discord as white nationalists and neo-Nazis carrying armor, artilleries, clubs and Confederate flags descended upon Charlottesville, Virginia for a so-called “Unite the Right” rally around the statue of Thomas Jefferson on the Charlottesville campus. The event ultimately escalated into physical violence, led to several injuries and two fatalities and caused Virginia’s governor, Terry McAuliffe, to declare a state of emergency.

Opinion

Letter: Trump Needs To Go

Daily Lobo Readers | August 20

Editor, I'm Jewish. I’m proud of being Jewish. In fact, being the only Jewish member of the State House of Representatives is a special source of pride. But there is always that concern — what if? When I was growing up, and we would read about what had happened in Germany during World War II, my father would warn me — it could happen here. I have never believed him. Our institutions, our culture, our history and our people are too strong. There will always be those who embrace hatred over understanding and love. But the vast majority of Americans will resist that hate.