Opinion - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Editorial: Don't stay home on Election Day

Daily Lobo Editorial Board | October 16

“Could we have been dealt a more unusual hand?” That has probably been the dominant thought of most first-time voters this election cycle. The notion that many college-aged students are participating for the first time in the selection of the next U.S. president when the campaign could not be more divisive is as intriguing as it is real. Over the past 18 months this election has caused division and discourse the caliber of which the country has never seen before, let alone first-time voters who have been exposed to it through virtually every facet and avenue made possible by social media.

Opinion

Letter: Cannabis' Schedule 1 status is unacceptable

Daily Lobo Readers | October 16

On April 21, 1999, the United States Of America, as represented by the Department Of Health And Human Services filed for a patent, application number US 09/674,028. On Oct. 7, 2003 publication number US6630507 B1 was published. Entitled “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants,” and U.S. Patent, Hampson et. al., 6,630,507 was granted to the U.S. Government for medicinal marijuana. Under Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Schedule I Controlled Substances are defined as: “Substances in this schedule have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.

Opinion

Letter: UNM Athletics hogs too much money

Daily Lobo Readers | October 16

On Monday the Albuquerque Journal had an article titled "UNM athletics looks for financial solutions." Two passages stood out in the article. The first that 24 employees in the Athletics Department have base salaries over $100K/yr, and the second being that the University may increase fees to offset a $1.54 million budget deficit. Coaches' salaries are high because they bring in money to the University. Obviously ours do not do that, and before any fee increase is considered there should be pay cuts at the TOP of the Athletics Department.

Opinion

Column: Entertainment has no place in journalism

Matthew Reisen | October 10

“I AM NOT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.” This is the most important line in legendary journalist Jim Lehrer’s personal code of ethics — and I am inclined to agree wholeheartedly. If I am to truly be a journalist, there is no place for the notion of entertainment. The definition of entertainment itself negates that. I think you should never be a journalist to entertain, and those who write sensationalist tabloids I would not call journalists. The main directive of entertainment, is just that, to be pleasing to the senses in one way or another. But news is often not entertaining and it shouldn’t serve as such.

Opinion

Column: Review what you know

Skylar Griego | October 10

In the world of journalism, the most important thing every reporter strives for revolves around one word: ethics. No self-respecting journalist has made a career without having a code of ethics drilled into his or her brain (as it should be). But journalism, like any kind of writing, is varied and full of subgenres. Following strict rules can get trickier the more alternative the writing becomes.

Opinion

Letter: Resources are wasted on low-performing professors

Daily Lobo Readers | October 5

Dear James Lewis, President, UNM Alumni Association: Your recent call to action would be a much easier cause to support if the administration was willing to take a look at low-performing professors and strip them of their tenure. UNM wastes a tremendous amount of its scarce resources by not holding its staff accountable.

Opinion

Letter: Manipulating media empire losing crowd monopoly

Daily Lobo Readers | October 5

Not that it will alter the outcome, but it appears that after years of using the same tired old guidebook on manipulating the masses, the wheels are finally coming off the Media Industrial Military Intelligence Corporate (MIMIC) complex (it “mimics” licit government operating as a shadow government).

Opinion

Column: Appropriate work attire is ever-changing

Nichole Harwood | October 5

As generations rise and generations fall, so does their impact on surrounding society. One such example that can be commonly seen is how we dress, or what we find acceptable for business attire and tasteful for body art and piercings. The classic look of the businessman — holding a briefcase in a suit with his hair combed back — is no longer the only norm in the business world.

Opinion

Guest Column: Voters should scrutinize media claims about Trump

Brian Moore | October 2

Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is considered a firebrand by most members of the media. He and his campaign have produced news headlines that have many people I meet scratching their heads. Firstly, I'd like to address Mr. Trump's debate performance from last Monday.

Opinion

Letter: Olympics should be more transparent about steroid use exemptions

Arun Ahuja | October 2

Editor, How come it took Russian hackers to reveal to the generally ignorant public that there is such a thing as a medical exemption that allows Olympic athletes to take banned substances?

Opinion

Letter: UNM budget cuts should come from well-paid 'Bobs'

Daily Lobo Readers | September 29

Governor Susan Martinez’s plan to reduce funding to UNM has resulted in another budget shortfall. The deficit has already resulted in faculty and staff hiring freezes with an additional upcoming round of staff cuts. As students you can see this with increased class sizes, less staff on campus and a 2.5 percent tuition hike.

Opinion

Letter: Bob Frank's special 'job' is a slap in the face to UNM staff members

September 29

When UNM wants to get rid of someone, they know how to do it in style! Take President Frank. As he is instituting a hiring freeze for all main and branch campuses, he is busy negotiating a sweetheart deal with the Health Sciences Center, which just so happens to be exempt from the hiring freeze (although they are facing a large budget deficit, too, but that’s another story).

Opinion

Letter: Gov. Martinez's degree expectations a burden, unfair

Daily Lobo Readers | September 29

When speaking before an audience of higher education stakeholders this past Friday, Gov. Susanna Martinez expressed her discontent with New Mexican students taking more than four years to complete a college degree, belittling them for getting “off track,” burdening taxpayers and ultimately hurting our state economy.

Opinion

Letter: Americans need to vote for candidates who will spread peace to the world

Daily Lobo Readers | September 29

In this election season when Americans are paying slightly more attention to politics, let's examine the issue of empire. An empire is defined as, "An extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress." Many political observers have stated that since World War II, and especially since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the majority of the world has been under the patronage of the U.S. government and under the authority of the U.S. military.

Opinion

Column: The Millenial vote is more important than ever

Nichole Harwood | September 26

While a candidate will commonly urge voters to vote consistently in almost every election and state — that every individual vote counts this year — they would have a point. 18 to 35 is the age range for the Millennial Generation and, for the first time, the entire generation will have the opportunity to vote, making up to roughly 31 percent of the electorate, close to equaling Baby Boomer generation, which also makes up roughly 31 percent.

Opinion

Letter: The U.S. creates terrorists by bombing, disrespecting mother countries

Daily Lobo Readers | September 22

Instead of just getting all high and mighty and righteously indignant with all these Muslims among us killing everyday citizenry, we must acknowledge that a big reason they are doing so is that by and large we are bombing their mother countries year after year without interruption. Hence we get the likes of terrorist Ahmad Rahami, who is a naturalized citizen from Afghanistan.

Opinion

Letter: Expensive campus parking offers no security for students' vehicles

Daily Lobo Readers | September 22

My sister is a UNM student who lives on campus in the newest dorms. Her car was stolen last night from one of the dorm lots (on Sept. 19), which is also one of the more expensive lots. This is a problem on campus and happens 1 to 3 times a week,the officer said.

Opinion

Letter: ABQ has the ability to lead the nation in switching to solar energy

September 22

Just a few short days ago the City Council set the city of Albuquerque up for the future by making a realistic goal of switching over to solar energy. Right now Albuquerque is getting a measly three percent of all of our energy coming from solar energy and the change put forth will put us at 25 percent by the year 2025.

Culture

Column: The Rise and Fall of Pokemon Go

Fin Martinez | September 21

Earlier this year the mobile game “Pokemon Go” was released, after monumental amounts of hype that had Pokemon fans new and old waiting anxiously for its release. Upon its release, the game generated between $3.9 million and $4.9 million in its first day, according to a Digital Market Ramblings, an online aggregator that tracks video game statistics.

Opinion

Letter: Men should be less afraid of their feelings for same-sex partners

Daily Lobo Readers | September 21

Millions of men, including many who love their wives and girlfriends, are terrified of having family and friends find out that they want sex with men. Some try to smother their desire with religion. Some yell “faggot” at gays. Some curse and bully gays. Some kill themselves with booze or a bullet. Some, like Omar Mateen in Florida, murder LGBT persons.