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UNM award-winning staff member advocates for individuals with disabilities

  Winton Wood, a consultant with the University of New Mexico’s Center for Development and Disability’s Mi Via Waiver Program, which is a self-directed care program for people with disabilities, was one of six recipients of the Gerald W. May Outstanding Staff Awards in 2021. Guiding her pursuits for the equity and representation of people with disabilities are the many people with disabilities throughout New Mexico, their families and Wood’s own daughter.  “(I’m) a family specialist because I have a daughter who has Down syndrome and autism and is medically complex, so I know first-hand from the family point of view and the (consultant) point of view. We forget the value of our people who have intellectual disabilities,” Wood said.

UNM student actor premieres at Sundance Film Festival

  Jack Justice, a sophomore film student at the University of New Mexico and local actor, had his most recent project, “When You Finish Saving The World,” which was directed by Jesse Eisenberg, screened at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on opening night on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Jack began acting when he was seven and joined the Screen Actors Guild at 11 years old. His career was prompted by his parents placing him into an acting class when singing lessons were unavailable. Despite his devotion to the art of acting, there were certainly struggles.  “I was thrown into it pretty young … I had to communicate with adults at such a young age that peers didn’t always understand what I was doing outside of school as a kid. 

Comics January 24, 2022

REVIEW: ‘Paris is Burning’: A composition of vibrant expression

  “Paris is Burning” was a landmark film upon its release in 1990 and, to this day, remains one of the finest and most celebrated examples of LGBTQ+ cinema. Its impact on filmmaking has been widespread and actually served as direct inspiration for the hit FX show “Pose,” on which “Paris is Burning” director Jennie Livingston served as a producer. It’s not hard to see why the film has had such a large-scale impact. Setting aside the visual and technical aspects, the film captures a community that has historically been underrepresented within film and approaches its subject with grace and sympathy. It’s distinctly human and fantastically fun to watch. 

OPINION: Why I got a meaningless tattoo

  Body modifications have become increasingly common and acceptable in the past decade, but tattoos still remain a polarizing subject. I used to be someone who never wanted a tattoo and was positive I’d never get one. Then, last summer, I had a sudden urge to get one, and two weeks later, I had sizable ink on my thigh that has no special meaning or reason behind it. Growing up, I wasn’t discouraged from tattoos by my parents at all. Since I never showed interest, we never talked about it. When I brought the design I had in mind to them — an Old West style line drawing I found through an online deep dive — they were indifferent, but reminded me that I’d have their support no matter what.

OPINION: 2022 editors’ style forecast

  Does pandemic exhaustion have you uninspired? As the new year reins in, it's time for a new you. Get ahead of the trend cycle with our start-of-the-year predictions for the hottest fashion trends. Joseph’s Predictions: Indie sleaze The ten-year fashion cycle has returned yet again —  let’s take a quick trip back in time, shall we? Picture this: the year is 2012; you throw on a pair of skinny jeans, black converse, a faded band tee, a plaid overshirt shirt and a scarf, you’re going for a grungy look but not too rough as you want to perfect the careless hipster vibe. This could be you later this year.

UNM costuming program offers unique undergrad experience

  While most people will only see what’s on stage when they go to watch a play, there is a large amount of work being done behind the curtains to ensure audience members have a phenomenal theater-going experience. The costuming department is just one small cog in a much larger production machine. Costuming for a production takes many steps, and costume shop supervisor and senior lecturer Stacia Smith-Alexander emphasized the importance of all a play’s elements coming together to form one seamless “composition.” "Once everything is together on stage, you have made a picture, even though it's a lot of people, it's lights and sounds and set as well. 

ABQ local artist brightens University, city with artwork

  Bright chalk drawings complete with cartoon-style characters and witty sayings adorn the sidewalks of the University of New Mexico, and even more works from the artist, Maewyn Padilla, can be found every first Friday of each month at the Albuquerque Artwalk. Working in a variety of mediums, Padilla has experience with many different types of art but primarily enjoys chalk art at the moment. Chalk art is fairly new to Padilla, who began doing it in her driveway about a year ago. She began by putting out a bucket of chalk and a sign that invited anyone to draw on the concrete, which is something open to everyone and a resource that doesn't cost money. 

Beauty standards pressure cheer, dance athletes

  As members of the Lobo Spirit program work to uphold standards of both athleticism and artistry, their physical appearance must also be put up for the consumption of both judges and the general populace alike. The pressure of expectations of how they should look often negatively impact the athletes. Fifth-year cheerleader Amaia Bracamontes is one of the many that has been affected by the public’s perception of how members of the Spirit Program should look. “Obviously, the image of a cheerleader, a lot of people think, is super small and skinny and fit … and so I think that people who don’t know a lot about cheer assume that everybody has to fit that certain image,” Bracamontes said. 

UNM women’s basketball victorious over Fresno State

  The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team continued their unprecedented conference win streak with a 80-74 victory over California State University, Fresno Bulldogs on Saturday at The Pit. UNM is now 7-0 in conference play, though that perfect record looked to be in jeopardy throughout the first half. Fresno State started the game a little frazzled, but once they got the ball in the 2021 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Haley Cavinder’s hands consistently, it became clear what they wanted to do. Fresno State came to The Pit with a very good plan to slow the game down and play in the halfcourt, and UNM struggled to adjust to their tempo. 

LETTER: United Graduate Workers of UNM urge University to begin negotiations

  Dear President Stokes, Provost Holloway, Dean Coonrod and Regents of the University of New Mexico, As of Jan. 4, the United Graduate Workers of UNM (UGW-UE local 1466) was certified as the first union of graduate employees under the New Mexico Public Employee Bargaining Act. Graduate employees have long provided vital contributions to the teaching and research mission of UNM, yet struggle without adequate pay, healthcare or input in their working conditions. Collectively bargaining with graduate employees strengthens our entire university and the state of New Mexico by providing a quality learning environment for our undergraduate students and allowing researchers to focus on innovation and discovery. 

Nonbinary students navigate social roadblocks, personal safety

  The decades-long trials of nonbinary people continue even at the University of New Mexcio, and two students in particular — Ari Williams and Noe Fields-Perkins — have felt the struggles of standing out against the majority. Williams, a Washington-based film student at UNM, identifies as both nonbinary and transgender and is forced almost daily to question the societal guidelines that align with and rely on a binary gender construct to determine social roles. “Boy or girl, when you don’t pass as one or the other or both, your worth is put into question, the validity of your gender is put into question, your humanity is put into question,” Williams said.

Comics January 18, 2022

REVIEW: ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ is a beautifully minimal take on Shakespeare’s classic play

  “Macbeth” has been done a thousand times over, both on stage and on film. You may know it for its timeless story of ruthless ambition or you may know it as that Scottish play you had to read for your high school English class. Either way, Shakespeare’s play has had some staying power and “The Tragedy of Macbeth” is only another testament to the English playwright’s genius. The film, having just been released on Apple TV+ on Friday, Jan. 14 after a limited theatrical run, follows — you guessed it — Macbeth and his bloody journey to become king of Scotland prompted by a strange encounter with a trio of witches.

REVIEW: ‘Red Rocket’ is a raucous romp

  This review contains spoilers Sean Baker’s newest film “Red Rocket” is a solid addition to his catalog of endearing, embodied tributes to the lives of marginalized groups in America. Released for limited theatrical release on Dec. 10, “Red Rocket” tells the story of Mikey, a charming, egoistic former porn star, as he wedges his way back into the home of his estranged wife and proceeds to wreak havoc in such a way that only a cisgender, heterosexual white man who has never been told “no” in his life could ever accomplish. “Red Rocket” follows Mikey (Simon Rex) as he sometimes charms and sometimes weasels his way back into his “old life” in Texas, before he moved to California some years ago. 

UNM requires 3-ply medical-grade masks indoors

  The University of New Mexico is requiring a three-ply or better medical-grade mask when indoors, effective Jan. 17. This decision, which updated the previous mask policy that allowed cloth masks, was made in response to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases and the increased infectiousness of the omicron variant. According to UNM spokesperson Cinnamon Blair, Student Affairs will be distributing proper masks across campus for students struggling to source proper masks or otherwise do not currently have appropriate masks. Masks will be distributed in high-traffic classroom buildings on campus, as well as in the Student Union Building and Johnson Gym.

‘We’re in this together’: Lobo Prevention Pack protects campus

  To advocate and educate – this is the goal of the University of New Mexico’s campus COVID-19 prevention team, the Lobo Prevention Pack. Students lead efforts to ensure that the campus community is not only safe but also accurately informed about the pandemic raging around them. From spreading accurate information about COVID-19 when the pandemic started in March 2020 to educating others about vaccinations when those became available, this team has been adapting to new trends as the pandemic has progressed.

‘Prepared for the worst’: University faculty teach amid omicron surge

  As the state of New Mexico consistently breaks 3,000 new COVID-19 cases daily attributed to the new, highly infectious omicron variant, the University of New Mexico has no current plans of moving to remote learning for the spring 2022 semester. Even as the school tightens up its COVID-19 protocols, many faculty members still feel apprehensive about returning for an in-person semester. Meagan Vigus, a teaching associate in the linguistics department and member of the United Graduate Workers of UNM, said her primary frustrations with coming back in person lie in the inadequate and chaotic communication between the University and its faculty, particularly in the recent announcement that UNM is requiring medical-grade masks indoors.

Locals tentatively support ABQ Community Safety department

  The new Albuquerque Community Safety Department began responding to emergency calls last September and acts as a non-law enforcement dispatch team that handles issues within the community, like mental health crises, that the police may not be trained to handle. After just over four months of operation, multiple community members are tentatively hopeful that this department will bring solutions to the city. Since ACS was created, the department has responded to over 1,500 calls, including 911 calls that get redirected to them and the 311 hotline that connects to them directly. “(There) is a huge need for us … (with) the amount of calls that go through that are not appropriate for police. 

New cafe, plant nursery brews love for coffee, plants

  Power Plant, a new cafe and plant nursery, opened its doors to the Albuquerque community on Saturday, Jan. 15. With a large emphasis on collaborating with artists, the shop aims to become a local hub for young artists to gather and show art. The space is co-operated by Tytianna Harris and Juan Jimenez. They aim to continue having a studio space in the shop that artists can rent to showcase their art, similar to how the space was used before Power Plant started up. “We've had, actually, photographers, videographers or different business owners who just come in and use it like a photo studio,” Harris said.