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The past, present and future fight for LGBTQ+ rights

October is LGBTQ History Month, and many community members have reflected on people and protests that have fought for LGBTQ+ rights and took the time to reflect on their hopes for the community’s future. Frankie Flores, director of the University of New Mexico’s LGBTQ Resource Center, discussed the history of LGBTQ+ people who fought for the community’s rights and the obstacles they faced, specifically the freed slaves who began to perform drag in the 1800s. Flores said the word homosexuality “was a term that was created to criminalize ... trans and queer folks. We (had) folks who were fighting against that in the 1860s and 1870s.”

Campus organizations lobby for $12.6 million in student fee funding

The University of New Mexico’s Student Fee Review Board (SFRB) held its first of two student forums on Thursday, Oct. 15, with close to 50 attendees and board members participating via Zoom. This year, 30 programs have applied for recurring funding, with six asking for an increase of more than $100,000 over what the board recommended last year. The SFRB is a student committee — consisting of five undergraduate and two graduate student leaders — that meets annually to draft recommendations on how approximately $12.6 million in student activity fees should be allocated.

COVID-19 jail outbreak jeopardizes vulnerable populations

The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) on the far west side of Albuquerque has seen a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases this month. Between Oct. 12-15, the jail reported 139 new cases. In response, public defenders are calling for police to cite people rather than arrest them when possible. MDC bookings show that over the past week, dozens of people have been jailed for minor, nonviolent crimes like possession of a controlled substance, driving with a revoked license and criminal trespassing. Trespassing is a charge often leveled against unhoused people, as the Daily Lobo previously reported in July.

United’s yearlong road trip ends in heartbreak in El Paso

After 240 minutes of overcoming USL Championship postseason adversity in the role of the underdog — as indeed it has been all year for a homesick, road-weary club — New Mexico United finally found its kryptonite in the form of its neighbors to the south. New Mexico’s unlikely playoff journey was cut short after falling to El Paso Locomotive FC in heartrending fashion on Oct. 17, as the Texas club ended New Mexico’s dream season 5-3 in penalty kicks after extra time saw the scoreline knotted 1-1.

Operation Legend leaves behind a cloud of ambiguity

ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Attorney for New Mexico John C. Anderson appeared alongside U.S. Attorney General William Barr at a press conference Wednesday about the status of the Operation Legend task force. In a statement released in July by the Department of Justice, Barr said Operation Legend aimed to “combine federal and local resources to combat the disturbing uptick in violence by surging federal agents and other federal assets into cities.” Barr praised the actions of the 40 Operation Legend federal agents in Albuquerque. “Violent crime is solvable. It’s not something people have to live with at the levels they’re living with,” Barr said.

Haaland aims to make outdoors more accessible

U.S. Reps. Deb Haaland and Grace Meng have introduced legislation highlighting the issue that many Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and low-income families don’t have equal access to outdoor activities and economic opportunities. “Equal access to natural areas and open lands is a right that everyone holds. However, low-income communities across the U.S. are consistently denied access to these natural treasures and the benefits that public lands provide,” said Haaland, the vice chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources in her introduction of the Environmental Justice in Recreation Permitting Act.

OPINION: “Cops” reboot spotlights the propaganda of police

“Cops,” a police procedural reality television show, has resumed production after the 32-year-old series was canceled over the summer in response to the protests over George Floyd’s death and subsequent calls for police reform in the United States. Police officers are often shown in a positive light in “Cops,” positioned to be the heroes of the show that help keep people safe and take criminals off the streets. They present their actions and authority as just and morally sound. But as with everything in reality television, the truth is far from what we see on the screen.

Oct 14, 2020 Comics

Mountain West releases women’s, men’s conference basketball schedules

On Oct. 9, the Mountain West released the basketball schedules for both the women’s and men’s programs in the 11-school conference. Each team will have an 18-game conference schedule. The women’s regular season will begin on Dec. 31 and conclude on March 2, while the men’s regular season will start on Dec. 29 and conclude on March 6. The women’s and men’s basketball schedules feature nine home and away games apiece and will have two bye weeks over the course of the season.

‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ defies expectations

This review contains spoilers. “Star Trek: Lower Decks” has dredged up a lot of mixed reactions from Trekkies, starting from the premiere of the first episode in a 10-episode season on Aug. 6 on CBS. As the final episode came out on Thursday, Oct. 8, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that I’ll be back to watch the next season of this show. “Lower Decks” is a cartoon-animated Star Trek series that depicts the lives of everyone in lower positions in the Star Trek universe — characters that would normally have no screen time in any other Star Trek series. We see the trivial lives of ensigns trying (or not trying) to get promoted to better positions.

Guns, oil and outside money: The expensive race for southern New Mexico

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story ran in the Daily Lobo’s print edition on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. That story has been updated with quotes from one of the candidates that came in after deadline.   One of the closest congressional races in the country is taking place in southern New Mexico: House District 2, contested between incumbent Democrat Xochitl Torres Small and Republican and former state legislator Yvette Herrell. The race is a rematch of the 2018 election, which Torres Small won by only about 4,000 votes — and polling indicates the race is tight once again.

“Foody Tuesdays” fixes moody days

On Tuesdays in North Domingo Baca Park, around the time the sun sets across the high desert, local food trucks owners ignite their ovens and grills, ready their ingredients and prepare the register for an evening filled with eager customers looking for good eats. “Foody Tuesdays,” the name for the weekly recurring event in Albuquerque, brings in several local food trucks and a colorful farmers market to provide a pandemic-friendly way to enjoy some phenomenal dishes. Though the food trucks and market take up less than a block in the parking lot, there is an abundance of of variety at “Foody Tuesdays,” from refreshing beverages and desserts that make you hold on to those last glimmers of summer to internationally palatable foods, decadent meats and feel-good vegetables and fruits.

Graduate student workers organize for better pay, working conditions

At a virtual town hall attended by over 150 people, University of New Mexico graduate student workers discussed how the administration has continuously ignored their concerns related to pay and working conditions.  Now, they’re organizing to form a union. “This is a historical moment for us to be organizing and unionizing during a pandemic,” United Graduate Workers of UNM organizer and Chicana/o Studies PhD candidate Natalia Toscano said. “The fact is that we’re standing up to ensure that all workers have a voice at the table and that we’re getting all of the benefits and pay and resources that ensure that we live full and dignified lives.”

Oct 11, 2020 Comics

Protesters chain themselves to obelisk in opposition to lack of action regarding indigenous recognition

Two protesters chained themselves to the obelisk in Santa Fe Plaza on Saturday afternoon. A sign chained next to the two men read, “Here I will remain, a white ally chained to the monoliths of racism, colonialism and hatred holding a sign that makes me feel hopeful. But I can no longer be willing to hope for a better future, rather I now must be willing to fight for one!” A crowd of protesters gathered around the obelisk with signs and intentionally disrupted patrons walking around the plaza. The protesters asked passersby to donate directly to them, rather than supporting those other businesses that claim to support Indigenous peoples but don’t give the money back to the people that need it. Protesters also called out those without masks in the plaza and tourists from out of state for increasing the spread of the coronavirus. 

UNMPD officer receives written warning for racist video

After a TikTok video featuring a South Park “scanning for Mexicans” voiceover circulated on social media last month and caused an upset among the student body, University of New Mexico police officer Eric Peer was placed on paid administrative leave for two weeks while an internal investigation was conducted, as previously reported in the Daily Lobo. At the time Peer was allowed to return to work, UNM spokesperson Cinnamon Blair said “appropriate disciplinary action” had been taken but declined to disclose any details. Through a records request, the Daily Lobo has learned that the disciplinary action levied against Peer was a written warning.

UNM withholds on-campus dorms coronavirus data, citing privacy concerns

Mirroring many other universities across the country in lack of transparency, the University of New Mexico is refusing to disclose how many students living in on-campus housing have tested positive for COVID-19. Responding to a question from the Daily Lobo about which dorms have had outbreaks and how many students who live on campus have tested positive, Sarah Scott, a spokesperson for UNM Institutional Support Services which UNM Residence Life and Student Housing falls under, said the University will not release those details “to protect student privacy.” Melanie Majors, the executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, said that universities nationwide are abusing federal privacy laws as an excuse to not disclose coronavirus data.

Albuquerque’s Holm and Condit revive careers with unanimous wins

On Saturday, Oct. 3, Albuquerque’s Holly Holm and Carlos Condit both won their respective fights via unanimous decision. Holm and Condit both showed Saturday night that they’ve still got more left in the tank and aren’t giving up on their careers just yet. They’ve both had their recent struggles, but their performances give them something to build on. Holm, who owned a overall fight record of 13-5 going into the fight and is currently ranked No. 2 in the bantamweight contenders rankings, fought the No. 6-ranked contender Irene Aldana, who was 12-5 all time. Holm won the fight in a unanimous decision, securing her 14th career victory.

Top five movie countdown to Halloween

This review contains spoilers. October is here, and it’s time for all the scary films that Halloween lovers will surely enjoy. Below is a list of the Daily Lobo’s top five scary films that will definitely freak you out this Halloween season. Some movies on this list are popular — and others you likely haven’t heard of — but if you like scary, you’ll enjoy each one for different reasons.

Wehan captures first playoff victory for New Mexico United

One more, for the road. That has been the mantra for New Mexico United since March, when the coronavirus pandemic mandated a four-month hiatus of play and altered the trajectory of a year that eventually manifested as a sensational season devoid of home matches. The mantra will see at least one more recitation in 2020 after New Mexico — via a superb Chris Wehan goal in extra time — defeated San Antonio FC 1-0 on Saturday night at Toyota Field in Texas.