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UNM students launch website to connect volunteers to healthcare workers

Megan Gleason | March 31

A group of medical students from the University of New Mexico recently launched Corona Care NM, a website that helps connect New Mexico volunteers to local healthcare and hospital workers, and vice versa. Volunteers can help healthcare workers with childcare needs, cooking, cleaning, pet sitting and more. They are able to fill out their experience in order to be best fitted with a particular job or duty, as well as preference for what type of work they are willing to do. If healthcare workers need help with childcare, they are connected with three to five volunteers. Otherwise, they are connected with one volunteer. The contact information for volunteers is given directly to the healthcare professional and the process is then in their hands. “We are simply providing a service to connect healthcare workers with volunteers,” David Gangwish, founder of the site, said.

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News

UNM staff concerned about impact of COVID-19

Bella Davis | March 30

As president of the University of New Mexico Staff Council, Ryan Gregg regularly hears from many staff members. However, the coronavirus outbreak has generated the most comments and questions from staff since he began his term almost a year ago, Gregg said. "Staff are concerned about their families and the health of their loved ones. Staff are also concerned about the future of their jobs," Gregg said. Last week, more than 31,000 New Mexicans filed unemployment claims, according to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. The week before that, a record 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment, the Labor Department reported, as businesses across the country shut down in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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Sports

Men's basketball: Jackson and Caldwell enter transfer portal

Joe Rull | March 30

Former University of New Mexico men's basketball starters JJ Caldwell and Vance Jackson announced their intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal after another disappointing season which saw a midseason collapse marred by suspensions and injuries. With one year of college eligibility remaining, Jackson is expected to graduate and play immediately for his new school under the NCAA's graduate transfer rule. Jackson's 2019-20 season was hindered by injury during the second half of the season, causing him to miss five games. Following the Lobos' season-ending loss to Utah State in the second round of the Mountain West Conference (MWC) championship tournament, "Vegas" Vance told reporters that he was sure he'd be back at UNM next season.

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Culture

Bridge Boulevard officially renamed to Avenida Dolores Huerta

Makayla Grijalva | March 30

On a day when people from all over Albuquerque typically gather at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to celebrate the annual Recuerda a César Chávez la marcha de justicia and fiesta, the streets fell quiet. Although the streets may have been silent, it didn't stop new street signs renaming a stretch of Bridge Boulevard to Avenida Dolores Huerta from rising to their new spots this week. This year's celebration planned to include a dedication to Huerta for her contributions to the United Farm Workers labor movement and unveil the new intersection where Avenida Cesar Chavez and Avenida Dolores Huerta meet. "It really was a labor of love," said Diana Montoya, Las Mujeres member and chair of the Avenida Dolores Huerta Project. "What I like to call it is more than a street sign. I think that a lot of people are in agreement that it becomes more than a sign, that it becomes a destination. It becomes a place where visitors will come and see that here we have this tribute to these two icons, these two civil rights heroes."

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News

New Mexico county clerks to ask for mail-in elections

Lissa Knudsen | March 30

New Mexico county clerks are looking to coronavirus-proof the primary election by changing from a traditional in-person voting process to a vote-by-mail process. The Daily Lobo obtained a copy of a petition to the New Mexico Supreme Court that lists Keith Riddle — on behalf of all 33 of the county clerks — as the petitioner and New Mexico secretary of state Maggie Toulouse Oliver as the respondent. The county clerks will ask the Supreme Court to allow them to use the mail-in ballot procedures for special elections because of the health and safety risk that the COVID-19 pandemic presents, according to the petition drafted by Daniel Ivey-Soto, the attorney who represents the state's county clerks.

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News

UNM set to refund housing, meal plan in coming weeks

Amanda Britt | March 28

The University of New Mexico will refund over 1,110 students for their student housing and meal plans, after forcing them to vacate eight weeks early, according to Residence Life and Student Housing.  Four days before Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statewide “stay at home” order March 24, students were instructed through email to evacuate from their on-campus housing by that same day. As of March 28, Lujan Grisham said there were at least 208 cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico. 

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Sports

Sam Choi named to the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup Team

Spencer Butler | March 28

Sam Choi, a sophomore on The University of New Mexico’s men's golf team, has been named to the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup International Team for his outstanding performance this season. Choi, originally from the Republic of Korea, was one of two members from the Mountain West to earn a spot on this prestigious team, which mostly consists of individuals from Power-5 programs. The nod adds to an impressive list of accolades, as Choi was selected as a 2018-2019 Co-Freshman of the Year and has twice won Mountain West Golfer of the Week award.

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News

UNM’s COVID response blindsided some students away from campus

Alex McCausland | March 28

When Sophomore Indica Simpson first received the email about mandatory move-out, she called the Student Residence Center (SRC). She was told that, because she had renewed her lease for 2021, she could leave her items in her dorm. Simpson was at home in Nevada for spring break, visiting family. She was under the impression the break was only for a week. But on Friday, March 20, Coronado Hall Coordinator Johana Gourdin sent out an email stating that without an exception to stay, “residents (are) expected to have vacated (their) assigned space by Tuesday the 24th.”

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News

Coronavirus calls for creativity: Upcycling Edition

Cameron Ward | March 28

While the coronavirus has many people stuck at home to quarantine, these days can be a great opportunity to clean and declutter different parts of your house. Sometimes the old clothes you have just need to be tossed or donated, but even your worn-out clothes deserve a chance for revival.  For the past two weeks, not only have I painted five canvases and hiked three times but found the art in deep cleaning. Though during this time in my deep cleaning stage, I found the habit of looking out for everything that could have a fresh start.

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Culture

Inside Meals on Wheels during COVID-19

Liam Debonis | March 27

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Albuquerque Meals on Wheels staff work to ensure meals are delivered to those who need it. By 9 a.m. on March 25, the kitchen staff was preparing hot meals and packing them into insulated bags to be distributed to drivers. A workforce of about ten members scooped spaghetti, ladled marinara, and dished up vegetables with rigor. “Usually, the kitchen is half staff and half volunteers,” Shauna Frost, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Albuquerque said.

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Culture

Farmworker Awareness Week adapts to an online format

Megan Gleason | March 27

The eighth annual Farmworker Awareness Week was hosted by Camperinos (CAMP), a University of New Mexico student organization, and took place on Facebook from March 24 to March 26 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event displayed videos featuring various members of the community, and highlighted different activities the public could partake like petitions and boycotts. It also presented relevant facts and statistics, all with the goal of supporting farmworkers. “It is meant to promote awareness and advocacy for farmworkers around New Mexico and around the nation,” Diego Salicido, project assistant of the event and treasurer of CAMP, said.

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News

Professor Eleni Bastea remembered as passionate, adventurous

Makayla Grijalva | March 27

“How do you remember a scholar whose scholarship was memory?” That’s what School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) Dean Mark Childs said in his opening remark for a memorial minute to honor Dr. Eleni Bastéa during the Faculty Senate Meeting on March 24.  Bastéa passed away on January 12 after a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her two sons and her husband, SA+P adjunct faculty member Marke Forte. 

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Culture

Local teacher makes protective face masks

Loreena Cain | March 26

While the coronavirus continues to sweep through New Mexico, making face masks is one way some Albuquerque locals are working on the front lines against the virus. With schools shuttered, local first-grade teacher and University of New Mexico alumna Angel Padilla is using her time to sew face masks. She has already made 35 masks and is currently working on 100 more. "In the event that healthcare professionals run out of personal protective equipment (PPE), these masks will be available instead of a scarf or bandana," Padilla said. "I've been told that it might be possible to prolong the life of N95 masks when used with the masks I am making."

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News

Dispatch: COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation

Sharon Chischilly | March 26

GALLUP, N.M. — The Navajo Nation awoke to a blanket of snow on March 19 as the third case of COVID-19, known as Diko Ntsaaígíí-Náhást'éíts'áadah in the Navajo language, emerged on the Navajo homeland. The three cases, a 40-year-old, 46-year-old and 62-year-old, shared one thing in common: they're all from the community of Chilchinbito, Arizona. Just days before the cases arose, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer declared a public health state of emergency for the Navajo Nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, March 11. As of the publication of this article, there were 69 positive COVID-19 cases within the Navajo Nation.

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Opinion

Coronavirus calls for creativity simple tricks to beating boredom

Cameron Ward | March 26

Simple items around every household can be transformed into some refreshing Do-It-Yourself crafts to relieve your boredom when stuck at home.  For anyone looking to create, it might require gathering some cheap materials from places like Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby or Micheals — but it can also be fun to only work with what you have if the stores are closed.

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News

Stokes to host town hall, address COVID-19 response

Justin Garcia | March 26

University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes will host a virtual town hall and Q&A Friday at 12 p.m. According to a press release, the town hall is meant to address UNM's response to the local outbreak of COVID-19. As of March 25, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said there are at least 112 cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico, including 48 in Bernalillo County. As a result, Lujan Grisham issued an emergency declaration and closed dozens of nonessential businesses to limit person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus.

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Culture

Easy at-home meals for a hungry Lobo

Ellie Aikman | March 26

Due to an increase in local cases of COVID-19, most students were required to move out of all the University of New Mexico dorms, leaving many without easy access to the dining hall or other easy meals on campus. With plenty of time stuck in the house, here are some affordable, and easily made meals that a Lobo can cook at home. 

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News

PATS ushering parking permit refunds

Alyssa Martinez | March 25

The office notorious for parking citations and permits will accept refund requests amidst the University’s limited operations.  In an email sent out by Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) Wednesday, PATS announced that the last day for students to request a permit refund is Tuesday, March 31.  Students looking to receive a prorated refund must fill out the provided form and submit a photo of their permit, cut in half before their request is processed.  As for staff and faculty, PATS warned that upon return of a faculty or staff permit, “(they) may not be able to get it back into the same zone/structure once the University reopens.” The University is currently on an extended spring break until April 5 in an effort to respond to the novel coronavirus. 

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News

New Mexico to use emergency alert system during COVID-19 outbreak

Justin Garcia | March 25

The State of New Mexico will begin sending out text messages and interrupting television and radio programs during the new coronavirus outbreak.  The first test will be sent out at around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office.  “The system is intended ...

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News

Faculty Senate: Students should have option to switch to pass or fail grading for spring 2020

Justin Garcia | March 24

The Faculty Senate endorsed a move to give students the option to switch their classes to a pass or fail grading system, instead of a classic A through F grading scale.  The resolution passed unanimously by the Faculty Senate on Tuesday does not guarantee the University of New Mexico will adopt the measure. However, UNM Provost James Holloway signaled his support for the measure during the Faculty Senate meeting, suggesting the option will be approved.  The resolution aims to allow instructors more flexibility in grading during the coronavirus pandemic.  “We also understand that because of COVID-19, students may be experiencing unforeseeable challenges in accessing food, housing, health, family care, employment, and computers and the internet throughout the remainder of the semester,” the resolution said.