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REVIEW: Going bananas for ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’

Natalie Jude | July 21

Minions have found themselves to be the sources of great civil unrest since their introduction to cinema in 2010 with the release of the first film in the “Despicable Me” franchise. These peanut-esque beings have been shamed and disgraced for little reason since their introduction to the public, but with the release of the latest despicable installation, have risen to great distinction: on July 1, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” released in the United States, already becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Finally, we’re going bananas for minions, rather than rising against them.

D.H. Lawrence Conference Opening at Zimmerman Library

Culture

D.H. Lawrence Conference honors important author to New Mexico

Spenser Willden | July 19

On Monday, July 18, the University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research welcomed over 40 researchers and enthusiasts from around the world into Zimmermann Library’s west wing for the opening event of the 15th International D.H. Lawrence Conference, celebrating the life and work of the early 20th-century English writer. The conference is held every three years in different locales of relevance to the author and his writings. For Feroza Jussawalla, a professor emerita in the UNM English Department and specialist in Lawrence, the conference serves as a good reminder to UNM students and faculty of the value the author brought to our state, which Lawrence saw as a space for a potential utopia.

Culture

Elections Commission executive director shows skill in leading, encouraging students

Spenser Willden | July 19

Recently, the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico announced the hires for student service agency executive directors, including rehires and new faces alike. One such new face is Mac Bagwell, executive director of the Elections Commision, who plans to work diligently in the position. As executive director of the Elections Commision, Bagwell’s primary responsibility is overseeing the entire agency in protecting the integrity of all student elections, including senatorial, presidential and homecoming elections. A junior majoring in criminology and political science, Bagwell is also an executive board member of the Pre-Law Society and vice-president of the UNM chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, on top of her ongoing work with Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and ASUNM. To Bagwell, being so widely involved on campus has helped her prepare for her role as executive director.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘Hellfire’ burns fast and bright

John Scott | July 19

When black midi first burst onto the music scene with their debut single “bmbmbm” in 2018, it was clear they were a band to watch. Their subsequent albums “Schlagenheim” and “Cavalcade,” released in 2019 and 2021 respectively, were met with universal critical acclaim, further cementing black midi’s place among some of the top bands working today. On July 15, 2022, black midi returned with “Hellfire,” an album that strangely feels like the best introduction to the band with its clear sense of identity and superb musicianship. While black midi typically gets grouped in with the other bands out of England making waves in the post-punk scene like Dry Cleaning and Black Country, New Road, they stand out from the crowd with a heavy progessive rock influence not present in other acts. It makes midi’s music incredibly unique, but also difficult to approach.

Culture

Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ ain’t nothing but a hound dog

Spenser Willden | July 17

Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” with its overwrought style beyond substance, is the cinematic equivalent of eating all of your leftover Halloween candy in one night and waking up sick the next morning. An enjoyable ride with sweet flavorings to boot, it’s too eager in its undertakings and leaves you staggered and slightly sick. With a hubristic two-hour, 39-minute runtime that challenges even the most ardent supporters of the hyper-stylistic director, “Elvis” fails to shine beyond spectacle in its portrayal of the relationship between the iconic rock-and-roller and his infamously manipulative manager.

Culture

ASUNM Community Experience executive director encourages student engagement

Spenser Willden | July 17

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico recently announced the new executive directors of the various student service agencies. Among them is the newly appointed Community Experience director Sierra Quintana, who brings past senatorial experience, a strong sense for the responsibilities of community and bold ambition to the position. Quintana, an incoming junior, has been involved with ASUNM since she was a freshman: first with the Emerging Lobo Leaders program, then as a senator and vice presidential candidate. As an electrical engineering major, she’s also heavily involved elsewhere on campus as the president of the Society for Women Engineers and a member of a Panhellenic society.

News

UNM researchers awarded grant to study aging in apes

Maddie Pukite | July 17

Researchers at the University of New Mexico were recently awarded more than $3 million to continue studying aging in chimps. The funding, awarded by the National Advisory Council on Aging through a Method to Extend Research in Time award, will last five years with the possibility of a three to five year extension. The research has been led by the Comparative Human and Primate Physiology Center co-director Melissa Emery Thompson. “This project, going from 2015 to potentially 2027, really gives us excellent longitudinal coverage of the different health parameters that we're looking at,” Emery Thompson said.

News

Community continues to protest APD in wake of death during SWAT standoff

Maddie Pukite | July 14

On the evening of Thursday, July 14, dozens of protesters gathered at the corner of Wyoming Boulevard and Central Avenue to rally and march in support of defunding the police. The rally and march come after 15-year-old Brett Rosenau was killed in a house fire during an Albuquerque Police Department SWAT standoff. Paula Arrietta was one of the cop watchers present on the evening of July 6 and documented the destruction that left Rosenau dead and a house demolished. “It was heart-wrenching, watching the family. I mean, just watching their emotions … They were losing everything,” Arrietta said.

News

Grad union holds picket to confront UNM bargaining committee over nondiscrimination clause

Maddie Pukite | July 14

On Thursday, July 14, the United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico held a picket line where they confronted members of the UNM bargaining team as they walked into the building where Thursday’s bargaining meeting would be held. The picket served as a call to action on a nondiscrimination clause that the University continues to push back on. “UNM calls itself a Hispanic-serving institution, and they care about diversity, and they care so much about examining the different types of people on campus. However, they have absolutely no way of protecting those people when they actually are discriminated against,” Union bargaining team member Samantha Cooney said.

Culture

ASUNM Arts Studio executive director crafts a new path forward

Zara Roy/ @zarazzledazzle/ Daily Lobo | July 14

The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico recently announced their 2022-23 agency directors, including returning ASUNM Arts and Crafts Studio executive director Sara Atencio-Gonzales. She was rehired largely due to her history of dedication and hard work. Atencio-Gonzales first learned about the studio in Fall 2020, when she joined ASUNM’s Emerging Lobo Leaders program. She became interim director in Spring 2022 and applied for the position for this year after she fell in love with the work. In the position, she balances both outward and inward facing jobs, taking care of studio member and employee needs as well as budgeting, working with other ASUNM offices and event planning.

Culture

5 and Why: 5 recommendations for summer reads

Spenser Willden/ @spenserwillden/ Daily Lobo | July 12

Summer break is a good opportunity to enjoy good reads outside of an academic environment. University of New Mexico junior Julia Langeway, a circulation assistant at Zimmerman Library student studying English and art history, sat down with the Daily Lobo to share five of her favorite books.

Culture

REVIEW: Former UNM student’s ‘Natives Don’t Get Haircuts’ bursts with wry introspection

Natalie Jude / @natalaroni / Daily Lobo | July 12

On June 28, Wry Press released “Natives Don’t Get Haircuts,” a chapbook by former University of New Mexico student Hataałiinez Wheeler containing 29 poems and one short story. Fans of Wheeler’s will recognize the disconcerting linework as analogous to what is often scrawled alongside his sketches and photographs, while those new to his work will be brought in by the tension and language — none will be disappointed with the outcome, printed and bound. Wheeler, the definition of an interdisciplinary artist, has already released three albums and an EP under his nickname Hataałii. A personal favorite is the song “Walking on Our Own,” co-written and produced by current UNM student Jakob Jaques. Wheeler is also a model and actor, recently working on the AMC television series “Dark Winds” as Joe Leaphorn Jr. In the past year, he’s even delved into painting and jewelry-making with vigor.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘Dawn Breaks Behind the Eyes’ is a visually appealing, ego-boosting slog

John Scott / Daily Lobo / @JohnSnott | July 12

The film industry loves to make movies about the film industry and “Dawn Breaks Behind the Eyes” from Austrian/Sri Lankan director Kevin Kopacka, is one of the newest films to join this long tradition after its release in the U.S. on June 24. The Guild Cinema luckily only had a one-night screening of the film so hopefully no one else — save for the poor unfortunate souls in the movie house on Saturday, July 9 — will have to subject themselves to this bore of a watch. “Dawn” starts out following a couple, Dieter (Fredrick von Lüttichau) and Margot (Luisa Taraz), as they explore a possibly abandoned castle inherited by Margot from some dead family member; I say possibly because, at most points, the film can’t decide if the castle is truly abandoned or not. It would seem so, based on its decrepit and dilapidated state, but the couple spends the night there in a bed with some suspiciously nice white sheets — however, this is only a minor annoyance in a film as annoying as a crying child in a restaurant, although far less forgivable.

News

Community protests death of 15-year-old during house fire, SWAT standoff

Maddie Pukite | July 11

Protesters gathered outside of the University of New Mexico Bookstore on Sunday, July 10 in response to the killing of Brett Rosenau, a 15-year-old who died in a house fire during an Albuquerque Police Department and APD SWAT standoff. The cause of death was smoke inhalation, with APD Chief Harold Media acknowledging possible fault for the fire, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Culture

Loboscopes: July general predictions

Zara Roy | July 11

In the heat of the summer, the cosmos promises to light a fire underneath you as Mars, the planet of confrontation and motivation, moves through Taurus, inching closer to the erratic and rebellious Uranus and eventually hitting a perfect conjunction on August 1. The slow-moving energy of Taurus will be especially at odds with the fiery, impassioned energy of Leo as the sun moves into the sign late in the month. How will you fare this foul, fiery weather? Continue on for specific advice for your sign.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ is a thunderous hit

Elizabeth Secor | July 11

“Thor: Love and Thunder” was released on Friday, July 8 and is officially my second favorite Marvel movie with the first being “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (and yes, I have a list of the movies and shows in order of my favorites; it's extensive.) “Love and Thunder” kept my attention the whole time; I was so engrossed the entire time, I forgot to take notes on the movie like I usually do for reviews (Don’t tell my editors).

News

UNM professors provide perspectives on Roe overturn

John Scott | July 8

Friday, June 24 saw an unprecedented shift in the political landscape of the United States with the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. The decision overruled both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, revoking the constitutional right to an abortion and opening the door for states and lawmakers to ban the procedure. The constitutional protection of an abortion was argued under the Fifth and 14th amendments in what is called the due process clause which states that, “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” under the 14th amendment.

News

Wildlife protection groups seek legal action over Mexican gray wolves

Maddie Pukite | July 8

Multiple conservation groups have filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, citing concerns for the Mexican gray wolves. The groups, which include WildEarth Guardians, Western Watersheds Project, Wildlands Network, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, claim the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to create an adequate rule that provides enough protections for the endangered species.

Culture

UNM professor-led band lights up music scene with new album, ‘Fuego’

Spenser Willden | July 8

Quieto, a band led by University of New Mexico theater professor Alejandro Tomás Rodriguez, released their new album “Fuego” to streaming services on June 10, experimenting with a new sound and brand for the band, which embraces Afro Latin, blues, rock, cumbia, funk and hip-hop inspirations. Their lead single, “Galope Nocturno,” has received over 1,300 streams on Spotify so far.

Culture

Journalists struggle with impartiality amid Dobbs verdict

Elizabeth Secor | July 6

On June 24, the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned the legal precedent of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which guaranteed constitutional protection of abortion rights. Due to the highly divisive nature of this decision, journalists across the country are struggling to balance their personal opinions with journalistic neutrality. Rebecca Salinas, a digital journalist for KSAT in San Antonio, believes in neutrality and understands its importance in journalism, but also sees an importance in bringing emotion to a piece while staying on the line of impartiality.