Addison Fulton - The Daily Lobo

Culture

Maxwell Museum hosts events celebrating free speech

Addison Fulton | November 24

On Friday, Nov. 21, the University of New Mexico Maxwell Museum of Anthropology hosted two events highlighting the importance of freedom of expression and the role of museums in protecting the exchange of ideas. The first event was “Lexicon of Liberty,” a celebration of banned and threatened books. Maxwell Museum Preparator Chris Albert and Curator of Education and Public Programs Julián Antonio Carrillo led the event, sharing statistics on who bans books, why and how. The second event, “Designed to Disrupt,” was a round table event where attendees were invited to play “Designing to Disrupt,” a card game by museum worker Chaya Arabia, designed to teach what can be achieved with activism.

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State and Tribal leaders urge feds to keep Chaco Canyon protections

Addison Fulton | November 24

New Mexico delegation and local tribal leaders gathered to reaffirm their commitment to protecting public lands, firmly stating, “Chaco Canyon is not for sale.” On Friday, Nov. 21, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D) hosted a press conference alongside Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D) and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D), where Gov. Myron Armijo of Santa Ana Pueblo spoke at the Indian Pueblo Culture Center to discuss the U.S. Department of the Interior’s recent moves to repeal Public Land Order 7923, which protects land near Chaco Canyon, including a 10-mile buffer zone, from oil and gas development. In late October, President Donald Trump’s administration notified several tribal leaders about plans to revoke the 20-year ban on oil and gas development across roughly 336,000 federal lands near Chaco Canyon, according to The Associated Press.

Culture

‘Paint Night’ brings calm and color to students

Addison Fulton | November 17

Laughter and acrylics filled the cafeteria of the University of New Mexico Student Union Building on Friday, Nov. 14, as students unwound and expressed themselves with free art supplies and full creative license. During “Paint Night,” students received a free canvas, brushes and paint to fuel their imagination. The evening also featured a raffle for four prizes: a $50 Amazon gift card, another $50 gift card to “Art Attack,” a local business where people paint their own ceramic art, a pair of Beats headphones, and a 200-piece art supply kit. One student and attendee, Aaliyah Zamora, painted a planet against a blue and pink pastel background of fluffy clouds and white stars. She said this is the second “Paint Night” she attended, and heard about it through the SUB’s Instagram page.

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Haaland visits UNM, speaks to students

Addison Fulton | November 17

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the University of New Mexico College Democrats hosted former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who conversed with students about her history and current gubernatorial campaign. In addition to being the first Native American Cabinet secretary in the nation’s history, Haaland is an alum of UNM, having completed both her undergraduate and law degrees at UNM. She shared with students some of her personal history, as well as information about her current gubernatorial run. Haaland started by sharing that she first ran for lieutenant governor in 2014, a year in which Democrats lost decisively, with Republican Susana Martinez winning the governorship. Haaland then ran for state Democratic party chair, she said.

Culture

BioPark expands Mexican grey wolf conservation effort with new facility

Addison Fulton | November 17

In the 1970s, the Mexican gray wolf was nearly hunted into extinction, with just seven remaining. So began one of the biggest success stories in wildlife conservation; now a population of nearly 300 canines survives and grows in Arizona and New Mexico. The story of the Mexican gray wolf continues on at the Albuquerque BioPark. On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Albuquerque Biopark hosted a first look at its recently completed “Mexican Wolf Conservation Facility.” The BioPark does not yet have wolves living in its conservation area; the visitation time was deliberately set between the completion of the habitat and the arrival of the animals — which are expected to move in during early 2026 — as the facility will be closed off to the public.

Culture

UNM Art Museum pauses gallery exhibitions for ‘Collections Year’

Addison Fulton | November 10

The walls of the University of New Mexico Art Museum are bare now, but the space is packed with potential as collections workers catalog and curate new additions to the museum’s collection. In 2024, The University of New Mexico Art Museum announced it was the recipient of a gift of over 100 photographs from the collection of Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser, collectors based in Los Angeles, California. The influx of art prompted the museum to temporarily pause gallery showings and embark on their “Collections Year” project. Collections Year is a catch-all name for an unprecedented, difficult-to-define era for the museum, Collections Manager for the UNM Art Museum Andrea Perez-Martinez said. For the first time, UNMAM has closed its galleries; however, its study rooms remain open and accessible for visitors and classes.

Culture

Mammals, migrations and maps: UNM hosts ‘Wildlife without Borders’ talk

Addison Fulton | November 10

Against the backdrop of shifting literal and social climates, a Fulbright scholar reminded listeners that “Wildlife don’t know anything about the political world.” The speaker, Jesús Fernández, was one member of the “Wildlife Without Borders: Conserving Mammals Across the U.S. Southwest and Northwestern Mexico” panel hosted by the University of New Mexico Latin American and Iberian Studies Department on Thursday, Nov. 6. The panel included four speakers — Fernández, Jason Malaney, Enrique Martínez Meyer and Cuauhcihuatl Vital García — alongside moderator and historian Samuel Truett. Fernández is a professor of taxonomy and systematics of biodiversity at Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. He focuses primarily on the evolution and conservation of mammals and discussed the biodiversity in the transboundary region at the event.

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What are GO Bonds?

Addison Fulton | November 3

This local election cycle, voters will be asked to consider where city funds should be allocated to a variety of issues and programs on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 4. General obligation bonds are funding dedicated to improvements to infrastructure and programs such as public safety, parks and recreation, libraries and street maintenance. In addition to the bond questions, there are elections for the City of Albuquerque Mayor’s Office, odd-numbered city council districts, Albuquerque Municipal School Board districts three, five, six and seven, the Central New Mexico Community College Board and the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority.

Culture

‘Haunted Hodgin Hall’ horrifies humanity

Addison Fulton | November 3

Screams echoed through the University of New Mexico’s campus as alums, faculty and students enjoyed a free haunted house set up in its oldest building. On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the UNM Alumni Association and UNM Trailblazers hosted “Haunted Hodgin Hall.” All year, Hodgin Hall serves as the alumni center, but on Tuesday, it served as a realm of frights and thrills. Katie Varoz Williams, associate director of Alumni Relations, said that the event exists not just to scare students, but to deepen their connection to the Alumni Association while they’re still on campus.

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Peace out — ‘Peacemaker’ season two left me with mixed feelings

Addison Fulton | October 27

On Oct. 9, the final episode of the second season of James Gunn’s “Peacemaker” was released. It was a strong end to an excellent season, but it was not without its faults. Who knew John Cena could break my heart like that? Season two follows Cena as Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker, as he discovers a parallel universe wherein his brother, who Smith accidentally killed as a child, and his father, who Smith killed in season two, are alive. While exploring the alternate universe, Smith kills the alternate version of himself.