Jaden McKelvey-Francis - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

OPINION: Local news is failing — everyone can help fix it

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 27

For those who do not know me, I am not surprised. I am Jaden McKelvey-Francis, the outgoing editor-in-chief of the New Mexico Daily Lobo. There’s an adage within newsrooms across the country of “we are not the story,” meaning that the focus of our content should be on the story being told, rather than the person telling the story. This is a helpful saying, one of many I have learned over my year as editor-in-chief (journalists love their sayings), but I find it slightly lacking — if people don’t get the news, trust the news, or understand how news is created, how can we complain if they aren’t informed of the news?

News

University presidential finalists, campus visits announced

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 20

The University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents has announced the five finalists to fill the role of University president when Garnett Stokes’ retirement takes effect in July. Each of the candidates will visit Main Campus over the next four weeks, where community members are encouraged to engage with the finalists directly and submit feedback after the forum. All forums will be held in the Student Union Ballroom C.

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News

Target-anchored retail development coming to South Campus

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 20

Just west of The Pit, a major retail center will begin construction next month. The development will stretch across 365,000 square-feet and include a Target, Marshalls, Home Goods, Burlington and Old Navy, in addition to several smaller retailers and restaurants. It is scheduled to finish construction in fall 2027. Lobo Crossing is a project the University of New Mexico has been trying to develop for nearly a decade, the Chief Operating Officer of Lobo Development Corporation Tom Neale said.

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Sports

Men’s Basketball: Lobos lose key contributor to transfer portal

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 13

At the end of the 2024-25 basketball season, the University of New Mexico men’s basketball faced a mass upheaval, losing every single player and coach for the 2025-26 roster. This offseason will have slightly more continuity, though not by much. After the NCAA Transfer Portal opened on Tuesday, April 7, only one player has announced his intention to remain with the Lobos while seven players have declared they will enter the portal. In his first year as head coach, Eric Olen took the Lobos to the semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament and finished the season with a 26-11 record.

News

Montoya, Salinas win ASUNM election

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 6

Hope Montoya and Owen Salinas will be the next president and vice president of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico, according to unofficial results from the ASUNM Elections Commission. Montoya and Salinas ran on a platform of expanding advocacy for students. Their major policy plans are “Lobo Print+,” to give students a credit for printing on campus, and continuing an effort to partner with ride share apps Lyft and Uber to get discounts for UNM students. This Spring election saw 1,408 students cast their ballots in an election that had three candidates for ASUNM president and vice president and 11 candidates for senate. Montoya won with 581 votes and Salinas with 567.

Satire

Lobo Lift to start offering piggyback rides

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 30

A new way to get around campus has arrived for University of New Mexico students. The Lobo Lift program, which offers rides in golf carts for students around campus, has expanded to offer piggyback rides, available by calling the Lobo Lift hotline. The program consists of a fleet of over 50 so-called “human vehicles” available from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. After the piggybackers are dispatched and arrive at a user’s location, they simply input their destination and hop on. “Human vehicles” must complete an extensive training course that includes running a five-minute mile while carrying 6.3572 cinder blocks, holding their breath for 15 minutes in a tank filled with carp and carrying a 0.31 GPA.

Satire

Lobo Louie revealed to be just a dude in a suit

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 30

In a shocking turn of events at a University of New Mexico Lobo basketball game, beloved mascot Lobo Louie was revealed to be just a man inside of a large wolf costume. Tragedy unfolded. During the game, while Louie was cheering from the sidelines, an errant shot hit Louie, knocking his head off his body to the dismay of the crowd. The blow revealed Louie to simply be a man dressed up in a costume instead of the live wolf he was belived to be. This event caused surprise and outcry across the campus as students felt betrayed by the ruse.

News

ASUNM Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates: Bailey Rutherford and Zoe Baca

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 23

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico’s elections will take place from April 1, 9:00 a.m. to April 2, 5:00 p.m. There are three candidates for President, three candidates for Vice President and 11 candidates for ASUNM Senate. To view all the candidates and cast your ballot, go to vote.unm.edu ASUNM Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Bailey Rutherford is running for ASUNM President (ballot #3) alongside Office of Communications Director of Web Design Zoe Baca, running for ASUNM Vice President (ballot #2). One of the main topics of their campaign is resisting actions by President Donald Trump’s administration, specifically policies meant to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion, they said.

News

GPSA Presidential candidate: Marisa Page

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 23

The University of New Mexico’s Graduate and Professional Student Association will be holding elections for president, council chair and considering nine constitutional amendments. Voting will take place from 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27. There are two candidates for GPSA president and one candidate for council chair. To view the amendments, candidates and cast your ballot, go to gpsa.unm.edu. Marisa Page is a member of the GPSA council and on the legislative steering committee running for GPSA President (ballot #1). “I think that we need to build community at the University, and I think that people, especially grad students, need a safe space to be heard and seen,” Page said.

Sports

Ryan Berryman named athletics director

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 5

University of New Mexico alum and former Lobo basketball student manager Ryan Berryman has been named as the new Vice President and Director of Athletics. Berryman has been serving as the interim athletics director since Jan. 1, after former Athletics Director Fernando Lovo left to fill the same role at the University of Colorado Boulder after only one year at UNM.