Shin Thant Hlaing - The Daily Lobo

Culture

Walkable local business spotlight: Snapdragon Tea and the ‘Dog Days of Summer’

Shin Thant Hlaing | August 26

Snapdragon Tea, a seven-minute walk from the University of New Mexico Main Campus, has a whimsical, eclectic atmosphere that matches the whimsy of its name. The establishment features a free library and a community blackboard against beige and baby-blue walls. Snapdragon Tea is regularly holding themed tea parties called the “Dog Days of Summer” through Sept. 8. An overview of the event reads, “join us in a celebration of dogs, humanity’s long-time companions of more than 30,000 years.”

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Opinion

OPINION: Tim Walz: America’s wholesome dad?

Shin Thant Hlaing | August 16

According to the internet, Kamala Harris is “brat” and Tim Walz is “Midwest Princess,” both references to artists who have had meteoric successes in 2024: Charli XCX and Chappell Roan, respectively. Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential race on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Walz’s experience as governor, midwestern appeal, chemistry with Harris, social media energy and more help explain why Harris chose him and what he brings to the table policy-wise.

News

New Mexico abortions rise two years after Roe v. Wade overruling

Shin Thant Hlaing | July 26

A March report from the Guttmacher Institute tracked the increase of abortions performed in New Mexico this year, observing a 250% increase since 2022. Two-thirds of them were patients who traveled from Texas — a state with a near-total abortion ban. Significant barriers to accessing reproductive healthcare include cost, transportation, social stigma and insufficient rural healthcare workforce, according to Scholars Strategy Network. The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center aims to identify gaps in healthcare to prevent barriers, according to Communications Director Chris Ramirez.

News

The history of presidential assassination attempts

Shin Thant Hlaing and Addison Fulton | July 22

The history of successful and unsuccessful presidential assassination attempts is tied together by threads of lone gunmen and conspiracy theories. The phenomenon, though highlighted by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on the campaign trail, isn’t new. Donald Trump On July 13, gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at a Trump rally, killing Pennsylvania resident Corey Comperatore and clipping the former president in the ear. Crooks fired from the top of a nearby building, which was allegedly outside of the security perimeter set up by the Secret Service, according to a statement the Secret Service gave NBC. The building was meant to be guarded by local police.

News

79 years since Trinity: The chain-reaction isn’t over

Shin Thant Hlaing | July 17

The shockwaves from the Trinity Test detonation 79 years ago are still felt by the world today. The present-day effects of the test in New Mexico include disproportionate disease and death for those who live near the test site, with no recognition or compensation from the United States government, according to Source New Mexico. Additional effects include “brain drain” – which occurs when educated or professional people leave an area for better conditions – and financial drain from civilian causes, according to Greg Mello, the executive director of the Los Alamos Study Group, an organization that pursues nuclear disarmament and environmental protection.

Opinion

OPINION: UNM should increase intercollegiate fellowship programs

Shin Thant Hlaing | July 5

As a current participant in an intercollegiate fellowship at the University of New Mexico, I would like to see UNM more involved in similar programs for undergraduate students — either at neighboring institutions or beyond. I am participating in the Emerging Security Studies Fellowship, hosted by Emory University, funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and involving students from Georgia State University and UNM. The fellowship is a paid learning experience that involves six weeks of classes and a remote internship.

Culture

REVIEW: Normani’s ‘Dopamine’ is a refreshing return to music

Shin Thant Hlaing | July 5

The summer of 2024 is for female artists who have complicated relationships with fame, and Normani is no exception. In fact, Normani’s debut album “Dopamine,” released on June 14 after a six year hiatus from music, takes the cake. “Dopamine” feels like sipping a tall, sleek can of sparkling mineral water. There’s no strong, particular flavor but it feels cool, refreshing and bubbly. Upon first listen, the album as a whole is sonically cohesive. However, it may feel too cohesive and strike some audiences as predictable and boring.

News

Heat advisories issued throughout New Mexico as monsoon season begins

Shin Thant Hlaing | June 22

Heat advisory warnings have been issued in several parts of New Mexico as a heat wave bakes the Southwest United States. Albuquerque reached 101 degrees Fahrenheit on June 13 – the third time the city has hit 100 degrees so far in June, according to the National Weather Service. Monsoon season, marked by a change in wind direction that brings more rain and storms to the Southwest, began Saturday, June 15 and will last through September 30. This year’s monsoon season will be hotter than average, according to KRQE.

News

‘4% don’t pay the rent’: United Graduate Workers rally for higher wages

Shin Thant Hlaing | April 29

The United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico rallied at Scholes Hall for higher wages on Tuesday, April 23. While UGW initially asked for a 50% overall salary wage increase and a 58% increase to minimum salaries, the University administration proposed a 4% increase. Three days after the rally, UGW received “more binding language” from UNM administration to include research assistants in proposed wage increases, a group that was previously left out, according to the UGW Instagram. They also received proposed increases to minimum salaries for project assistants and graduate assistants.

Satire

STEM in the sky, humanities in the hollows

Shin Thant Hlaing | April 1

The University of New Mexico has unveiled a new infrastructure plan in which Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) buildings will float a mile above ground and humanities buildings will be relocated to underground tunnels to shield students from the STEM jet flames. “STEM subjects are the future and we need to show our support for our STEM students by giving them an educational experience with state of the art technology: jetpacks,” UNM President Garnett Stokes said. ”We must also, as the flagship university of the state, demonstrate a decisive superiority over New Mexico State University.”