Addison Fulton - The Daily Lobo

Culture

Keynote commencement speakers to note

Addison Fulton | December 9

Starting Thursday, Dec. 12, the University of New Mexico will host its commencements for students graduating during the fall semester. The two ceremonies will each feature a keynote speaker: entrepreneur Doug Campbell and St. Vincent Regional Medical Center CEO and President Lillian Montoya. Campbell is the keynote speaker for the undergraduate ceremony. Campbell, a UNM alum, has a background in engineering and now works as an entrepreneur. Campbell is a self-described “start-up veteran,” having founded and worked with several tech start-ups such as Solid Power, which makes solid-state rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, according to his website.

Culture

Exodus Ensemble breaks the fourth wall

Addison Fulton and Nate Bernard | November 25

From Nov. 6 to Nov. 24, Santa Fe-based theatrical group Exodus Ensemble went on tour in Albuquerque with its interactive, immersive sci-fi theatrical production, “ZERO.” The Exodus Ensemble, which typically specializes in immersive theater with a focus on audience interaction, held its shows at the Downtown venue Chatter. ZERO follows four characters — or players — who have been placed into a game by a sentient, murderous, humanoid artificial intelligence named Daisy. Only one will make it out. At the beginning of the show, audience members pick a player to support, then compete in simple mini-games to win points to help their character be the one to survive.

Culture

Artist collects bad photos of the moon

Addison Fulton | November 25

In August 2022, astrophotographers Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne posted to Instagram what is widely considered to be the best photo of the moon ever taken. On Nov. 1, 2024, artist Ariel C. Wilson displayed a collection of some of the worst. In her exhibit at the Sanitary Tortilla Factory in Albuquerque, Wilson showcases crowdsourced “bad photos of the moon” — low-quality images of the moon taken on cell phones by ordinary citizens. The gallery’s website explains that the exhibit is meant to explore the blur between professional and amateur artists, as well as investigate human relationships with photography, permanence and the moon.

Culture

Wheels Museum hosts reading on ‘The Horse of the Sidewalk’

Addison Fulton | November 25

On Saturday, Nov. 23 the Wheels Museum hosted a talk with author Baker H. Morrow about his most recent anthology, “The Horse on the Sidewalk.” The anthology discusses Albuquerque’s place as a post-World War II “boomtown.” “You get the facts and figures, so many miles of roads, so many new houses, so many subdivisions,” Morrow said. “But one thing that struck me, having spent a fair amount of time when I was a kid out there, was what life was like for the kids themselves.”

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News

REVIEW: Will we look back at this and laugh?

Addison Fulton | November 15

There’s an old adage that comedy is just tragedy given time. But, in the modern comedy landscape, we don’t have time. Everything has to be funny now, no matter what. So, what does funny look like now? On Nov. 9, Saturday Night Live ran its first episode since Donald Trump was reelected as president of the United States. On one hand, the first Trump presidency had a lot of absurd, hilarious moments. On the other, it was dark and frightening. A Trump presidency is less funny now that we know just how bad it can get.

Culture

‘Preconceived’: UNM film screening depicts anti-abortion pregnancy clinics

Addison Fulton | November 12

On Nov. 4, the University of New Mexico held a film viewing of “Preconceived: The Unexpected World of Crisis Pregnancy Centers,” which depicts the dangers of abortion-alternative centers. The event was hosted by the Women’s Resource Center and the Southwest Women’s Law Center. “Preconceived” navigates the world of crisis pregnancy centers, which are anti-abortion, often deeply religious and target women with unexpected pregnancies. They are advertised as “abortion alternatives,” with their goal being to talk women out of getting abortions. According to a recent study by NBC News, crisis pregnancy centers now outnumber abortion clinics 3-to-1.

News

New Mexico Election Day recap

Lily Alexander , Addison Fulton , Nate Bernard and Paloma Chapa | November 6

Former President Donald Trump won the presidential election on Wednesday, Nov. 6, after winning enough electoral college votes. Vice President Kamala Harris won New Mexico by about 50,000 votes, according to The Associated Press. Republicans also took control of the United States Senate. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives had not been called by 8 a.m. Wednesday. Here’s how the U.S. Senate and congressional races went in New Mexico.

Opinion

OPINION: Zeitgeist of 2024: A year in horror review

Addison Fulton | November 4

It was just Halloween. The election is this week. It’s a pretty scary time to be alive. In the spirit, let’s talk about horror films. Fear and politics have always been deeply intertwined, making the horror film a deeply political art form — though it is often written off as nothing more than cheap scares. Over the course of the year, I’ve noticed a few trends emerge: reboots and sequels, demon horror and body horror. Two films this year really stood out: “Longlegs” and “The Substance.”

News

Albuquerque City Council moves forward with AI policy implementation

Addison Fulton | November 4

On Oct. 21, the Albuquerque City Council voted on a resolution to establish a working group designed to develop an artificial intelligence policy for the City of Albuquerque. Resolution R-24-81 allocates $50,000 to supporting the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Policy Working Group, which will go toward addressing an AI policy for the City. This includes creating a “prioritization matrix” — identifying potential uses and misuses of AI, according to the resolution. The group will also be charged with creating clear and universally understood definitions of “key terms related to AI development and implementation.”

News

Trump lands in New Mexico claiming he won the state twice

Lily Alexander , Addison Fulton and Nate Bernard | November 1

Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Albuquerque on Thursday during which he claimed he has won New Mexico in two elections and will win again. He shared the stage with United States Senate candidate Nella Domenici (R) and New Mexico 2nd Congressional District candidate Yvette Herrell (R). The rally took place at CSI Aviation near the Albuquerque International Sunport. Event organizers initially faced complications with parking but announced a new plan the day before the rally, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.