Gabriella Rivera - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Column: Mixed emotions about graduation

Gabriella Rivera | April 25

As I write this, in mid-April, amid allergy season, term paper season, and the middle of my athletics season, I probably feel a lot like you do — unreasonably tired and asking myself “am I getting sick or do I just need a Claritin?” So burnt out from schoolwork that I decided to pluck every weed from my mother’s lawn instead of writing my paper due this weekend. Also, like a good chunk of you, a thought that pervades through all of the stress and emotion is that of my looming graduation. A majority of you that are graduating this May absolutely cannot wait to do so. You’re posting senior photos, sending out graduation announcements and planning parties, anxiously and excitedly counting the days until you’re finally done. If you are one of these, congratulations. Your day is coming.

Steve Pearce addresses crowd following his loss to Rep. Michelle Lujan Girsham in the 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial Election.

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Grisham wins governor's race to cap off New Mexico's blue wave

Gabriella Rivera and Justin Garcia | November 7

The New Mexico Governor’s seat became blue once more on Tuesday night when Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham won decisively against Republican opponent Steve Pearce thus ending eight years of Republican control over the Governor's seat. According to the New Mexico Secretary of State website, Grisham was leading Pearce by over 13 percent with over 800 precincts reporting at the time this article was published.

Photos by Diana Cervantes and Kevin Maestas, collage by Colton Newman.

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Gubernatorial candidates highlight values in debate

Gabriella Rivera | October 28

Gubernatorial candidates Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pearce squared off on Wednesday night for a debate hosted by KOAT that highlighted the major differences in their platforms. Through the entirety of the debate, the candidates distanced themselves from each other not only politically, but also morally and ethically. Pearce’s opening statement ended with “this race is about the insider, my opponent, versus the outsider, myself,” and he often used the term “corrupt” to describe Grisham. Grisham compared Pearce to President Donald Trump, and accused Pearce of profiting unethically through his connection to the oil and gas industry.

A student takes pictures of a sign regarding UNM’s early voting center.

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Early Voting — where to cast your ballot in New Mexico

Gabriella Rivera and Anthony Jackson | October 22

Registered New Mexico voters can begin early voting this Saturday, Oct. 20 at more than a dozen locations across Bernalillo County. Early voting will last from Oct. 20 through Nov. 3. Polls will be open Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will not be allowed to cast any ballots from Nov. 4 through Nov. 5, said Jaime Diez, a deputy clerk from the Bernalillo County Clerk’s office. However, Diez said voters can still cast absentee ballots if absentee voters did not receive them sooner.

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Researchers use new tech to reconstruct ligaments

Gabriella Rivera | October 3

A team of researchers at the University of New Mexico is looking to revolutionize how the field of orthopaedics handles ligament reconstructions through the development of new technology and surgical methods. Overseen by the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation on North Campus and the Engineering Department on Main Campus, Assistant Professor Dr. Christina Salas and a rotating team of about 15 engineering students are looking to solve the problem of surgical grafts degrading over time, which causes problems down the line for patients who receive them. Typically, surgeons will take part of a tendon from another area of the patient’s body to replace the damaged ligament.

Opinion

Column: There's nothing wrong with finding your passion

Gabriella Rivera | October 1

Stanford and Yale psychologists recently published a paper titled “Implicit Theories of Interest: Finding Your Passion or Developing It?”. They conducted several studies that claim those who seek to “find their passion” — which they define as believing one has “fixed interests” as opposed to believing your interests change over time — might develop mindsets that make them less successful. They conclude with a warning that “urging people to find their passion may lead them to put all their eggs in one basket, but then to drop that basket when it becomes difficult to carry.” Why does there have to be a dichotomy between finding your passion and developing it?

Opinion

Column: John McCain's death is a loss for all Americans

Gabriella Rivera | September 6

I’ve always done my best to avoid defining myself politically, as I feel it does more harm than good, but let’s put it this way: you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who would label me “conservative” on most major issues. And while I like to think I associate with people that represent a healthy mix of positions on the political spectrum, an undeniable majority of those close to me are squarely on the left. Senator John McCain, on the other hand, was a fixture of the Republican Party and a consistent conservative — on almost every issue, McCain and I fundamentally disagreed. Not going so far as to revel in someone’s death, perhaps I should be grateful that a powerful adversary to many of the causes I am active in is gone.

Opinion

International Issue — Column: Xenophobia must be recognized and fought/Columna: La xenofobia debe ser reconocida y combatida

Gabriella Rivera | April 9

It is easy to claim — on behalf of a nation, on behalf of a generation, on behalf of yourself as an individual — a progressive attitude much too advanced for destructive, discriminatory ideologies. It is easy to believe and maintain that you see beyond borders, that a common identity as humans makes differences in nationalities or cultures immaterial and arbitrary. Es fácil reclamar — en nombre de una nación, en nombre de una generación, en nombre de usted como individuo — una actitud progresista demasiada avanzada para ideologías destructivas y discriminatorias. Es fácil creer y mantener que usted ve más allá de las fronteras, que una identidad común como los humanos hace diferencias en nacionalidades o culturas inmateriales y arbitrarias.

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In memory of a lost Lobo

Gabriella Rivera | December 3

The University of New Mexico community is mourning the tragic loss of a student, friend and brother. Dezmond “Dez” Ravenel was stabbed in his apartment on Nov. 27 during an altercation with his younger brother, D'Andre Ravenel, who admitted to killing Dezmond when Albuquerque Police Department officers arrived on scene. He claimed Dezmond had become physically aggressive first, but APD found no physical wounds to support this statement. D’Andre has since been charged with murder.

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A refresher on UNM's new on-campus living policy for freshmen

Gabriella Rivera | November 26

The life of a first-year college student will look a little different at the University of New Mexico next year. Beginning in Fall 2018, traditional first-year students at UNM will be required to live on campus, unless they qualify for an exception. With many incoming freshmen making their decisions on college, now may be an ideal time to clear up any misconceptions.