Liam Debonis

Through the lens of ABQ Backyard Refuge Program participants

  With wildlife thriving among different experiences in the Albuquerque Backyard Refuge program, participants and program managers are working to change Albuquerque from a concrete and gravel desert into a city teeming with plant and animal life. Debby Knotts, a retiree from the University of New Mexico, has seen all sorts of wildlife in her yard, from bumblebees to hummingbirds to raccoons. Her property is a sprawling landscape of native plants, herbs and fruit trees. She also is a docent for the park across the street, growing perennial native plants that will continue to grow year after year, as opposed to annuals which must be re-planted each season.

ABQ Backyard Refuge program sows homes for wildlife

  When one thinks of a city, wildlife is likely to be the last thing in the mind’s image. But the Albuquerque Backyard Refuge program aims to change that by increasing the presence of wildlife in the city by empowering residents to create sanctuaries for the living creatures who are native to the land.  Through the program, citizens transform their patios, balconies and lawns into diverse environments teeming with life. Residents whose yards meet the standards of the program can apply to certify their spaces as a backyard refuge. “The goal is to create a mosaic of habitats across the city,” said Laurel Ladwig, the program’s director and a graduate from UNM with a master’s in geography.

REVIEW: ‘It's What I Do’ showcases life through lens of conflict photojournalist

  Pulitzer prize-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario’s memoir “It’s What I Do: A Photojournalist’s Life of Love and War” is about more than just photojournalism. In a novel-like fashion, Addario weaves a complex tale of love, pain and exploration as she recounts her life, from the early years of her career in Latin America to her evocative documentation of women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Addario begins her memoir discussing her home life, and while it initially seems irrelevant in the overall theme of intense, adrenaline-filled conflict photojournalism, the chapter serves as a bedrock to fully understand Addario’s roots and values that drove her to pursue such a career. 

Ask the Editors: What we’re bringing with us in the new year

  QUESTION: What are you bringing to the new year? With a new year and new semester often comes new goals, habits and more. However, the Daily Lobo editors are looking back on our past and deciding what we want to keep with us as we move forward. Here’s a glance at some of our favorite things, whether it’s film, television, books or sports, for you to peruse. Megan’s Pick: SHOW: “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry At a time when you often feel like you need an escape, you can find one from the living room of your own home in the “Star Trek” universe.

ASK THE EDITORS: Lobo Wrapped 2021

  To the dismay of Apple Music users, the highly anticipated Spotify Wrapped is finally here with a data collection packaged in fun colors and quirky attempts at humor. To commemorate this annual event, the Daily Lobo editors decided to give readers a peek behind the curtain at their top songs. Shelby’s No. 1 Song: “Future Days” by Pearl Jam  Pearl Jam’s “Future Days” had an immediate impact on my psyche. Their hit became an earworm last year when I first played my now-favorite video game, “The Last of Us Part II,” and was touched by how it was integrally woven into the game’s narrative. Fast forward one year later and I still can’t get the song out of my head.

Silent Lights: A raving success

  In a sea of red, blue and green headphones inside Johnson Center, students raved to seemingly inaudible sound and sang aloud to songs no onlooker could hear. Strobe lights pulsed to silent beats and a panel of DJs, all within feet of each other, spun records through the airwaves. The event, put on by the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico and aptly named “Silent Lights,” drew hundreds to the campus recreation center on Nov. 5 for the unique take on a homecoming dance. Control of the party was put in the hands of the partygoers, armed with wireless headphones featuring volume control and the ability to choose between three different music stations at a time.

Sea of cherry and silver

OPINION: Public schools maintain tight grip on student speech despite recent ruling

  Protection of the First Amendment in high school has long been debated, and the Supreme Court often rules against the protections of the student. This just solidifies the feeling of powerlessness so many teenagers feel by eroding what should be their fundamental rights to free speech and free expression. Facing such a maelstrom, small victories should be celebrated wherever they may come. Last month, one such victory arrived with the news of the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Brandi Levy, a Pennsylvania high school girl whose words — specifically, “fuck school, fuck softball, fuck cheer, fuck everything” — were reaffirmed as protected under the First Amendment.

Despite $10M federal bailout, UNM athletics budget remains in deficit

  At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the University of New Mexico’s Athletics budget was left bleeding. University Stadium sat eerily quiet, devoid of cheering fans, the air notably lacking the smell of concession hot dogs and beer, and The Pit’s blaring airhorn, once signaling the end of a decisive quarter, lay silent. And a massive, multi-million dollar deficit loomed amid the empty stands. But the U.S. government offered a saving grace in late December: federal stimulus money allocated for colleges and universities through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds II (HEERF II). 

UNM’s proposed COVID-19 vaccine policy draws support, objections and legal questions

The University of New Mexico revealed a draft proposal on May 3 that would require COVID-19 vaccinations of most students, staff and faculty in order to attend the University in person for the coming fall semester, drawing both praise and scrutiny from UNM community members. The short proposal has not received a final ruling from the University administration. Instead, UNM’s “Bring Back the Pack” website has installed a feedback button alongside the link to the proposal, encouraging those who read it to provide their thoughts.

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UNM Athletic Director, Eddie Nunez, speaks to the Board of Regents about the Multimedia Rights Contract for Athletics at Tuesday's meeting.