DAILY LOBO new mexico
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The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
September 21, 2012
Fliers spur more protest
RALLY THE TROOPS
by Antonio Sanchez news@dailylobo.com
Juan Labreche / Daily Lobo UNM head football coach Bob Davie addresses the crowd during Red Rally on Thursday night at Johnson Field. The pep rally was held to mark the 104th meeting between UNM and NMSU in football. “This right here is what college football is all about. This is what the University of New Mexico is about,” Davie said. “This place has unlimited potential, and we’re going to reach that potential. I promise you that.” Kickoff is Saturday at 6 p.m. at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces. See photo essay on page 2 and game preview on page 3.
UNM students gathered in Smith Plaza on Thursday afternoon as a student held up a sign that said “F**k these guys.” The student was protesting pro-life advocates who gathered there on Tuesday. UNM student Dyllan Griffin said his one-man protest was directed at 40 Days for Life, in response to the antiabortion posters displayed on Tuesday that many students have called racist. He said his protest was an effort to expose the truth of the organization’s religious agenda. “They claim to say that they were representing Christianity, not the religion and not the church, but they are representatives from Calvary Chapel, they are preachers out here preaching,” he said. “I came out here to promote the discourse of what they’re doing. I’d rather stand here and stand for something than walk by and shake my head.” Griffin stood near the organization’s booth as he held the sign. He
see Protesters PAGE 6
Student finds confidence, happiness in dresses by Ardee Napolitano news@dailylobo.com
UNM student Alexander Burel said he started wearing costumes of female anime characters about a month ago in an attempt to improve his self-esteem. Burel, 23, recently dyed his hair blue and sometimes wears a pink and white dress and red shoes similar to Madoka Kaname, the protagonist of the anime series “Puella Magi Madoka Magica.” “I think I might be cross-dresser, I might be transgendered. I’m not really sure. But it feels more natural to wear these kinds of stuff. I figured why be miserable longer than I have to, basically,” he said. “It makes me happy. I have a … great deal more self-confidence and (I’m) generally happier when I’m wearing this kind of stuff.” Burel said that although he started wearing costumes in public, the urge to dress up in colorful and flamboyant clothing began when he was a child. “When I was in fourth grade, the entire fourth grade had to do a play and we all had to wear makeup,” he said. “Most of the boys hated the idea, but while I did too at first, I wound up liking the idea. Then it kind of progressed into wearing skirts and stuff.”
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Burel said he started crossdressing when he was still living with his parents, but his parents wouldn’t let him dress up in public because “they were not thrilled with the idea.” He said he started wearing costumes in public when he moved out to Lobo Village. Burel said that even though he can’t wear a costume to work because his job at Dairy Queen requires him to wear a uniform, he wears costumes as often as he can. Burel’s wardrobe is composed of about 12 anime character costumers, including Sailor Moon, the main character from the popular ‘90s anime series of the same name. The costume includes big red bows and a blue-and-white schoolgirl uniform, but he said he has many other schoolgirl uniforms with shoes that match. Burel said the costumes cost about $130 each and that he finds good deals online, but wishes he could make the outfits by himself. “I wish I could sew, believe me,” he said. Burel said people have had mixed reactions to his choice in fashion, but that most reactions are positive. He said his four roommates don’t seem to mind his outfits and that he loves being appreciated. “The most common reaction is, ‘I love your outfit,’” he said. “The
second most common reaction is, ‘Did you lose a bet?’” Burel said that even though some people enjoy his costumes, he’s been ridiculed in the past, but has learned not to care about negative reactions. “Some people kept calling me (names), a few kept making sarcastic comments, but it doesn’t matter … I’m really bad at detecting sarcasm anyway,” he said. “If someone has a problem with what I’m doing, I won’t want to know him anyway.” Ardee Napolitano / Daily Lobo Burel said that UNM student Alexander Burel said he wears female anime character costumes almost every day in an effort what he is doing may to improve his self-esteem. Burel started wearing costumes in public after he moved out of his parents’ house appear weird to some, because he wasn’t allowed to wear them in public while he lived with them. but he believes that people’s perception of but he refused to elaborate. He said people embrace who they really are, what is normal is broader now than it’s “complicated.” they will get the recognition they deit was in the past. He said society “Let’s just go with saying I’m bi- serve sooner than they think. has become “a lot more tolerant and sexual,” he said. “I’d rather not go “I was miserable until a few weeks reasonable.” into the details of that.” ago,” he said. “I’ve had 90 percent “It’s a good kind of weird,” he Burel said he offers advice to bad days, and 10 percent good days. said. “I think I look pretty good in people who are mocked because of Now it’s like 70 percent good days this.” the way they express their sexuality and 30 percent bad days. So things Burel said he expresses his sexu- by encouraging them to just do what will definitely get better, and I know ality through his choice in fashion, they think is right. He said that if that sounds like a total cliché.”
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