UNM Board of Regents votes to amend free speech policies
By Leila Chapa & Paloma Chapa @lchapa06
& @paloma_chapa88
During a governance committee meeting on Dec. 5, 2024, members of the University of New Mexico Board of Regents passed amendments to UNM’s free speech policies, which will allow groups to rent spaces for speaker events at UNM regardless of the nature of their speech.
Robert Schwartz and Paula Tackett, the committee meeting’s two regent attendees, voted on amendments to the Regents’ Policy Manual Section 2.1: Free Expression and Advocacy, Section 2.2: Speakers from Off Campus and Section 2.8: Visitors to the University. The amendments went into effect Dec. 19.
In a statement to the Daily Lobo, UNM Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair wrote that the policy amendments “reaffirm the Board of Regents’ commitment to uphold the tenets of the First Amendment, provide clarification of what constitutes protected speech … and the expectations the University has for visitors to our campus.”
UNM Interim General Counsel Scot Sauder said during the Dec. 5 meeting that controversial groups such as Turning Point USA or the Ku Klux Klan will be allowed to rent spaces at UNM by using objective criteria that is not dependent on the nature of the speech that will occur.
“The use of a University venue or the sponsorship of an off-campus speaker by a University unit does not amount
to University endorsement of the content of the event or the views expressed,” Section 2.2 reads.
The updated policy also states that regents will “condemn conduct that includes discriminatory, stereotypical, and derogatory speech targeted at one or more students and individuals based upon their actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, citizenship, or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity.”
During an interview with the Daily Lobo, Schwartz said that while UNM can have principles of equity and inclusion, a group like the KKK has the right to talk about why these principles are “bad.”
“But the University has a right to respond and say, ‘We recognize your right to participate in speech on campus. We disagree with you as a matter of policy,’” Schwartz said.
It is a person’s First Amendment right to make any speech, Schwartz said, as long as there is not an imminent threat of lawless behavior at the University.
“If someone says, ‘Grab a stick, light it on fire, we’re gonna go to the union to burn it down,’ then there’s a chance that that might happen, and that’s no longer protected speech,” he said.
During the Dec. 5 committee meeting, Sauder said the amendments to Section 2.8 are related to the pro-Palestine Duck Pond encampment that began in April 2024.
“It seeks to make it very clear that folks are welcome, but if asked to leave, they need to leave,” Sauder said during the meeting.
see Free speech policies page 9
New Mexico legislative session begins
By Addison Fulton @dailylobo
The 2025 New Mexico legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 21 and ends March 22. This session marks New Mexico’s 57th legislative session.
Legislative sessions occur in New Mexico annually. Sessions last 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years.
During legislative sessions, New Mexico lawmakers meet to discuss and rule on various proposed bills.
In order for a bill to make it to the docket, it must be sponsored by a member of Congress, then
bill introduced to New Mexico Legislature
By Addison Fulton @dailylobo
Ahead of the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, Rep. Christine Chandler (D) sponsored House Bill 60, the Artificial Intelligence Act, which seeks to mitigate algorithmic discrimination. Algorithmic discrimination is any condition in which the use of an artificial intelligence system results in unlawful differential treatment of a person based on their ethnicity, gender, disability and other groups legally protected from discrimination, according to the bill.
The legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 21 and ends March 22.
Examples of algorithmic discrimination have been found in algorithms like COMPAS, or Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions, which is meant to calculate the odds that a defendant will reoffend.
COMPAS flvagged almost twice as many false positives for Black people than white people, according to a 2016 ProPublica investigation.
In 2018, The Guardian revealed that Amazon’s AI hiring tool had a bias against women — often rejecting resumes with women’s names or women’s colleges.
HB 60 requires that developers of “high-risk” artificial intelligence systems — defined by the bill as “any artificial intelligence system that when deployed makes or is a substantial factor in making a consequential decision” — document its use, disclose algorithmic discrimination and implement risk management policies and impact assessments.
Developers must disclose to AI software users a summary of
referred to and discussed by a committee. Each piece of legislation is typically referred to two or three committees, according to the State Legislature handbook.
Committee hearings are open to testimony by the public.
Once a committee makes a decision about a bill — Do Pass, Do Pass As Amended, Do Not Pass, Without Recommendation or Without Recommendation As Amended — the full House of Representatives and Senate can decide whether to adopt the committee’s recommendation, according to the State Legislature handbook. A bill can also be tabled in a committee.
If a “favorable committee report”
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is adopted, the bill is debated and voted on. For a bill to pass, there must be a quorum — simple majority — present and a majority vote, according to the handbook.
The procedure repeats in the other chamber of Congress, where a bill must also pass to move on. Then, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham may sign the bill, veto it or — if it carries an appropriation — partially veto it, according to the handbook. The Legislature can override Lujan Grisham’s veto with a two-thirds vote.
As of Sunday, Jan. 19, over 100 bills have been introduced for the 2025 legislative session.
the data that was used to train the system, the actions the developer took to prevent algorithmic discrimination, possible biases within the system and whether studies on performance were peer-reviewed, according to the bill.
In the event of a “risk-incident” — defined by the bill as “an incident when a developer discovers or receives a credible report from a deployer that a high-risk artificial intelligence system offered or made available by the developer has caused or is reasonably likely to have caused algorithmic discrimination” — the developer must provide to the New Mexico Department of Justice a comprehensive list of all known users of the software, as well as a copy of all documentation the developer provided users, within 90 days.
Chandler told the Daily Lobo she wanted a bill that would mitigate the potential negative consequences of the use of algorithms embedded with bias, discrimination and inaccurate information.
The bill necessitates that any corporate entity using customer-facing AI must disclose to the customer that they are interacting with an AI system. If software developers fail to comply with the legislation, a consumer may bring a civil action in district court against a developer or deployer, according to the bill.
“This is not what some people refer to as a message bill,” Chandler said. “It’s a bill that impacts people, and as a result, I’m dedicated to trying to make sure it moves forward.”
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
To contact a New Mexico representative about local bills, constituents can use the “Find My Legislator” tool available on the New Mexico Legislature website.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Some of these bills include the Librarian Protection Act, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act and the Trade Ports Development Act. All bills that will be discussed this legislative session and their status can be found on the New Mexico Legislature website.
Illustrated by Leila Chapa
Guild Cinema screens documentary on the science
By Addison Fulton & Elijah Ritch @dailylobo
On Saturday, Jan. 18, Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema hosted a screening of the documentary “The Right to Read.” The event was presented by the May Center for Learning and the International Dyslexia Association-Southwest Branch. The proceeds went to benefit May Center students.
The May Center, which is located in Santa Fe and led by Executive Director and co-founder Amy Miller, is an organization focused on empowering “students with learning differences to be successful, confident learners,” according to the mission statement on its website.
The organization has multiple programs, including the May School, which serves students through eighth grade with learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD and language processing disorder.
The May Center also includes the May Teacher Institute, where it instructs educators on how to properly teach children with learning disabilities. The May Teacher Institute offers a Dyslexia Specialist National Certification Program, which is the first Structured Literacy teacher preparation program in the state to be accredited by the International Dyslexia Association, according to its website.
“The Right to Read” is a documentary focusing on teachers and students in public schools during their journeys to teach and learn to read. The film primarily follows Kareem Weaver, a teacher and activist from Oakland, California.
Weaver’s advocacy promotes a curriculum based in the science of reading, meaning the use of struc-
tured literacy, which starts with sounds and phonics — versus “whole language,” which is based around memorizing words. The documentary cited the rise of whole language curriculum as one cause of illiteracy.
The documentary additionally follows the parents and teachers of students working to teach children to read, and it details the struggles caused by whole language learning.
One teacher, Sabrina Causey, secretly changed the curriculum she felt wasn’t working.
“She took a risk to introduce the science of reading in her classroom and saw incredible results,” as the film’s webpage explains.
Structured literacy is especially helpful for kids who struggle with reading, according to the Stern Center for Language and Learning.
“Literacy is our greatest civil right,”
Weaver said in the documentary. “If you can’t read, you can’t access anything in our society.”
After the film, a Q&A session was held. Panelists included Miller; Megan Rosker, the director of outreach for the May Center; Paloma Ramos, a student of the May School; her mother Tanya Ramos, co-chair of the May Families Committee; President Pro Tempore Sen. Mimi Stewart (D) and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.
Stewart explained her history and plans for developing New Mexico’s education system and literacy rates. She was an educator before becoming a legislator and has been working to improve the reading curriculum in New Mexico for 30 years, she said.
“In 2019, Senate Bill 398 passed. It required first grade teachers to screen their students for dyslexia. It required them, though this was the most impor-
tant thing, to get training in structured literacy,” Stewart said. “And finally, we are now at the place where I’m carrying a bill from the governor that will put the requirement to teach reading according to the science of reading in our state statutes.”
Stewart also voiced a message of resilience and confidence regarding her work and potential upcoming changes to the federal Department of Education under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
“We don’t think that they can just change the Department of Education the way they’re thinking about it,” Stewart said. “It’s just a crazy idea if they do away with the Department of Education, it impacts maybe 25% of the funding that we get … We’re squirreling money away in case stuff like that happens; we feel like we’re going to have the ability to be flexible, but I don’t think he can do that.”
When asked what advice she would give to another child struggling with a learning disability, Paloma Ramos said it’s never too late to reach out, learn and get help.
Keller shared his own experience growing up with dyslexia and difficulty reading. He said that school was challenging, but he found that himself and many other kids developed “compensatory skills,” which also served them in other ways.
“I always try and tell parents or kids who are going through this kind of thing … get accommodation as soon as you can,” Keller said. “You have to let dyslexics know that they have a superpower … the modern version of superheroes is they’re all tragically flawed.”
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Elijah Ritch is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. They can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Photo
By Emmett Di Mauro & Elijah Ritch @dailylobo
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque is presenting the Sci-Fi & Sci-Fact exhibition until June. The exhibit “explores the ways that science fiction and scientific fact overlap and help create our modern world,” according to the museum’s website.
The exhibit is on loan from the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, where it initially debuted in December 2023.
The exhibit explores the relationship between science fiction, scientific inventions and the future via displays that include memorabilia and props from books, films and television shows. Information plaques on the walls throughout the exhibit provide additional con -
text on how science fiction has shaped reality and opened “doors for tomorrow’s creators.”
A display of books in the exhibit showcases modern ideas that were conceived of in literature before their invention in real life. The display mentions the term “TASER” as an acronym for “Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle” from the 1911 novel “Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle” by Victor Appleton.
On this note, defibrillators are traced back to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and credit cards are traced to Edward Bellamy’s “Looking Backward.” Headphones as commonly used modern items are first found in Ray Bradbury’s novel “Fahrenheit 451.”
Among memorabilia included in the exhibition are props from “Star Trek: The Original Series” to demonstrate their relationship to modern technology, such as the infamous Communicator and its similarity to cellphones. Likewise, the
Newspads from “2001: A Space Odyssey” and similar props from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” are mentioned with the claim that “today’s modern tablet computers have their genesis in” these science fiction concepts.
Other notable props are the suit worn by Dr. Lazarus — played by Alan Rickman — in “Galaxy Quest” and a “Ceremonial Rebel Trooper” costume from the Throne Room scene at the end of 1977’s “Star Wars IV: A New Hope.” A full-scale working replica of R2-D2 also makes an appearance.
The exhibit also touches upon New Mexico’s connection to science fiction. A display called “Enchanted Sci-Fi: New Mexico Authors” discusses the contributions of writers such as George Harry Stine, Jack Williamson, Rebecca Roanhorse and Stephen McCranie to the American literary tradition of science fiction.
Another display mentions the myriad of science fiction films that
have been shot in New Mexico, beginning with 1959’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” which was filmed partly in Carlsbad Caverns, and continuing into the 21st century with one of the sets for the 2009 film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” being built on the White Sands Missile Range.
The exhibition makes a point about how careers are shaped by science fiction. A display mentions that a 2022 survey showed that 69% of the respondents said science fiction influenced their careers and life choices. The sideby-side of a fictional spaceman and a real-life astronaut demonstrates the relationship in which these “two worlds collide” and influence each other, according to the exhibit.
Some multimedia installations are also featured, further highlighting the importance of film and television in the popularity of science fiction.
French filmmaker Georges Méliès’ seminal 1902 short film “A Trip to the
Moon” can be seen on repeat in the exhibition room, along with a compilation of scenes from different sci-fi films and television shows such as “Firefly” and the 2004 reboot of “Battlestar Galactica.”
The Sci-Fi & Sci-Fact exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science invites visitors to look at both the past and future. As one of the exhibition placards states: “The question remains … where does it go from here?”
Emmett Di Mauro is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Elijah Ritch is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. They can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
By Maria Fernandez @dailylobo
Featuring celebrity panels, meet and greets and multiple areas for vendors to sell artwork and memorabilia, the Albuquerque Comic Con sold out of tickets for its Saturday events.
Celebrity guests and fans alike were excited to be in attendance, including “Better Call Saul” and “Xena: Warrior Princess” star Patrick Fabian, who
made his first Albuquerque Comic Con appearance. He said he was surprised by the large turnout.
“I know a lot of people here because I shot ‘Better Call Saul’ for three seasons, so there are a lot of people who I just know from the neighborhood who came out to say hi,” Fabian said. “That’s New Mexico friendly.”
Multiple “Breaking Bad” stars returned to the Duke City for the event, including Raymond Cruz and Dean Norris, as well as local star and Bernalillo County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada.
Other celebrity guests, including Ashley Greene and Peter Facinelli of “Twilight,” Sean Astin and Elijah Wood of “The Lord of The Rings” and Jared Padalecki of “Supernatural” made appearances throughout the three-day event.
Fans Samantha and Patrick O’Sullivan made their third visit to Comic Con to meet some of their favorite actors and shop for art and collectable items.
“My favorite part of the Comic Con is finding unique dice,” Samantha O’Sullivan said. “I have to limit myself to a set a year or I will spend our whole budget.”
Originally, 130 celebrity attendees were announced, and despite cancellations due to the recent wildfires plaguing Los Angeles, around the same number of guests was still set to appear as of Jan. 16, according to
coordinator Cody Smith-Candelaria.
Comic Con faced controversy after announcing this year’s guest list due to the presence of Kevin Spacey’s name. In 2017, the actor was accused of sexual assault or misconduct by 15 people, according to USA Today. Spacey was found not guilty of nine counts of sexual offenses in the United Kingdom last year, and not liable for battery in New York in 2022, according to CNN.
A community member organized a petition to boycott Comic Con due to Spacey’s expected appearance, which garnered 131 signatures.
Albuquerque Comic Con Promoter Jim Burleson doubled down on his decision to host Spacey in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal.
“The inclusion of Kevin Spacey was based on all of his relevant work to pop culture,” Burleson told the Albuquerque Journal. “He was acquitted of the crimes he was accused of so we hope that our community will welcome him or at least accept the due process of our legal system … I’m squarely against the idea of letting an angry mob determine what is or isn’t acceptable.”
Burleson did not respond to the Daily Lobo’s request for comment.
Maria Fernandez is a beat reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
The Albuquerque Comic Con held its 15th annual gathering at the Albuquerque Convention Center the weekend of Friday, Jan. 17.
The Zia Ghostbusters pose for a photo during the 2025 Albuquerque Comic Con on Friday, Jan. 17.
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
DAILY LOBO
Men’s Basketball: Lobos dismantle Broncos
By Rodney Prunty @rprunty05
The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team was able to get back in the win column as it put on a show at The Pit against another conference opponent, the Boise State Broncos on Friday, Jan. 17. Coming off of a disappointing 71-70 loss to conference opponent San José State, the Lobos outplayed and outcoached Boise State. The Lobos blew out the Broncos 84-65.
erywhere on the floor — one moment making a flashy pass to a teammate, the next doing an impressive finish at the rim. Donovan Dent was just doing Donovan Dent things.
The Lobos finished the game defensively with nine steals and forced Boise State to turn the ball over 17 times. In the end, the Lobos sent the Broncos back to Boise with a loss.
first half it went according to plan — about as good as I’ve seen.” With the win, the Lobos now move to 15-4 on the season going 7-1 in conference play.
Throughout the first half, it was clear Boise State had no answer for the Lobos’ offense, and a big reason for that was guard Donovan Dent. Dent was ev-
“He is a great player,” Head Coach Richard Pitino said. “We are really lucky to have him.”
Dent helped the offense flow by getting others involved, such as center Nelly Junior Joseph, who dominated throughout the first half, as he was hard to stop down low. The offense wasn’t the only thing that was clicking for the Lobos — their defense was just as good. The Lobos’ defense was tough to score on and did not give Boise State any easy buckets.
When halftime rolled around, the defense was able to hold the Broncos to an abysmal 9-25 (36%), shooting from the field going 1-12 (8.3%) from three. The Lobos led 48-21 at the break.
Coming out of halftime and moving into the second half, it was more of the same. The Lobos’ offense had the hot hand and never looked back, hitting shot after shot while they played tremendous defense on the other end of the court.
Dent finished the game with 16 points on 6-12 shooting while dishing out seven assists, while Junior Joseph also finished with 16 points, grabbing nine rebounds along the way.
Forward Jovan Milicevic said he believes the team had a chip on its shoulder coming into this game due to the San José loss.
“Obviously you don’t want to lose in conference at all,” Milicevic said. “We started 6-0 and we lost that one, so we just had to stay on top of it coming in here.”
The game plan for the Broncos was also very well-thought out, and it was clear Pitino and his staff had set up a path to win.
“We had to be aggressive with (Alvaro) Cardenas on ball screens. He really is a wizard passing the ball, so we had to take away his vision,” Pitino said. “We really wanted to try and crowd (Tyson) Degenhart. He’s terrific as well, and in the
Rodney Prunty is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @rprunty05
OPINION: Bobbleheads of the week — NFL Wild Card edition
By Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh @kubiakizabella
Wild Card Weekend came to an exciting conclusion when six NFL teams advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs.
However, with great success also comes disappointment, as the losing teams grappled with teammates whose bad performances crumbled a potential run at a Super Bowl. These players are favorably called bobbleheads.
With a long road ahead for AFC and NFC contenders that advanced, here is a list of bobbleheads who helped buy their team a ticket to Cancun instead.
The Minnesota Vikings faced off against the Los Angeles Rams on Mon-
day, Jan. 13 in what should have been a close, nail-biting season conclusion. Instead, what happened was nothing short of a Viking fail in State Farm Stadium. With a wildfire at home and in the heart of the makeshift Rams house, the Vikings were sorely defeated.
The first bobblehead of the week is Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who struggled during the game.
Darnold threw for 245 yards on 25-of-40 passing with a touchdown and an interception. Darnold also seemed to hold onto the ball way longer than he should have, getting him sacked nine times, which is also partially on his offensive line.
In the 27-9 blowout loss against the Rams, Darnold was unable to capitalize on offense and played
what looked like panicky football, pulling Vikings fans from one of their best regular season records in franchise history.
The Green Bay Packers fell to the Philadelphia Eagles Jan. 12, losing 2210 on the road. One Packers player who earned the title as a bobblehead was cornerback and kick returner Keisean Nixon, who notably fumbled the opening kickoff return, leading to an early Eagles touchdown that set the tone for the night.
Nixon’s lost fumble was the first in a series of blunders in a 22-10 loss. Nixon also faced one of two unnecessary roughness calls during the game and was repeatedly outplayed on the field.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost what could have been a winnable game to the Washington Commanders
at home Jan. 12 after a sea of mistakes.
One player who walked the plank into bobblehead recognition was quarterback Baker Mayfield, who fumbled on a simple jet sweep that set up the Commanders on the Tampa 13-yard line — a drive the Commanders capitalized on to score a touchdown.
On top of that, Mayfield’s inability to gain offensive momentum cost his team a trip to the divisional playoff round and sent his team into unfamiliar waters.
The Los Angeles Chargers were dominated by an injury-ridden Houston Texans team Jan. 11, losing 32-12 in the first round of the playoffs.
The Chargers couldn’t get the offense kickstarted, and a big reason for that was quarterback Justin Her-
bert playing like a bobblehead. Herbert played one of his worst games of the season, throwing four interceptions, which is more than he’s thrown in 18 weeks of the regular season. Herbert went 14-of-32 for 242 yards with one touchdown, along with the previously mentioned four interceptions. His lackluster performance crippled the Chargers’ offense, which crumbled underneath the Texans’ defense for a weak first playoff appearance since 2022.
Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobocom or on X @kubiakizabella
How the Trump presidency might affect UNM
By Dylan Anthony @dailylobo
In October 2023, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would close the Department of Education during his administration. It is unlikely that this idea will gain traction, according to NPR.
The DOE provides funding for public schools and higher educa-
tion. It also awards funding, such as federal Pell Grants, to undergraduate students with financial need, according to the DOE.
Any defunding of the DOE could result in changes for New Mexican education through less federal funding and less oversight of educational systems, according to Bailey Rutherford, senate president pro tempore of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico.
UNM is a Hispanic-serving institu-
tion, and it receives federal grants for having this status, Rutherford said.
“If dismantling of the education department occurs, HSI funding will be lost,” Rutherford said.
HSIs are eligible for Title V grants, according to UNM. A Title V grant of nearly $2.7 million over five years was awarded to UNM’s Valencia campus in 2020, according to UNM Valencia.
50.5% of undergraduate students at UNM’s main campus are Hispanic,
according to 2023 UNM data.
Aside from funding, the DOE also ensures Title IX protection in education.
Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the DOE. Universities and public schools that are not compliant with Title IX cannot receive federal funding, according to the DOE.
Trump’s removal of the DOE could take away these same protections, according to Inside Higher Ed.
However, it is unlikely that Trump will be able to shut down the department alone or at all, according to The Guardian. In 2023, 60 House Republicans voted no on abolishing the DOE, according to the BBC.
Dylan Anthony is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobocom or on X @dailylobo
Center Nelly Junior Joseph (#23) waits for the right moment to make a basket during the UNM vs. Boise State game at The Pit on Friday, Jan. 17. The Lobos won 84-65.
Guard Donovan Dent (#2) goes for a layup during the UNM vs. Boise State game at The Pit on Friday, Jan. 17. The Lobos won 84-65.
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
REVIEW: Ethel Cain confronts listeners
By Elijah Ritch @dailylobo
On Jan. 8, alternative musician
Ethel Cain released her newest project, “Perverts.” This marks her first release since her 2022 debut album “Preacher’s Daughter,” which garnered Cain critical acclaim and a devoted cult following.
Ethel Cain, aka Hayden Anhedönia, is also a character and the protagonist of much of the artist’s discography. Her work encompasses a wide range of genres and styles, from Springsteenesque heartland rock to haunting, epic ballads. Cain frequently explores themes like generational trauma, religious indoctrination — particularly growing up Queer in an evangelical Christian community —
and sexual violence.
After the release of her debut album, Cain “wrote on Tumblr about the ‘irony epidemic’ that had turned her dead-serious lyrics about sex, death and the divine into meme fodder,” according to Stereogum.
Thus, on “Perverts,” Cain purposefully disrupts the intimate relationship her fans developed with “Preacher’s Daughter.” She is not even deeming the release a studio album, instead referring to it as a “project,” “body of work” and “an EP” in press releases. It’s clear that Cain is focused on making music that will mean a lot to a small group of people.
Cain’s new project sounds nothing like her debut record. The songs on “Perverts” are sparse, ambient and inscrutable.
The project opens with the title
track, a 12-minute piece that is inspired by the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, according to a post on Cain’s Tumblr.
“I’ve always had a fascination with great brutalist structures, but something about the smokestacks, cooling towers, and other twisted entrails of the power plants of Pennsylvania truly changed the way I see the world and my place in it last year,” she wrote in the post.
Cain repeats “heaven has forsaken the masturbator” multiple times throughout the track. The phrase connects to the central idea of the project: exploring what mainstream society — particularly heteronormative, Christian society — considers to be “perversions.”
“Punish,” also the lead single
from “Perverts,” tells a more discernible story. On her Tumblr, Cain explained that the song is about a “pedophile who was shot by the child’s father and now lives in exile where he physically maims himself to simulate the bullet wound in order to punish himself.”
Cain presents the story in an objective manner in an attempt to understand what drives people to such horrible actions. It’s hard to stomach, but it’s real.
“Vacillator” is another of the project’s more conventional tracks, further exploring the complicated manifestations of attraction. The protagonist of the song expresses a warped sense of desire for another — “I like that sound you make when you’re crawling at the edge and with-
out escape” — but then immediately recedes into shame and insecurity — “If you love me, keep it to yourself.”
The two longest tracks on “Perverts” are “Housofpsychoticwomn” and “Pulldrone,” which clock in at 13 and 15 minutes, respectively. The latter is easily the most challenging track on “Perverts.”
On “Pulldrone,” Cain takes inspiration from French philosopher Jean Baudrillard’s 1981 text “Simulacra and Simulation,” wherein he discusses the concept of a simulacra — a copy of something for which no original exists. Cain developed her own 12 Pillars of Simulacrum, which she lists on the track.
“I hate change but I need change, see ‘Perverts’ page 9
HAPS
Entertainment Guide
Monday
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe
Chai Happy Hour 3-5pm
Monday: 8am-8pm
2201 Silver Avenue SE
Big Ass Cookies
Order delicious sweets online!
@bigasscookiesllc oterolane@yahoo.com 505-550-9478
Birthright of Albuquerque
Providing love, support, and hope to woman both before and after childbirth.
birthright.org/albuquerque
New Volunteers Always Welcome
Monday 10AM-1PM
3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept. Buy Pizza, Wings and more with LoboCash through Grubhub
11 AM - 10 PM
215 Central Ave, NW 87102 (505) 766-6973
Quirky Used Books & More
Books, Puzzles, Stickers, Mugs, Etc. Mon: 11am – 6pm
120 Jefferson St NE
Sunshine Theater
Check out sunshinetheaterlive.com for more showings!
120 Central Ave SW, 87102
Test With Truman Be Empowered. Know Your Status. Walk in HIV Testing
Monday: 8am-noon 801 Encino Pl NE
Tuesday
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe
Chai Happy Hour 3-5pm
Tuesday: 8am-8pm
2201 Silver Avenue SE
Big Ass Cookies
Order delicious sweets online!
@bigasscookiesllc oterolane@yahoo.com
505-550-9478
Birthright of Albuquerque
Providing love, support, and hope to woman both before and after childbirth.
birthright.org/albuquerque
New Volunteers Always Welcome Tuesday 10AM-1PM 3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept. Buy Pizza, Wings and more with LoboCash through Grubhub 11 AM - 10 PM
215 Central Ave, NW 87102 (505) 766-6973
Quirky Used Books & More
More than 16,000 Used Books Tue: 11am – 6pm 120 Jefferson St NE
Sunshine Theater
Check out sunshinetheaterlive.com for more showings!
120 Central Ave SW, 87102
Test With Truman Be Empowered. Know Your Status. Walk in HIV Testing
Tuesday: 1pm-5pm 801 Encino Pl NE
Wednesday
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe Chai Happy Hour 3-5pm
Wednesday: 8am-8pm 2201 Silver Avenue SE
Big Ass Cookies
Order delicious sweets online! @bigasscookiesllc oterolane@yahoo.com 505-550-9478
Birthright of Albuquerque
Providing love, support, and hope to woman both before and\ after childbirth. birthright.org/albuquerque
New Volunteers Always Welcome Wednesday 10AM-1PM 3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept.
Buy Pizza, Wings and more with LoboCash through Grubhub 11 AM - 10 PM 215 Central Ave, NW 87102 (505) 766-6973
Quirky Used Books & More Fiction & Nonfiction Wed: 11am – 6pm 120 Jefferson St NE
Sunshine Theater Check out sunshinetheaterlive.com for more showings! 120 Central Ave SW, 87102
Test With Truman Be Empowered. Know Your Status. 801 Encino Pl NE 505-272-1312
Thursday
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe Chai Happy Hour 3-5pm Thursday: 8am-8pm 2201 Silver Avenue SE
Big Ass Cookies
Order delicious sweets online! @bigasscookiesllc oterolane@yahoo.com 505-550-9478
Birthright of Albuquerque
Providing love, support, and hope to woman both before and after childbirth. birthright.org/albuquerque New Volunteers Always Welcome Thursday 10AM-1PM 3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept.
Buy Pizza, Wings and more with LoboCash through Grubhub 11 AM - 10 PM 215 Central Ave, NW 87102 (505) 766-6973
The Lobo Living Room Presents... Swiftie-nomics: The Art, Industry, and Influence of Taylor Swift Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 5 p.m. UNM School of Architecture and Planning – George Pearl Hall Register now: unmalumni.com
Quirky Used Books & More Books, Puzzles, Stickers, Mugs, Etc. Thu: 11am
JC’s New York Pizza Dept. Buy Pizza, Wings and more with LoboCash through Grubhub 11 AM - 12 PM 215 Central Ave, NW 87102 (505) 766-6973
HAPS
The Entertainment Guide
Saturday
Albuquerque Little Theatre
The Prom 7:30pm
224 San Pasquale SW
Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe
Chai Happy Hour 3-5pm Saturday: 8am-8pm
2201
Big Ass Cookies
Order
@bigasscookiesllc oterolane@yahoo.com 505-550-9478
JC’s New York Pizza Dept.
Buy Pizza, Wings and more with LoboCash through Grubhub 11 AM - 12 PM
215 Central Ave, NW 87102 (505) 766-6973
Quirky
Annapurna’s
JC’s New York Pizza Dept. Buy
Wings and more with LoboCash through Grubhub 11 AM - 10 PM
215 Central Ave, NW 87102 (505) 766-6973
Sunshine Theater
Check out sunshinetheaterlive.com for more showings!
120 Central Ave SW, 87102 Test With Truman Be Empowered. Know Your Status. 801 Encino Pl NE 505-272-1312
UNM Bookstore to begin charging flat rate for
By Jaden McKelveyFrancis @dailylobo
Editor’s note: This story was first published online Dec. 11.
Starting in the fall 2025 semester, the University of New Mexico Bookstore will implement a model that will charge undergraduate students the same flat rate for all textbooks, regardless of degree type or the number of credits they are taking.
According to a UNM Bookstore proposal presentation shared with the Daily Lobo, all students will be automatically opted into the new textbook model — called the Equitable Access model — but can choose to opt out.
The EA model is expected to cost students $296.46 per semester, according to UNM Open Educational Resources Librarian Jennifer Jordan, though this number is not yet finalized. In return, students will receive all of the materials necessary for their classes for the duration of the semester, according to UNM Bookstore Director Lisa Walden.
Under the current Inclusive Access model, students are automatically opted in to receive all their course materials but can choose to opt out on a course-by-course basis, while under EA, students cannot opt out on a course-by-course basis, according to Walden. If students opt out of the new model, they will instead need to manually opt into the IA model, Walden wrote to the Daily Lobo.
The proposed flat fee was calculated using data from the last academic year, according to Walden, and it is expected to be readjusted annually.
Currently, 57.8% of UNM students spend less than $300 per semester on textbooks, according to the presentation.
Jordan worries that students might not realize they have the opportunity to opt out of EA, she said.
“There is the chance for students who are in majors that don’t have as expensive books to be unintentionally charged more money than they would normally,” Jordan said.
The change could also disproportionately benefit certain departments over others, such
as the engineering department, Jordan said.
“They have really expensive books and materials,” Jordan said. “The students in that area would be the ones who would have the most relief.”
Textbooks for college STEM courses tend to cost more than textbooks for humanities courses, Vox reported.
The new EA model will not change how financial aid can be applied to textbook costs, according to Walden.
“Although the Opportunity and NM Lottery Scholarships do not currently cover course materials, other forms of financial aid, such as Pell Grants and both institutional and private scholarships can be utilized for
this purpose,” Walden wrote.
Jordan said the University can help lower textbook costs by creating more Open Educational Resources, which are free educational materials that professors make specifically for their classes. Jordan works with professors to help them create these resources.
Specific details of the EA
model — including its overall cost to students — could change prior to its implementation, according to Walden.
Jaden McKelvey-Francis is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Free speech policies from page 1
Blair wrote that the policies were updated to clarify the expectations of visitors when they are on campus, as well as the requirement for visitors to comply with UNM policy and the law.
“The encampment at the Duck Pond in 2024 prompted the University to review and clarify its policies related to free speech, changes in the law and visitors on our campus,” Blair wrote.
‘Perverts’ from page 3
and all the while change happened … completely apathetic to my own feelings towards it because in the grand scheme of things, I am nothing,” she wrote on her Tumblr. “Simulacrum became a spiritual vehicle for my own personal Ouroboros.”
If Section 2.8 is violated, an offender may be subject to disciplinary actions that include expulsion, barring from campus or arrest by law enforcement.
The policy changes received unanimous approval in committee, according to the Dec. 19 Regents meeting agenda. The amendments were posted alongside the agenda and are reflected on the UNM Policy Office website.
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo. com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo. com or on X @paloma_chapa88
The track closes with the hushed refrain of “It feels good.”
“Etienne” is primarily a quiet instrumental track until it’s broken up
The brooding, melancholic “Onanist” returns to the motif of masturbation as an expression of stifled desire, with the speaker declaring, “I want to know love; I want to know what it feels like.”
by a spoken-word piece about a suicidal man trying to induce a heart attack by running until he no longer wants to die. “Thatorchia” is an entirely instrumental piece that feels straight out of a horror movie climax.
“Amber Waves,” the final song on “Perverts,” returns to similar motifs
from “Preacher’s Daughter” — the picturesque beauty of the American plains and the grotesque underbelly that lies beneath it. The song is rapturous, fully enveloping the listener in Cain’s vision of the dark side of the American Dream.
“Perverts” is a difficult, enigmatic body of work, but one that is sure to reward patient listeners over time.
1
Elijah Ritch is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. They can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
PHOTO STORY: Coffee shops around campus
DAILY LOBO C ampus Calendar of Events ampus
Tuesday-Sunday , January 21 - January 26 , 2025 Events are free unless otherwise noted!
TUESDAY
Meetings
Info Sessions: Summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS)
Info Session & Q&A Latin American and Iberian Institute, Conference Room 1:00 – 3:00pm An information session about Summer Fellowships that are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students for intensive language training in a lesscommonly taught language.
WEDNESDAY
Campus Events
Welcome Back Days: Departmental & Greek Life
SUB, Atrium 11:30am – 1:00pm Stop by to get some information from campus departments and UNM fraternities and sororities. Learn about their services, programs, and the way they can improve the UNM experience.
Grad Student Welcome Back: Library Tours Zimmerman, Centennial Science & Engineering Library, oy Fine Arts & Design Library, Lobby 12:00 – 1:00pm
Graduate students are invited to learn more about University Libraries resources. These sessions will cover topics such as research tools, Zotero, and specialized AIenabled research tools. For this session come take a tour of the library of your choice (Zimmerman, Centennial Science & Engineering Library, and Fine Arts & Design Library).
Crafternoon Women’s Resource Center 12:00 – 2:00pm Hang out, relax, meet new people, and learn a new craft.
Grad Student Welcome Back: Library Tours Zimmerman, Centennial Science & Engineering Library, oy Fine Arts & Design Library, Lobby 3:00 – 4:00pm
Graduate students are invited to learn more about University Libraries resources. These sessions will cover topics such as research tools, Zotero, and specialized AIenabled research tools. For this
session come take a tour of the library of your choice (Zimmerman, Centennial Science & Engineering Library, and Fine Arts & Design Library).
Workshops
FAF$A-FOR-U Workshop Mesa Vista Hall, Room 1119 4:00 – 8:00pm Hosted by the American Indian Student Services.
Theater & Film
Mid Week Movies: Smile 2 SUB, Theater 6:00 – 9:00pm
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins to experience increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and pressures of fame, she must face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control. Sign-in at the movies.
Art & Music
Music from the Americas: Pablo
Betancourt Montes Keller Hall 7:30 – 9:00pm The performance will include the following pieces: Connor Chee (1987) – Three Navajo Preludes, Manuel M. Ponce (1882 – 1948) –Gavota, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) – Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue BWV 903, Arturo Márquez (1950) – Días de Mar y Río, Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Piano Sonata no. 17 Op.31 no.2 ( I. Largo – Allegro. II. Adagio. III. Allegretto), and Ernesto Nazareth (1863 – 1934) – Odeon (Tango Brasileiro) Op. 146. $15 general admission, $10 seniors and UNM employees, $10 students.
THURSDAY
Campus Events
FRIDAY
Campus Events
Ken Flores Comedy Show SUB, Ballrooms A&B 7:00 – 8:00pm Ken Flores is a Chicago based stand-up comedian. Known for his unfiltered and unapologetic humor. Come and get ready to be locked in your seat waiting to hear what crazy things he has to say next. Tickets are free for students and student ID is required. Up to 2 quest allowed per student.
To submit a calendar listing, email calendar@dailylobo.com
Frito Pie Friday LGBTQ+ Resource Center 12:00 – 2:00pm Meet the new student staff
Zendo Coffee offers an outdoor patio with benches and murals for guests to admire while they drink their coffee. Taken on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Coffee, located on Second
between Lead Avenue and Coal Avenue, offers locally roasted coffee, pastries and burritos. A woman-runand-owned small business, Zendo Coffee also hosts local pop-up events and monthly art shows. Taken on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Ihatov Bread and Coffee, located in Nob Hill, has bookshelves filled with novels and art books and a comfy outdoor patio. Taken on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Castle Coffee’s Albuquerque location is nestled in a quiet neighborhood on the edge of Downtown. Offering locally roasted coffee beans and craft-brewed coffees and lattes, Castle Coffee has ample space to sit and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Taken on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Humble Coffee has two locations in Albuquerque.
Pictured on Saturday, Jan. 18 is the Lomas Boulevard location, a few blocks east of the UNM main campus. The other location is Downtown. Humble Coffee sells a mixture of coffee products, bagels and donuts.
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
Maria Fernandez / Daily Lobo / @dailylobo
DAILY LOBO C ampus Calendar of Events Calendar
Tuesday-Sunday , January 21 - January 26 , 2025
Steffan & Quinton Vitelli-Hawkins, “Phasing” by Elan Retzlaff,“Lunacy Enabled Synodic Realignment (LESR)” by Austin Tecks & Amanda Stormyr, “madre luna” by Isabella Romero, “Grounding Moonlight” by Madison Hailey Emond. Enjoy an evening of art, conversation, and lunar wonder as the achievements of talented students are recognized.
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
NMMEA- All State Festival
Center 1:00 – 3:00pm This festival includes performances by the following groups: Vocal Jazz- 1:00pm, Jazz III- 1:30pm, Jazz II- 2:00pm, and Jazz I- 2:30pm. General admission is $10 and students are $5.
Oaxaca Ingobernable: Aesthetics, Politics, and Art from Below Through March 14, 2025
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
Oaxaca Ingobernable: Aesthetics, Politics, and Art from Below, explores subversive representations of embodied resistance by Indigenous and Black Oaxacan communities in Mexico and the United States through collaborative artmaking practices and largescale relief prints, on view in the Hibben Center and Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico.
“Nothing Left for Me”: Federal Policy and the Photography of Milton Snow in Diné Bikéyah
Through May 3, 2025
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
This exhibition foregrounds Diné perspectives on the intersecting and ongoing legacies of both photography and American colonialism.
Graphic Art and Revolution: Latin American Posters 1968-2000 Through May 17, 2025
UNM Art Museum
This exhibition features materials produced in response to populist, anti-imperialist, and anti-dictatorial revolutionary and resistance movements from 1968 to 2000. Representing a range of nations and organizations, it includes prints created in Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Cuba.
Pelton & Jonson: The Transcendent 1930s
Ongoing exhibit Raymond Jonson Gallery Paintings, drawings, and archival materials from the UNM Art Museum collection to illustrate the aesthetic achievements and personal connections between American painters Agnes Pelton
(1881-1961) and Raymond Jonson (1891-1982).
Ancestors
Permanent Exhibit
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
Ancestors will lead you through those aspects of modern humanity that makes us unique and successful tracing the path of evolution through the past four million years.
People of the Southwest
Permanent Exhibit
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
The exhibition celebrates the cultural history of the Southwest, especially the close relationship southwestern people have had with the land around them. Through time, the connection between people and land has produced a deep spiritual bond that continues today in the daily life of many communities
The Daily Lobo Calendar coordinator combs through 70 UNM calendars to find events for you!
Here are the restrictions for what appears in the Daily Lobo Calendar of Events:
* Events must be sponsored by a UNM group, organization or department
* Events must be in person
* Classes, class schedules, personal events or solicitations are not eligible.
* Events must be of interest to the campus community.
*
Illustrated by Elias Hernandez
Announcements
CLEARHEADEDNESS. COMPETIT IVENESS. CRYPTOCURRENCIES.
LOSE SOMETHING? FIND
SOMETHING? We can help! Ads (up to 25 words) are free in this category. To get your free ad, Call 505-277-5656 or email classifieds@dailylobo.com from your UNM email or come by Marron Hall 107. and show your UNM ID.
Services
LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST NEAR Nob Hill/UNM BodyWisdom-Acu.com.
DO YOU HAVE a service to offer the UNM community? To place an ad in this category, email classifieds@dailylobo com, call 505-277-5656 or come by Marron Hall 107.
Apartments
WWW.UNMRENTALS.COM
Awesome university apartments. Unique, hardwood floors, FPs, courtyards, fenced yards. Houses, cottages, efficiencies, studios, 1, 2 and 3BDRMs. Garages. 505-843-9642. Open 5 days/ week.
1BDRM APARTMENT UNM/CNM @ 1219 Tijeras NE. 600 sq/ft. Refinished oak floors, tile in kitchen.. $900/mo +utilities. Call 505-515-8450.
Duplexes
2BDRM, 1BA, NEWLY Remodeled Available February 1. Pets ok. W/D. Offstreet parking. 310 Stanford SE. $1595/ mo. Utilities included. $1500 dd. 505-362-0837.
Rooms For Rent
DISCOUNTED STUDENT HOUSING at Lobo Village: $700/mo ($75 off). Private room & bath on south campus. Text 505-267-5563 for more info.
HEY STUDENTS! DID you know you can place FREE ads in this classifieds category? Ads must be 25 words or less. Email classifieds@dailylobo.com or come by Marron Hall 107 and show your UNM ID or call 505-277-5656.
Bikes/Cycles
SELLING YOUR BICYCLE? Students can place FREE ads in this classifieds category. Ads
Furniture
