Daily Lobo 09/05/23

Daily l obo

ASUNM Senate discusses voter turnout and mental health

By Milan Ortiz-Ruiz

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico held their first full Senate meeting of the semester on Wednesday, Aug. 30 and discussed ways to improve voter turnout and available mental health services for students.

ASUNM represents the student body by being the first group the University’s President, Provost and Board of Regents consult when they want to hear undergraduate feedback, according to the ASUNM elections commission website.

“ASUNM operates and lobbies on behalf of UNM students at the NM state legislature and collaborates to decide where student fees go,” Krystah Pacheco, the current president of ASUNM, said.

The executive director of the Elections Commission, Jaime

Garcia, and Pacheco are in discussion of re-proposing legislation to combine the presidential and vice presidential elections in the spring – no legeslation on this topic has been submited yet, to the Steering and Rules committee.

“The reason why we’re revisiting this legislation is to improve voter turnout,” Pacheco said.

Looking at previous elections, around 3.5% total undergraduate students voted in the presidential and vice presidential election.

“To be quite honest, that’s really not representative of the student body,” Pacheco said. “I think it’s our job and it’s in the best interests of students to revisit how we’re looking at advertising our election and working on improving voter turnout to make sure that we’re the best representative of students.”

The Senate also discussed the recent administrative priorities the

University brought forward at the last Board of Regents meeting,, via Legislative Research and Public Service Project funding requests. Amongst others, the Regents approved a funding request for a new peer mentorship program for rural students.

“The idea is that first-year rural students can get access to a mentor who’s a third or fourth-year student from a rural area. There’s current programs here at the University, but we really want to extend it to other students from the state and from the country,” Pacheco said.

Another RPSP request discussed was for Student Health and Counseling, requested to increase access to mental health care and support basic needs for students.

“These are just requests. Funding has not been secured, but these are priorities from the University for 2023,” Pacheco said.

In disscusion of mental health

The SUB’s 20th anniversary

resources Pacheco mentioned the Univeristy’s partnership with TimelyCare to offer students free access to virtual mental health, medical care and basic needs support.

“You get up to 12 appointments for mental health counseling. You also get basic needs assistance. There’s health coaching,’’ Pacheco said.

The Director of the Agora Crisis Center, Daise Kent, also spoke at the meeting to bring attention to the resources they provide. Agora provides crisis intervention services, peer support and workshops. All services are free and confidential for students in need of emotional support.

“We are a warmline and a crisis line, and I say both of those things because there’s a little bit of a distinction,” Kent said. “We adopted the term warmline because you don’t have to be in crisis to talk to us.”

By Jessica Baca @Jessica_Baca_

Inside this Lobo

Pukite: A life of activism, friendship and laughs Co-founder of Peace and Justice Center passes at 101 (pg. 2) Davidson: A source of local, fresh and organic food the La Montañita Co-op (pg. 3)

Boost your savings with The Power of Change

Agora Crisis Center offers volunteer opportunities for undergraduate students looking for experience or ways to explore careers. Classes are offered three times a year, expanding into fall, spring and summer with 40 hours of training.

“We really want our volunteers to feel confident before they’re on the phones,” Kent said. “Our trainings cover communication skills to suicide awareness and intervention – how to do that on the phones.”

The full senate meets again on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Full senate meetings are open to public comment.

Milan Ortiz-Ruiz is a freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com

99th Zozobra Burning

Walker: OPINION: September festivities not to miss (pg. 3)

Cicconetti: Second sweep of the season for Lobo Volleyball UNM beats St. John’s 3-0 (pg. 4)

Alexander: Stanford and California leave Pac-12 Future of conference remains uncertain (pg. 4)

Katrina Estrada / @Katrina_Est4 / Daily Lobo Zozobra burns on Friday night, Sept. 1 at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe. (See pg. 2)

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo Eliseo Cheo Torres and Walter Miller hold a plaque that will be placed in the Student Union Building that honors their service and dedication to the SUB rebuild on Thursday, Aug. 31.

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo

The 20th anniversary cakes are cut at the Student Union Building on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo University of New Mexico Students and Student Union Building workers come together for the 20th anniversary of the rebuild on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo Student Mark Sanchez created a model of the Student Union Building over the course of three weeks for the 20th anniversary of the SUB rebuild on Thursday, Aug. 21.

A life of activism, friendship and laughs

Co-founder of Peace and Justice Center passes at 101

By Maddie Pukite @maddogpukite

Dorelen ‘‘Dorie’’ Bunting left a legacy of activism solidified in brick and mortar at the Peace and Justice Center on Yale. Co-founder of the center and a friend of the University, Dorie passed away last Sunday at the age of 101.

Known for her laugh, Dorie continuously brought joy into her activism, Robin Feydel said. Feydel was a close friend of Dorie’s. They met working on anti-nuclear activism, specifically opposing the Waste Isolation Pilot Plan – a nuclear waste site in Carlsbad.

“Dorie brought joy to the work, no matter how hard that work was, how sad it was and how sometimes you just feel one step closer to (taking) two steps back in this work. But she always helped you find a path forward in a positive way

and brought joy and laughter to it,” Feydel said.

Dorie passed peacefully, surrounded by her family at Casa de Paz Senior Assisted Living facility. She moved to Albuquerque in 1948 and had grown up watching the rise of fascism in Germany. Both Feydel and her son Findlay Bunting said her time in Germany – alongside the Quaker religion, in which she began her practice young – was deeply influential in her activism.

“Those two together forged a pacifistic strain that she carried, she evolved, she developed it all her life. It just got more and more refined because she worked as a peace activist for many years,” Bunting said.

Dorie cared for her friends like family without hesitation. While she was dealing with the loss of her late husband, Feydel moved in with Dorie after going through a divorce This time spent living together, Feydel said, was very important to her.

“It is a recognition that we are all one human family, and Dorie understood that to the greatest degree I think (out) of anybody in a deep, deep way. And that was some of the magnificence of her as a person,” Feydel said.

The home Feydel lived in with Dorie was also the site of a lot of the activism work she accomplished.

“We had many meetings there

sitting around after the meeting, cleaning up with her, and then often finishing off the bottle of wine that got left behind, and laughing and talking deeply about the state of the world. You know, that was something we did regularly,” Feydel said.

The role Dorie played as an activist in the community was very influential. Feydel described Dorie sitting quietly in meetings listening and then speaking up – piecing together all of the strands discussed into a solution at the end.

“She had this uncanny ability to show people the connection between their different viewpoints and how to move forward together in a positive way. And I think that was another one of her great gifts, in addition to her marvelous giggle” Feydel said.

As a mom, Bunting said he most vividly remembers her storytelling and the voices she used for different characters. Getting her master’s at the University of New Mexico, Bunting said he recalls her obsession with learning and literature.

“My sister and I remember her voices. The way (in) which she would voice the characters - it was hilarious and she really enjoyed giving voice to each character,” Bunting said.

Quiet, humble, steely and principled were adjectives Bunting used to describe who his mom was. “She’d have hoped that young people would take up that fight and

take up that advocacy, because it’s really important to our survival,” Bunting said.

Alongside Findlay Bunting, Dorie is survived by her daughter Meredith and three grandchildren, Ximena and Feliciana Puig and Walker Bunting, as well as four great-grandchildren. Her daughter Emily and husband Bainbridge Bunting predeceased her.

“Patience, compassion, and more compassion, empathy to find a way to stay positive and just keep doing the work – that was her example no matter how horrendous it seemed, no matter what was going on,’’ Feydel said. ‘‘Just find a way to move through it in a loving way, in a positive way.’’

Maddie Pukite is the editor-inchief at the Daily Lobo. They can be contacted at editorinchief@dailylobo.com on Twitter @maddogpukite

Katrina Estrada / @Katrina_Est4 / Daily Lobo

The crowd takes videos and photos of the fireworks at Zozobra on Friday night, Sept. 1 at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe (Left).

Katrina Estrada / @Katrina_Est4 / Daily Lobo

A little girl waves her hand at Zozobra on Friday, Sept. 1 at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe. (Right)

A source of local, fresh and organic food the La Montañita Co-op

By BillyJack Davidson @ BillyJackDL

Access to organic food can be a rare commodity to come across. In 2020, 6% of food sales in the United States were organic, according to statistica. For those who live on campus at the University of New Mexico or in the surrounding area, La Montañita Co-op offers just that. The Co-op has two locations –one in the North Valley on the corner of Matthew and Rio Grande Blvd., and the second on the corner of Carlise and Central in the Nob Hill Shopping Center. Before it closed in March of 2021, there was a smaller version of the Co-op on campus. Founded in 1976, its first location

resided on Girard and Central where Bosque Brewing is now established. There, the Co-op served over 300 local families with the objective being to serve healthy and local food to the people of Albuquerque.

Each department – whether it be deli, produce, bulk or groceries – has at least one item that was produced by a local farmer such as goat cheese from Tucumcari, fresh beets grown in Albuquerque and pecans from just outside Belen.

Jerry Anaya is a clerk in the produce section of the Nob Hill Co-op and has worked there for the past 18 years after leaving the corporate world.

“I came from a corporate world of dog-eat-dog, and I wasn’t good with it, so I tried to get involved with people who were more environmen-

tally sustainable. And that’s exactly what the Co-op does,” Anaya said.

Places like the Co-op, Anaya said, can help sustain local farmers’ businesses.

“I believe in the local economy, supporting local businesses like farmers – no matter what they’re making,” Anaya said.

The shop being a co-operative means members are part-owners to the company. The shop is not limited to members, but those that are recieve benefits.

The annual membership for the Co-op is $15 annually, or a lifetime membership of $200. Members receive an annual patronage refund – a return on a portion of money spent at the end of the year. An owner discount is also offered twice

a year where members are given 20% off of their entire purchase.

Ife Fidudusona has been working for 20 years at the Nob Hill Co-op starting back in 2003, and is known for making customers smile. Working for the La Montañita Co-op, Fidudagsona said, makes him feel like he’s back home in Nigeria with local fresh foods and the community that surrounds him like a family.

“My favorite part about working at the Co-op is being a cashier and getting to talk to so many people. Every day is different people and it makes me happy,” Fidudusona said.

Because the Co-op is memberowned, their Board of Directors is also member-run and the elections are currently underway. The election will conclude in the middle of September. All members are eli-

OPINION: September festivities not to miss

chili, funnel cakes, turkey legs and hear the screams from the fair rides. There is always something for everyone.

New to this year’s fair at the Expo NM includes a live shark and stingray encounter, according to the Fairs website. Other special entertainment includes a strolling piano, duck races, the Salsa Steel Drum Band, the petting farm and so much more.

By Sydney Walker @

September is upon us and that means it’s the start of the fall festival season. School is now in session and temperatures this summer were exceptionally high.

September marks a turning of the seasons and a reprieve of the summer heat – the perfect time for

friends and family to celebrate all the things New Mexico has to offer. Here is a list of a few local festivals and fairs happening throughout the month that are sure to be fun, immersive and educational.

New Mexico State Fair:

Sept. 7 - 17

The New Mexico State Fair has always been a favorite of mine to attend since I was a kid. I can already smell the roasted green

Numerous competitions this year include the beef jerky showdown, the car show, livestock show, agriculture competition and the green chili cheeseburger challenge.

Nebraskan rock band, 311, will be performing on Saturday, Sept. 16 with the PRCA Rodeo. Other live music performers include Mammoth WVH, Justin Moore, Chancey Williams, The Country Comeback Tour featuring Shenandoah, Billy

Dean and Wade Hydes, as well as Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez and Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles.

The State Fair Parade will happen on Saturday, Sept. 9. The parade is free and will begin the march down Central Ave. into Nob Hill at 8:30 a.m.

Ticket prices for the NM State Fair vary, but a regular adult ticket is $15.

15th Annual Santa Fe Renaissance Faire: Sept. 16 - 17

This year’s annual Renaissance Faire will be held in Santa Fe at Rancho de Las Golondrinas from 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m on Saturday and Sunday. Although I have not attended a renaissance faire before, I believe now is the perfect time to explore and dress as a wench or witch and have some medieval fun.

Prepping for the Renaissance

Faire is perhaps just as fun as the event itself. There is still plenty of time to go to local thrift stores and shop for the perfect medieval, viking or pirate outfit. The creativity and craftyness in dressing up is unlimited.

The immersive experience will include feasting in the Kingdom of Golondrinas with knights and fairies, as well as a variety of fun activities and entertainment.

There will be dancing to live medieval music, an arts and crafts fair, comedic performances, pillaging with pirates and, best of all, a jousting tournament.

General admission tickets are $18 for adults; students with a valid ID pay $15.

see Festivals page 6

squidneywrites

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo

Customers check out at the La Montañita Co-Op on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo

Mexican folk dancers perform on parade floats on Central Ave. during the New Mexico State Fair on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022.

see Co-op page 6

Second sweep of the season for Lobo Volleyball

UNM beats St. John’s 3-0

By Francesca Cicconetti @ fran_cicconetti

The University of New Mexico volleyball team secured their second sweep of the season, winning 3-0 against the St. John’s Red Storm on Friday, Sept. 1. The match took place on day two of the Lobo Invitational.

The Lobos came in strong after going 2-1 aginst the University of California, Irvine Invitational the weekend before.

The Lobos had a tremendous defensive effort at the net with 11 team blocks and the Red Storm only successfully stopping the Lobos twice at the net. In a post-match interview, Head Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar praised the team’s

defense.

“We had some huge defensive effort plays. And I thought with the defense at the net, we made it very hard to score points tonight, which was a huge plus for our crew,” Newman-Gonchar said.

The first point of the night was scored by UNM’s Uxue Guereca off an assist by setter Melissa Walden.

St. John’s called their first timeout after the Lobos scored a kill by UNM’s Elizabeth Woods. Woods’ kill put the Lobos in the lead by four points, 8-4.

Guereca and Kaitlynn Biassou set the tone for the Lobo’s offense with a combined 11 kills in the set. UNM won the first set of the match, 25-16.

St. John’s came back strong in the second set with seven ties and three

lead changes.

St. John’s won the first point of the set, blocking a hit by UNM’s Athina Dimitriadis.

Despite the effort put up by the opponent, the Lobos pulled through –winning the set 25-19 off an attack error.

Going into the third set, the Lobos were eager to win. UNM went on a 4-0 scoring run off a series of kills by Guereca and Dimitriadis, and an ace by Kali Wolf.

The Lobos secured their match win with a kill by Woods and an assist by Guereca, beating St. John’s 25-19.

St. John’s used both of their timeouts in each set, trying to regain themselves and keep up with the momentum UNM was putting forward, but the Lobos couldn’t be stopped.

UNM’s libero, Angela Crosetti, led the match with 13 digs – ready for anything St. John’s sent her way.

Guereca and Biassou had a great showing, leading the Lobos with 14 and 13 kills respectively. Guereca spoke about her achievement and said it couldn’t have been done without the support of her teammates.

“It felt awesome, but for sure I couldn’t do it without my team. I think they always had my back through the whole match,” Guereca said.

The Lobos had an outstanding team, hitting percentage of .330 and 37 kills total throughout the night.

Newman-Gonchar was proud of the effort put up by the team against the Red Storm.

“Just thrilled that we could see the growth of each and every one of these

players throughout the match at different times,” Newman-Gonchar said.

UNM played Utah Tech in the final match of the Lobo invitational on Saturday, Sept. 2. Sadly, after putting up a tremendous fight, the Lobos lost 2-3.

The Lobos will play next at the University of North Dakota Classic on Sept. 7 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Francesca Cicconetti is a freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @fran_cicconetti.

Stanford and California leave Pac-12

Future of conference uncertain

By Lily Alexander @ llilyalexander

Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley left the Pacific-12 Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference on Friday Sept. 1. This paves the way for the Pac-12’s two remaining schools, Oregon State University and Washington State University, to join a new conference or create their own.

The MWC and the American Athletic Conference originally stood as the top two contenders to

take Oregon and Washington State, according to CBS. Comments made by AAC commissioner Michael Aresco on Friday seemed to remove them from the equation.

“We have known that today’s move was a possibility, which has allowed us time to investigate a number of options, including consideration of the larger group of institutions in the Pacific time zone. We have concluded, however, that the best way to proceed for our outstanding student-athletes is to not look westward,” Aresco said in a public statement.

Oregon State and Washington

Volume 128

Issue 4

State could also try to recruit schools from the MWC to either form a new conference or rebuild the Pac-12. However, the exit fee to leave the MWC is $34 million with less than a year’s notice, according to The Athletic.

“The departures from the Pac-12 by Stanford and California do not come as a surprise,” Washington State said in a statement. “The WSU Student-Athlete Advisory Panel and Athletics Advisory Committee have been meeting regularly to provide feedback on the competitive home that best suits WSU’s interests.”

The bylaws of the Pac-12 state

The New Mexico Daily Lobo is an independent student newspaper published on Monday except school holidays during the fall and spring semesters. Subscription rate is $75 per academic year. E-mail accounting@dailylobo.com for more information on subscriptions.

The New Mexico Daily Lobo is published by the Board of UNM Student Publications. The editorial opinions expressed in the New Mexico Daily Lobo are those of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the students, faculty, staff and regents of the University of New Mexico. Inquiries concerning editorial content should be made to the editor-in-chief.

All content appearing in the New Mexico Daily Lobo and the Web site dailylobo.com may not be reproduced without the consent of the editor-in-chief. A single copy of the New Mexico Daily Lobo is free from newsstands. Unauthorized removal of multiple copies is considered theft and may be prosecuted.

Letter submission policy: The opinions expressed are those of the authors alone. Letters and guest columns must be concisely written, signed by the author and include address and telephone. No names will be withheld.

UNM Land Acknowledgement statement

that if the conference’s legal structure remains sound and both Oregon and Washington State stay, the assets may go to the schools by simply remaining in the conference, according to the Seattle Times. That number will likely total over $60 million by the end of the cycle next year.

The NCAA Division I Manual states that Football Bowl Subdivision conferences require a minimum of eight active members. However, it also includes a two-year grace period for this rule, which could buy both Oregon and Washington State more time.

“Jumping from a conference was

never the first option. Making the conference work was always where my heart and mind lay,” Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy said at a press conference.

UNM athletics had no new information to share with the Daily Lobo.

Further decisions involving the Pac-12 and MWC could still arrive at any time in the coming weeks.

Lily Alexander is a beat reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at sports@dailylobo. com or on Twitter @llilyalexander

Founded in 1889, the University of New Mexico sits on the traditional homelands of the Pueblo of Sandia. The original peoples of New Mexico – Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache – since time immemorial, have deep connections to the land and have made significant contributions to the broader community statewide. We honor

Mackenzie Schwartz / @artkenzie / Daily Lobo

Lobos outside hitter Uxue Guereca taps the ball over the net against St. John’s University on Friday, Aug. 1 at The Pit.

Mackenzie Schwartz / @artkenzie / Daily Lobo Lobos middle blocker Athina Dimitriadis and outside hitter Kaitlynn Biassou block a spike against St. John’s University on Friday, Aug. 1 at The Pit.

Co-op from page 3

Festivals from page 3

Aki Matsuri, Japanese Fall Festival: Sept. 24

The Aki Matsuri (Fall Festival) will be held at Expo NM from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The New Mexico Japanese-American Citizens League has been hosting this festival for over 20 years. The festival is a fun way to engage and learn more about Japanese culture and heritage.

The festival began in a small parking lot of a Japanese restaurant. Over the years, the venues for the festival changed as the number of attendees grew. This is

gible to participate and be elected for a three-year term.

“I think my favorite part about working here is being in the produce department – seeing and

the first year that the New Mexico Japanese-American Citizens League has hosted Aki Matsuri at Expo NM.

As a military brat, I had the amazing opportunity to live in Japan as a child. Nothing excites me more than immersing myself back into my childhood experience and indulging in Japanese culture.

There will be Japanese cultural exhibits, art, food, sushi, beer, sake and a cosplay competition. The event will also include martial arts, arts and crafts, and a showcasing of traditional Japanese dance, song and live musical performances.

Corrections from page 8/28/23

being able to provide some of the healthiest local produce in the whole state of New Mexico,” Anaya said. “ I just love the community."

BillyJack

Davidson is a freelance

General admission tickets are $10 or $7.50 for presale.

Corrales Harvest Festival: Sept. 30 - Oct. 1

The annual harvest festival will take place in the village of Corrales from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This two-day festival has been held annually since 1985.

Being at the end of the month and the first of October, this festival is the true mark of the turning of seasons. The festival celebrates the time for farmers to harvest their crops and share with the commu-

He

nity. Locally grown food and tractor driven hayrides are sure to bring on the fall and small town vibes.

The Corrales harvest festival is the perfect segue into the spooky season. Cooler temperatures, New Mexican food, live music, local arts and crafts, pet parade and a pet mayor contest sound like a perfect way to wrap up September.

The growers’ market is a chance to grab healthy locally grown food. It will be on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Along with a wide variety of food options, the harvest festival will

have a beer garden hosted by the Kaktus Brewing company.

General admission tickets are $15. Sydney Walker is a freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @squidneywrites.

In last week’s print edition on Aug. 28, The Welcome Back Days photos were incorrectly bylined as Tristan Huffman, however the photographer was Jessica Baca. In “Librarians advocate for alternative to textbooks”, last week’s print version stated faculty can apply for grants starting on Oct. 1, however the grants instead run through and close on Oct. 1.

an LGBT-friendly, degreed professional who travels often for work. Please call for additional details: 720-717-5587

ROOM FOR RENT - House 4BDRM, 3BA, one loft, garage, and backyard. no gender requirements looking for someone respectful & clean. email shawny8833@gmail.com for info.

For Sale

PIMENTEL & SONS 2022 W-1 Concert Classical Guitar. Included with purchase: Guitar, Pimentel hard shell case, original purchase receipt, and lifetime workmanship warranty. Original price