Daily Lobo 09/25/23

Folklorico dancer and UNM Student Isabella Espinosa poses at the La Luz trail head

Photographed By Katrina Estrada/ @rinaestphoto

Demystifying HSI

By Marcela Johnson @ DailyLobo

Although the term Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) is federally defined, to University of New Mexico students and staff, it means much more.

The US Department of Education defines a HSI as a higher education institution that has at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate full-time equivalent students enrolled at the end of the application year.

“For people who work at HSIs, they play around with the idea that it’s not actually a Hispanic serving institution - (employees) argue that these universities don’t actually serve Hispanic students but rather are Hispanic enrolling institutions,” Natalia Toscano said - a Ph.D. candidate in the Chicano & Chicana Studies department.

Being an HSI means actively thinking about how to serve Hispanic students on campus, Rosa Isela Cervantes said - Director of El Centro de la Raza and Special Advisor to the President on Latino/a Affairs.

“It means putting on a lens to be able to think through what we are doing to support Hispanic students, what aside from having the numbers, what’s the work that’s being done to help students reach the end goal of getting a degree,” Cervantes

said.

Third year CCS undergraduate student, Reyes Reynaga, said that coming into UNM as a freshman, he didn’t know the term HSI existed.

Reynaga first learned what HSI meant through being involved at El Centro de la Raza and the LGBTQ Resource Center. He suggested UNM could potentially implement the term HSI into their syllabi requirements.

“UNM could definitely be doing more to serve their Hispanic students,” Reynaga said. “I love that they encourage Hispanic culture on campus and embrace culture, but there’s more that could be done on the professional side.”

Cervantes and LGBTQ Resource Center Director Frankie Flores spoke about the responsibility they feel for their students because of the school’s designation. Flores emphasized the intersectionality that comes with being an HSI and being home to one of the only LGBTQ resource centers in the region.

“Being one of the only Queer centers in the Southwest and being an HSI influences the programming that we do here at the center,” Flores said. “We center Latinidad because that is the majority of our population.”

Cervantes said that she feels that her work goes beyond the undergraduate population, with more Hispanic students pursuing

graduate degrees. One such student is Toscano.

Typically, Toscano said, at the graduate/professional level, a large Hispanic population is unexpected and that many of her students do not know what an HSI is or that they are attending one.

“For students, they see themselves in the classroom - a lot of brown faces sitting next to them but I think the university doesn’t make it known that they’re an HSI,” Toscano said.

Although the term is used for promotional purposes, Toscano and Reynaga said the Hispanic-focused departments and organizations often have to fight for funding.

“Categorically, Hispanic students have the lowest retention and graduation rates at UNM,” Toscano said. “I don’t think it’s just about students knowing that they’re going to an HSI but feeling like they are a priority of the University.”

The University and staff, Flores said, have a responsibility to Hispanic students in explaining HSI and furthering knowledge of students’ rights. “If a Hispanic student doesn’t know what an HSI is, it means we are not doing our job correctly,” Flores said.

“But how many resources are we putting towards those students to ensure that they are graduating and what are we doing to improve the

graduation numbers for Hispanic students,” Flores said.

Marcela Johnson is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at culture@dailylobo. com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.

Weston Quintana / @wesss_jpg / Daily Lobo

The Southwest Hispanic Research Institute and Chicano Studies building stands on Saturday, Sept. 23. The buliding provides Hispanic students an outlet for comprehensive activities and endeavors.

InteliGente: Cars, Culture y Comunidad

By Marcela Johnson

Formed by two University of New Mexico students, the InteliGente car club aims to bring culture and community to campus.

“We are a community car club (created) for and by students with the goal of promoting education in New Mexico through car culture,” Dominique Rodríguez said - club co-founder and second year Ph.D. Chicana and Chicano Studies (CCS) student.

The club aims to show other students that they do not have to act a certain way in higher education, Diego Rentería said - co-founder and fourth year undergraduate CCS student.

“I don’t have to change for nobody, and that’s what we want to let these other youth know,” Rentería said. “We’re not pushing college down their throats but just letting them know that there’s a home for them there.”

The club also plans to do outreach to middle and high school students to show that there is a space for their culture on campus, Rodríguez said.

The club’s name is a play on a Spanish word, as well as a tie back to their purpose.

“We went back and forth with some names, we landed on InteliGente. We chose that cause that

means intelligent in Spanish but we capitalize the ‘g’ on our plaque because we’re for the Gente, we’re for the people,” Rentería said.

Neither of the co-founders, Rentería or Rodríguez, had been in a car club previously. Rentería said that another one of their goals was to lessen the stigma surrounding car clubs.

“They are beautiful communities that support each other, uplift each other and are doing a lot. Not just for the members, but (for) our communities. And I think we want to bring that energy to (have) spaces like this for students to bring their whole selves,” Rodríguez said.

The idea for the club originated at the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies conference earlier this year when Rentería and Rodríguez were talking about classic cars. “(Rodríguez) had this idea of, ‘yo, what if there was a student UNM car club’ and then that evolved into more of a community car club,” Rentería said.

For the time being, Rodríguez and Rentería said they have no plans to charter and be officially affiliated with UNM.

“For now, we want to avoid everything that goes along with being part of the institution. I think we have more freedom to do the community engagement that we’d like to do as a community partner than as a chartered student organization,” Rodríguez said.

The club is open to students and community members regardless of possession of a classic vehicle. Ruben Loza, CCS master student, said that he felt the car club was important for students, especially its non-institionalized community structure.

“It’s something that is important to engage in community (with) fellow students. Bringing people of color together and also having something that falls within academia, but is also a safe space,” Loza said.

The emphasis on El Gente encouraged him to join, Loza said despite the fact that he does not own a classic vehicle.

InteliGente had their first event on campus, Lobos and Lowriders, in collaboration with the Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color (PNMGC) and the UNM Student Activities Center on Sept. 20 at the Cornell Mall.

InteliGente’s next event is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 18, called “Kickback and Giveback” at the CCS Casita. Attendees will be encouraged to bring nonperishable food for families in need during the holiday season.

Marcela Johnson is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at culture@dailylobo. com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.

@ DailyLobo

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo

InteliGente Albuquerque attends Lobo and Lowriders at Cornell Mall on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

PHOTO STORY: Lobos and Lowriders

Founded

Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo Chris and Vera Chavez own

Lobo, which sits on display at

Mall for the Lobo and Lowriders event on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

sits on display at

sits

20. (left)

Hispanic athletes on representation in sports at UNM

By Rodney Prunty @Rprunty05

A week into Hispanic Heritage Month, Uxue Guereca, Zach Vigil and Nahawa Diarra Berthe, who are all Hispanic Athletes at University of New Mexico, discussed their experiences and representing their culture through their respective sports.

Hispanic Heritage Month spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and is centered around celebration and representation of Hispanic culture.

Outside hitter for the women’s volleyball team, Guereca is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and is in her senior year at UNM. Despite having multiple scholarship off ers to play for other schools, Guereca chose UNM to be “closer to home.” On the volleyball court she said she strives to represent her culture with her style of play.

“I represent (my hispanic culture) by the way I play. I have a lot of freedom and pride and I get to show that off and on the volleyball court,” Guereca said.

Women’s basketball guard, Berthe, is currently a junior at UNM. Berthe is from Barcelona, Spain. At fi rst, she wasn’t interested in playing basketball but then she

started to develop a love for the sport when she started watching her sister practice and play.

“I’m representing my country and my family, I feel like they are proud of me because not everyone gets to do what I’m doing or have the experience of what I’m getting to experience here at UNM,” Berthe said.

Guereca also said that she feels she can “represent her cultural values” through the sport.

Vigil, a running back for the New Mexico Lobos Football team, is currently a sophomore. From Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Vigil won the 2021 New Mexico Gatorade Player of the year. Vigil said he also takes pride in being able to represent his culture through sports that he often feels his culture is underrepresented.

“A lot of the Hispanic culture is overlooked; there’s not a lot of Hispanics playing in the league and being here at UNM allows me to represent them. I hope that when younger people see me they have hope that they can do what I can do, I’m thankful I can do it through this platform,” Vigil said.

Rodney Prunty is a freelance sports reporter at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Rprunty05

Cafecitios con Perritos

Jessica Baca / @Jessica_Baca_ / Daily Lobo

Running Back Zach Vigil (23) celebrates a touchdown during spring practice at University Stadium on Friday, Feb. 24.

Ella Daniel/ @ella_daniel7/ Daily Lobo

High Desert Therapy Dog Aston watches intently in front of El Centro de la Raza for Cafecitos Con Rosa on Wednesday, Sept. 20 ( see pg. 6)

By Ella Daniel @ ella_daniel

y Rosa

Th roughout the semeter, Rosa Isela Cervantes - Director & Special Advisor to the President on Latino Aff airs - holds Cafecitos Con Rosa.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, El Centro de la Raza held the event in the Mesa Vista Courtyard in collaboration with High Desert Th erapy Dogs on Sept. 20. Several dogs came to snuggle with students during the event, including the pups pictured above.

Th is event created a space for students to visit with Cervantes and create a sense of community.

Th e next event is scheduled for Oct. 2 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Karina Bolaños is the culture editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contact at culture@dailylobo. com

Ella Daniel/ @ella_daniel7/ Daily Lobo High Desert Therapy Dog Marvel poses in front of El Centro de la Raza for Cafecitos Con Rosa on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Ella Daniel/ @ella_daniel7/ Daily Lobo High Desert Therapy Dog Mocha jumps for food from handler Tracy Briggs in front of El Centro de la Raza for Cafecitos Con Rosa on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Ella Daniel/ @ella_daniel7/ Daily Lobo

High Desert Therapy Dog Lucy poses in front of El Centro de la Raza for Cafecitos Con Rosa on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Photo story by:

By Amy Dotson @DailyLobo

Th e bright red chile ristras hanging above the tented chile stand are the fi rst things that catch the eye at the Farmers Chile Market.

Closer to the tent, is the unmistakable smell of New Mexican chiles. For many in New Mexico, chile season is the highlight of autumn, and stands, including the Farmers Chile Market, are signs that meals are about to get a little more fl avorful.

Jhett Kendall Browne and his dad, Jhett Anthony Browne, work the stand from August to October, selling around 8,000 sacks of chiles every year.

Jhett Kendall Browne said his dad was the fi rst person to start commercially roasting chiles in Albuquerque in 1977, and he has roasted chiles alongside his dad since he was 12. “Th at’s about 20 years of my life. Most of my life, really,” Jhett Kendall Browne said.

How much people care about chiles, Jhett Kendall Browne said, is one thing that surprises him.

“A lot of people, they come in and they’re just full of smiles, really happy. Th ey’re super excited to get their chiles. It’s kind of like a local tradition, a once or twice-ayear kind of thing,” Jhett Kendall Browne said.

Robert Morris, a customer, spoke about what he liked to make with chiles. “(You can) put it in anything.

Chop it up, put in a little garlic salt, mix it in macaroni and cheese and hamburgers. You can’t get that taste with Tabasco,”Morris said.

Morris has been to 15 diff erent countries, but he makes it a point to visit New Mexico and buy chiles every year. “Th ere’s nothing like it,” Morris said.

The effect of big business on small farmers is a concern for the Farmers Chile Market. There is a red chile shortage this year, Jhett Kendall Browne said. He said this is due to small farmers’ inability to remain competitive with corporate farmers who sell to grocery conglomerates such as Kroger and Walmart.

Holly Brause, a research scientist at the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, wrote

in an article about the uncertain future of chile in New Mexico.

Water scarcity in the US Southwest “augmented by drought, climate change, and increased competition” puts the future of agriculture in New Mexico in jeopardy - especially heritage crops like chile that require specific conditions to maintain both quality and quantity.

“It sounds like the alarm bells are ringing,” Jhett Kendall Browne said about the dwindling chile industry. “I don’t think it’s quite there yet, but I think in the next three to fi ve years, we might be there.”

Th ough concerned, Jhett Kendall Browne seemed confi dent that there would always be some small farmers to supply the stands like his own.

Over the noise of the propane roasters as a breeze carried the warm, spicy aroma, “If there are no farmers left. I’ll have to start my own,” Jhett Kendall Browne said.

Amy Dotson is a freelance reporter and photographer at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at aeldotson@gmail.com.

Amy Dotson / @Daily Lobo

Jhett Kendall Browne works with his dad at the chile stand on Thursday, Sept. 21. It takes seven to eight minutes to roast chiles.

Amy Dotson / @Daily Lobo

Farmers Chile Market owner Jhett Anthony Browne runs his chile stand on Eubank Blvd. NE on Thursday, Sept. 21. Farmers Chile Market operates from August to October and sells around 8,000 sacks of chiles every year.

HAPS

11AM - 6PM

Duke City Herbs & Bake Shop

Take advantage of our delivery service!

Delivery hours: 2pm-5pm

4012 Central Ave SE Store hours: 1:30pm-4pm

Quirky Used Books & More

Sat: 10am – 6pm

Albuquerque Folk Festival

Saturday Full Day Festival- Oct. 7 10am-9pm

National Hispanic Cultural Center

Ticket discounts @ nhccnm.org/events

Chinese American Citizens Alliance

7th Annual ABQ Chinese American Film Festival

Oct. 21 @ South Broadway Cultural Center

English!

Haunted Scarecrow

An ABQ Halloween Attraction

13 Gates of Terror! 7pm-12am

2122 Central Ave SE

Sunday

Test With Truman Be Empowered. Know Your Status.

801 Encino Pl NE 505-272-1312

Chinese American Citizens Alliance

7th Annual ABQ Chinese American Film Festival

Oct. 22 @10am South Broadway Cultural Center Free Meet & Greet with director Lisa Mao English!

Come check us out!

Chinese American Citizens Alliance

Albuquerque Chapter Presents

The 7th Annual Albuquerque

Chinese American Film Festival

“CHINESE AMERICAN PIONEERS”

Saturday October 21, 2023 @ the South Broadway Cultural Center 1025 Broadway Blvd SE, ABQ, NM

Films this year include:

“American Revolutionary: Grace Lee Boggs”, “A Tale of Three Chinatowns”, “Blurring the Color Line”, “Anna May Wong”, and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the TenRings”

Admission is free and all films are in English.

Free Meet & Greet with Director Lisa Mao

Sunday 10am @UNM

Cor rections Corrections from 9/18/23

A prior version of “Construction, remodel and loss of parking loom over Regents” stated that Teresa Costantinidis was with SASAKI. She is in fact UNM’s executive VP of fi nance and administration.

Th e prior version also incorrectly stated that “there are about 5,000 parking spots on campus.” Th e ICP’s parking audit instead found that there were 5,000 vacant parking spaces last spring.

It also quoted “a safe and effi cient shuttle system,” incorrectly as “admission shuttle system.” It has since been corrected. Keller Hall, the smaller performance venue the College of Fine Arts students have access to perform in, was incorrectly labeled as George Pearl Hall, which the CFA does not use.

Also, in the prior version Benjamin Gilmartin who is with Diller Scofi dio + Renfro, an archi-

tecture fi rm based in New York that designed the Highline in New York and the Lincoln Center in D.C, was incorrectly labeled as being from Roma Architecture, a fi rm in Albuquerque that designed George Pearl Hall and the Cornell Parking Structure.

Th e plans to remodel Redondo could shut off private vehicle use, except for special events and otherwise restrict the street to University-authorized vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

A previous version of “Th e HalfWhite Album is coming to UNM” titled Sylvester’s band incorrectly as Th e Covers, they are in fact called the Half White Band. Th e Covers are a group of characters in Sylvester’s book.

Chile roasting season

2024 Honorary Degree Nominations

The Honorary Degree Committee, a subcommittee of the Faculty Senate Graduate & Professional Committee, is charged with the solicitation of nominations for honorary degree recipients. On behalf of the Committee, the Office of the University Secretary hereby requests nominations for honorary degree recipients. Strong candidates will be eminent individuals and scholars whose contributions are of general significance, and transcend geographical limitations. Nominations of individuals who have contributed significantly to the cultural or scientific development of the Southwest or to the spiritual or material welfare of its people are especially welcome. A successful nominee must have an exemplary record of academic or public accomplishment in keeping with the University’s standards of rigor, quality, and significance. Honorary degrees are awarded at spring commencement.

Nominators should submit a letter stating in sufficient detail reasons for the nomination. Please include biographical information, a record of accomplishment, and supporting letters. Because the Honorary Degree Committee must choose among illustrious nominees, please provide as complete a nomination as possible.

• The nominations should be sent to the Office of the University Secretary, Scholes Hall, Room 103 or univsec@unm.edu, no later than Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

• If a nominee is proposed by a person, department, or college representing a discipline other than that of the nominee (e.g., Music nominates a poet), the Committee will consult with the appropriate faculty before making a recommendation.

A listing of past honorary degree recipients is available on our website

Amy Dotson / @Daily Lobo Red chile ristras and wreaths, hallmarks of the chile season, hang outside the Farmers Chile Market on Thursday, Sept. 21. These red chiles are becoming more difficult to find as water scarcity and big businesses affect small chile farmers (see pg.8).

By Christopher Tran