Daily l obo
United Graduate Workers demonstrate at ice cream social
By Addison Fulton & Elliott Wood @DailyLobo
On Aug. 18, the University of New Mexico hosted Ice Cream Social and Departmental Informational Day with UNM President Garnett Stokes as part of the University’s “Welcome Back Days.” The United Graduate Workers of UNM, a union representing graduate workers, demonstrated at the event, hoping to raise awareness for their efforts and get face time with the University President.
The demonstrators marched to secure higher wages, vision and dental insurance and contractual protections for international grad students against having their immigration status exposed or weaponized, UGW Stewards Noah Mertz and Lee Ferrin said.
“The main plan is to really help President Stokes put faces to the people that are asking for what we’re asking for in our bargaining. It’s very different when it’s just a nameless group of all the grad students who want this when you have people coming up one by one,” Ferrin said. “We’re just trying to make it more human than it has been so far.”
In 2024, a UNM graduate student enrolled in a graduate or teaching assistantship at a minimum, made approximately, between
$900 and $1,800 a month, according to UNM’s Office for Academic Personnel.
At UNM, being a graduate student is a full time position as students are expected to divide their time between their own studies and their assistantship in a 50/50 split. However, only the assistantship is paid, meaning a full-time graduate student is only paid for a 50% part-time job,
Mertz wrote to the Daily Lobo.
There are ongoing negotiations and bargaining regarding the second full contract, Mertz said.
“We got our first contract two years ago, and then every two years it comes up for full re-bargaining. We’re kind of in the middle of this process right now of trying to hammer out the details of what we will actually gain in this next contract,”
Mertz said. “And the administration has, frankly, not been very generous, I guess is one thing you could say, in terms of meeting us even halfway.”
According to Ferrin, 57% of graduate students are food insecure, and 70% are financially insecure.
As UNM is a partially state-funded institution, some graduate worker salaries come from tax-dollars.
“And so when we don’t get the funding that we need to live, then guess where we get those resources from? Tax dollars, by being on SNAP, by being on Medicaid, and so the taxpayers are supporting the grad students one way or another. It would do so much better if we could be independent, and we could get the support that we need from our university,” Ferrin said.
Around 100 students attended the demonstration.
President Stokes was not at the social gathering at the time of the commencement and height of the demonstration; she arrived later in the afternoon.
“Our annual ice cream social is a tradition designed to welcome new Lobos on their first day of classes. I was able to engage in many respectful conversations with graduate students who brought me their concerns, while celebrating the beginning of the semester,” Stokes wrote in a statement to the Daily Lobo.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Elliott Wood is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @ dailylobo
Mayor Tim Keller speaks to Albuquerque in “State of the City” address
By Addison Fulton @DailyLobo
On Saturday, Aug. 23, Tim Keller hosted the 25th Annual State of the City address at the Albuquerque BioPark Botanic Garden. The State of the City is a time for the mayor to reflect on the city’s progress and goals.
Keller, Albuquerque’s 31st mayor, has served since 2017 and was reelected in 2021.
Keller’s speech focused on Albuquerque’s struggles with issues such as addiction, homelessness, and city protections for immigrants, and the work that’s been done to resolve them.
“If there were easy solutions to these long term problems, I promise you, I would have fixed them in a heartbeat. I assure you, the challenge is that it takes lots of hard work. But now, alongside those challenges are
signs of progress and of resilience, and they remind us that we can actually hold our community together, and we can lift up Albuquerque,” Keller said in the address.
On immigration, Keller discussed the executive order he signed “in defiance of illegal ICE raids,” he said, that banned federal agents entering city buildings without warrants, the prohibition of city employees asking about immigration status, and the prevention of using tax information for immigration “round ups.”
The mayor also discussed the “Gateway Network,” that provides housing navigation, medical and addiction care, and support for teenagers, seniors and families struggling with homelessness.
“We now have an around the clock support system for the unhoused. It has a long way to go, I know that, but (Albuquerque
Community Safety) transports dozens directly from the streets into care at the Gateway, every night. And in the Gateway, we provide pathways from the street to treatment, to housing,” Keller said. “And now, we’re doing that for a thousand people, everyday.”
Albuquerque Community Safety is dedicated to ensuring the right response is sent to incidents that do not require police or fire departments, freeing up the departments to respond to emergencies and connecting residents to resources, according to their website.
“Safety is not just about policing. Here in Albuquerque, we have led the way with something no other city in America had the courage to try: The Albuquerque Community Safety Department is the nation’s first, 24/7 alternative 911 response department,” Keller said.
Keller also announced his ad -
ministration’s intention to make Albuquerque a leader in quantum computing, bringing more jobs and revenue to the state. Quantum computing is “our chance to move from chasing technologies to creating source technology by becoming a global leader in quantum computing,” he said.
Mayor Keller also announced a city-wide freeze of fees for all residents of Albuquerque.
“For everyone, literally everyone, we are freezing fees city-wide,” Keller said. “That means from preschool, to the zoo, swim lessons, restaurant permits, pet care, and we’re going to offer free gym memberships at all our city facilities. And we’re going to keep the buses free.”
The State of the City address was the first announcement of the plan, coming as a surprise to constituents and officials alike, Keller said.
“By the way, the staff at the city didn’t even know I was going to say that, so I know we’re going to have to work on that, folks,” Keller said.
The event was attended by local residents including Albuquerque resident Mel Lucero.
“(Keller) sounded enthusiastic and it looks like he wants to continue what he’s been doing for the last eight years. So I wish him well and I hope he gets that chance to do another four years. It seems like he’s interested in helping Albuquerque. I was born and raised here, so we need someone like him,” Lucero said.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo. com or on X @dailylobo
UNM graduate students protest infront of the UNM Duck Pond during “Welcome Back Days” on Monday, Aug. 18.
Elliott Wood / Daily Lobo / @DailyLobo
Lobo Volleyball wins exhibition match vs New Mexico Highlands
By Austin Bishop @austinrbishop23
The University of New Mexico’s Lobo Women’s Volleyball went against the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls in an exhibition match on Sat -
urday, Aug. 23, at UNM’s Johnson Gym marking their first match of the season.
The exhibition hit off with a bang, with the first point of the match being a kill by outside hitter Naomi Chankoumi. The Lobos kept up the pressure, serving strong and sharp. Setter and outside hitter Addison France
made the second kill in the first set leading 2-0. There was not much fight from New Mexico Highlands in the first set, but the Cowgirls began to pick up as the last set was closing. Even though the Lobos were ahead, they did not slow down. The Lobos closed out the first set with a massive total of twelve kills, quickly leading the Lobos to a 25-7 victory.
The second set began and the match heated up, with the Cowgirls positioning multiple rallies in the beginning of the second set. The Lobos front row got a lot of heat, blocking, tipping and fighting back for the point. Defense for the Lobos was covering the Cowgirls tips well, defending any attempts at scoring. Middle blocker Reagan Miller put away her fifth kill, padding the score up to 21-14. The second set concluded when outside hitter Gioia Riccato spiked the ball and secured a kill to win 25-15.
The third set began with more defense on both sides, allowing New Mexico Highlands to briefly get ahead for the first time in the match. The Lobos rallied back quickly, forcing the Cowgirls’ back row to scramble and spread out. The Cowgirls increased momentum with
blocks and tips, causing adjustment to the Lobos defense. The two teams kept scoring until the Lobos regained control and put the competitive match away, scoring 25-20. The fourth set was all about the Lobos as they eased toward a match win. The Lobos play invitationals next starting on Friday, Aug. 29, against the Manhattan Jaspers and later that day against Northern
Arizona University. The Lobos will then finish the invitational on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Houston Christian.
Austin Bishop is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo. com or on X @austinrbishop23
Isotopes split series against Las Vegas Aviators
By Rodney Prunty @rprunty05
The Albuquerque Isotopes stole game four from the Las Vegas Aviators with a 8-7 win on Friday, Aug. 22 at Isotopes Park. The Isotopes came into the game down 2-1 in the series, as they won the opening game, but dropped games two and three. The Isotopes were able to return from the back-to-back losses and tie the series at two-a-piece.
Similar to game three of the series, the beginning of the game did not start out so well for the Isotopes, who found themselves down 6-0 by the time the bottom of the third rolled around. This was mainly due to shaky pitching and sloppy play in the field; however, in the bottom of the third, the Isotopes started to pick things up with outfielder Zac Veen’s two run homer, making the score 6-2.
The Aviators scored zero runs in the fourth inning, while the Isotopes were able to get three runs across thanks to infielder Adael
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Amador which cut the Las Vegas lead down to one.
After another scoreless inning from the Aviators, Amador showed up once again, finding himself back at the plate with the bases loaded. Amador was able to hit a triple, giving the Isotopes an 8-6 lead after the 5th inning. However, the Aviators were not going to go out without a fight. After a scoreless 6th inning from both teams, Las Vegas’ catcher Daniel Susac was able to hit a solo home run in the 7th inning, cutting the lead down to 1. The
Isotopes did not score a run in the 7th, and after a scoreless 8th from both teams, it came down to the ninth and final inning.
With the Aviators up to bat, they looked to spoil the Isotopes comeback but the closing pitcher for the Isotopes, pitcher Ryan Rolison, had other plans. Rolison was able to successfully get a quick three-and-out, closing the door and leaving no need for the bottom of the ninth to be played out as the Isotopes secured a 8-7 win.
The Isotopes won the fifth
game of the series 10-6, spurred by Amador’s three hits. The Isotopes lost the last game of the series 3-2 in extra-innings. The series ultimately came to an end as a draw with both teams taking three games.
Rodney Prunty is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo. com or on X @rprunty05
The University of New Mexico women’s volleyball team cheers after halftime, during the exhibition game against New Mexico Highlands University at UNM’s Johnson Gym on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
Players from the University of New Mexico and the New Mexico Highlands University women’s volleyball teams battle for a ball in the air during an exhibition game at UNM’s Johnson Gym on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
New Instagram Map feature draws backlash from attorneys general, legislators and users
By Shin Thant Hlaing @DailyLobo
On Aug. 13, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr co-led a letter to Instagram regarding its new live location sharing maps feature. Along with Torrez and Carr, 35 other attorneys general signed onto this letter, which claimed the feature raised “public safety and data privacy concerns — particularly for vulnerable users, including children and survivors of domestic violence,” the letter reads.
This feature was intended to be a “lightweight” way to connect with each other and is automatically turned off unless users choose to opt in, according to Meta. The feature allows users to share their location with people they follow back. Users can also hide their location from certain people or hide their location when they are in certain places.
There have been reports from some users that their location was shared without their consent, triggering Meta to re-examine how the feature works, according to CBS.
Some users found geotagged posts appearing on the maps, even when they have opted out of location sharing, according to NBC.
The letter from the attorneys general outlined three key demands: prohibiting minors from enabling location sharing; providing adult users clear alerts about the feature, its risks and how location data will be used; and allowing adult users who choose to opt in to easily disable the feature at any time, according to the New Mexico Department of Justice.
While the letter does not exert any legal power by the attorneys general over Instagram to make changes to the app, it does include the expectation of “prompt action and response to prevent Instagram from continuing practices that endanger the safety and privacy of its users,” the letter reads.
This development comes as many Americans feel a sense of helplessness about sharing personal data. According to Pew Research Center, 81% of US adults believe that they have little control over the data that companies collect from them.
Noah Pocock Wood, a freshman at the University of New Mexico,
uses Instagram but not it’s location feature. Pocock Wood is concerned by what this feature would mean for faceless creators and creators with large platforms, they said.
“I think politicians will usually hear complaints from people and back-pocket it, so them going against something like this is a big step forward in being mindful of people’s safety,” Pocock Wood said of the action from legislators and the attorneys general.
Carlos Garcia, a senior majoring in criminology, originally had the feature off, but turned on the feature to try it for the purposes of a Daily Lobo interview.
Garcia called legislators showing concern about something that could negatively affect people a “good thing,” they said.
“It’s a really cool feature. But I can also see how it can go wrong when used with bad intentions and how concerning that can be,” Garcia said.
Shin Thant Hlaing is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo. com or on X @dailylobo
OPINION: #NotMyDuckPond
By Nate Bernard @natebernard14
When the construction fences came down around the University of New Mexico’s Duck Pond on Aug. 4, students expected the return of a refreshed campus landmark. The dearly missed duck pond was a place where students could breathe, study and watch the ducks and turtles float lazily by. What students found instead looked less like an oasis and more like a Cold War set piece.
The newly renovated pond doesn’t look like a sanctuary; it looks like brutalist architecture in miniature. Stark concrete borders, harsh angles and the erasure of natural flow have left the space cold and unwelcoming. What was once a green, organic centerpiece of campus life now feels more like a monument to efficiency and bureaucracy rather than beauty and community.
Several longtime features are missing: trees that shade students and hammock-hangers alike have been cut down; benches and chairs that made the pond a social hub have been reduced; ducks were relocated to the UNM Championship Golf Course during construction, and the turtles will not return. Please, bring
my turtles back.
It’s true that some changes are for the better. Rosie Dudley, director of Campus Capital and Space Planning, said in a UNM Newsroom story from October, 2024 that, “The Duck Pond has been a loved and recognized destination on UNM’s Central Campus for decades,” and “is in critical need of restoration to improve and sustain the environmental health of the pond and surrounding landscape.”
Michael Pierce, a UNM project and construction manager, told the Daily Lobo in June that improved lighting and a safety shelf to help people who fall into the pond and ADA-compliant pathways were added.
While these changes are important and necessary, do they need to come at the expense of the pond’s character? Could trees, seating and wildlife have been preserved instead of minimized?
This isn’t the first time campus aesthetics have clashed with student sentiment. When the Center of the Universe sculpture was first installed outside Zimmerman Library, it was widely mocked as an eyesore, according to UNM Newsroom. Over time, though, students grew to accept it — some even embracing its quirky presence. The Duck Pond, however, is different. It wasn’t meant to be an abstract installation or a conversation piece. It
was a living, breathing part of campus culture and its redesign has stripped away that character.
The Duck Pond has never been just a pleasant place to stroll through as we’re heading to class like the Center of the Universe.
Students enjoyed the space by sprawling on its grass, families fed its ducks and tightrope walkers perilously traveled between its trees. It was messy, soft, and alive. Now, the space feels sterile, more suitable for a military parade than for frisbees and a relaxing conversation.
The Duck Pond wasn’t perfect before, but it was ours. Now it feels like it belongs more to architectural plans than to the students who built their memories around it.
We deserve a campus that inspires us — not one that makes us feel like we’re living in the shadow of concrete walls. The ducks may not mind the redesign, but for the rest of us, the pond has lost its soul. The pond’s concrete may hold water — but it won’t hold our tears.
Nate Bernard is the managing editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at managing@dailylobo. com or on X @natebernard14
The University of New Mexico Duck Pond on Aug. 24.
Maria Fernandez/ Daily Lobo / @DailyLobo
REVIEW: ‘Peacemaker’ A look back and
By Addison Fulton @DailyLobo
Did you watch “Superman” and wonder what was up with the John Cena cameo where he’s on a talk show wearing a bucket on his head?
That’s Peacemaker.
He’s the titular character of James Gunn’s HBO Max original series: “Peacemaker,” which released its first season in 2022, and dropped the first episode of its second season on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Season one of “Peacemaker” follows Christopher Smith — aka Peacemaker — joining a black ops mission fighting off an alien invasion in order to avoid being sent back to Belle Reve prison. Smith, a trained killer, was raised from birth to kill by his father, a neo-Nazi supervillain known as the White Dragon. Smith battles with the way he was raised, the trauma he endured and his growing desire to be
a better person and a real hero.
He’s joined by a dysfunctional team including Emilia Harcourt, played by Jennifer Holland, John Economos, played by Steve Agee, two former members of the staff of Amanda Waller, the head of Belle Reve prison and the leader of the Suicide Squad — which Smith was previously a member of — and Danielle Brooks’ Leota Adebayo, Waller’s soft-hearted daughter who’s fallen on hard times and takes the job out of desperation. Along for the ride is Freddie Stroma as “Vigilante,” aka Adrian Chase.
The last member of the team — but certainly not least — is Smith’s best friend Eagly, his pet bald eagle.
Cena brings an incredible tenderness to the role of Christopher Smith; his performance is absolutely heartwrenching. He manages to perfectly toe the line between a total jag-off, who is funny to watch as he trips and falls through life, and a very genuine but damaged man that just wants to be loved and do good.
Gunn’s writing swings effortlessly between tragic and comedic with each episode being an emotional roller-coaster that I, personally, am happy to ride until I get sick.
One of the most iconic aspects of the first season is the dance number that serves as the opening credits. Set to the song “Do Ya Wanna Taste It?” by Wig Wam, the sequence features the cast doing a ridiculous, puppet-esque dance with entirely blank, unmoving expressions. No matter what the opening of a given episode is, even if it’s one of the darkest scenes in the show, it will be punctuated with the jarring opening line of the, quite frankly, underrated glamrock song.
Season two has a dance number of its own, set to the far more soulful and soft “Oh Lord” by Foxy Shazam. The number features new cast members and a smoother choreographic style, though it is still notably stonefaced. It sets a more introspective tone, indicating a season marked by growth and interpersonal conflict.
The second season seems to cen-
ter the potential romantic relationship between Smith and Harcourt far more than the first season did — a choice that worried me at first. “Here we go again,” I thought. “The same duo in every superhero movie ever.”
But then I thought about it for more than a second, and realized I was wrong. Sorry for doubting you, Gunn.
It’s tempting to label Harcourt as a femme fatale, but I think doing so does a profound disservice to her character. She’s not a femme fatale; she’s just a woman in the action genre. She prefers hand-to-hand combat rather than seduction and secrecy. In fact, she’s kind of a brute.
James Gunn seems to be gearing up to tackle toxic masculinity, one of the major themes of season one as well, in a very interesting way with these two.
Harcourt picks bar fights, she punches her dashboard ‘til her knuckles bleed, she avoids and snips at her love interest when he wants to have the “What are we?”
conversation. It is literally spelled out for us that Harcourt behaves like a toxic man; the man doing her psych evaluation tells us that on no uncertain terms.
Gunn’s choice to make Harcourt, as well as Smith, grapple with toxic masculinity, and have this slender blonde woman exhibit the traits typically reserved for angsty, brooding male leads creates just enough dissonance to let us see toxic masculinity for what it is: frightening, pathetic and most importantly, self-destructive.
I’m excited to see where this next adventure will take us. I trust Gunn to develop his characters and his world with his wit and heart. New episodes drop every Thursday; until then, peace out.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Lobos tie 3-3 after comeback lead slips in second half
By Paloma Chapa @paloma_chapa8
On Sunday, Aug. 24, the University of New Mexico Lobo soccer team played against the Colorado School of Mines at the UNM Soccer Complex, tying the game after leading 3-2 from three comeback goals.
Colorado forward Bella Campos scored two early goals, giving the Orediggers a 2-0 lead until the 24th minute when Lobos forward Nicole Anderson scored the Lobos’ first goal of the game.
After their first goal, the Lobos became a threat to the Orediggers’ lead, dominating their half and taking more shots — some of which were close range but deflected off of the Mines defense.
Early in the second half, midfield-
er Alysa Whelchel scored the Lobos’ second goal of the comeback, a closerange shot that tied the game 2-2.
Four minutes later, defensive midfielder Kennedy Brown scored the third goal, giving the Lobos a 3-2 lead, which they held until the 83rd minute when Campos scored the equalizer, earning herself a hat trick.
“I can always learn from these experiences,” Brown said after the game. “I’m still trying to find myself in better positions, find the balance offensively and defensively, but slowly (and) surely I hope to make jumps to just improve.”
The two teams battled for the winning goal in the final six minutes of the game, with each team having goal-scoring opportunities.
Lobo Women’s Soccer Head Coach Heather Dyche said the Lobos
scored some good goals, some off of set-pieces, but the team does not do well at the end of games.
“It’s two games in a row that we should have won that we ended up giving up a late goal,” Dyche said.
The Lobos tied 1-1 to Texas A&MCorpus Christi last week, during which Dyche said the equalizing goal also happened late in the game.
Dyche said the team didn’t handle Campos the way they should have, and that Campos “made them pay.”
“We had the majority of the ball. We just weren’t dangerous enough. We weren’t making the right decisions, so when you don’t make the right decisions, you don’t score goals,” Dyche said. “I think (the Lobos) started to make some better decisions in the final third, but it was too little, too late.”
The Lobos are on the road next
week, they will play the University of Oregon on Aug. 28 and Oregon State University on Aug. 31, both of which Dyche said will be a “great test,” for the team.
She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo. com or on X @paloma_chapa8
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo.
University of New Mexico Lobos forward Mercedes Morris (8) kicks the ball past Colorado School of Mines defender Natalie Rouse (19) during the game between UNM and Colorado School of Mines women’s soccer teams at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sun, Aug. 24. The game finished with a close 3-3 tie.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
University of New Mexico Lobos midfielder Gabby Beaudry (18) and defender Samantha Corrie (12) jump for a header to defend a corner kick during the game between UNM and Colorado School of Mines women’s soccer teams at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sun, Aug. 24. The game finished with a close 3-3 tie.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
University of New Mexico Lobos defender Mercedes Morris (8) dribbles towards the goal against Colorado School of Mines defender Avery Kelley (17) during the game between UNM and Colorado School of Mines women’s soccer teams at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sun, Aug. 24. The game finished with a close 3-3 tie.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
PHOTO STORY: Labubus take
By Leila Chapa & Paloma Chapa
@lchapa06
& @paloma_chapa88
On Aug. 23, during a windy evening, the ABQ Food Park was overtaken by all kinds of Labubus, a form of plush doll. Vendors had booths with original Labubu dolls, others had artisan Labubu crafts made by local artists through mediums like crocheting and 3D printing. Labubu keychains, thermoses, purses, backpacks and other merchandise were everywhere on display.
Jessica Rodriguez, a local artist who was selling 3D printed Labubus,
said she started her own business after she was laid off from her tech job.
“I bought my first 3D printer, started selling stuff on Tik Tok and it just took off from there,” Rodriguez said.
The Labubu booths were surrounded by several local food trucks and a kid-sized stage offered kids karaoke where children took charge of the mic and sang along to various popular songs, notably “Soda Pop” and “Golden” from “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” which played repeatedly as children’s favorites.
Alex Chavez, operations manager at ABQ Food Park, said the Labubu fest was the first of its kind in the city and was one of their most successful events.
“We had local artists that sell lo-
cal arts and crafts like they normally do, but today was all about Labubu,” Chavez said.
Chavez said he was proud of the “kid-friendly” nature of the event.
“This is a small boutique park in the North East Heights, we plan on making this the destination for family friendly events of all sorts,” Chavez said.
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_chapa8
ABQ
Labubu merchandise placed on a vendor’s table at the Labubu festival at the Albuquerque Food Park on Aug. 23. Local artists and vendors set up and sold Labubu themed crafts and merchandise for the first Albuquerque Labubu festival.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
Labubu merchandise is displayed on a shelf near a vendor’s table at the Labubu festival at the Albuquerque Food Park on Aug. 23. Local artists and vendors set up and sold Labubu themed crafts and merchandise for the first Albuquerque Labubu festival.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
3D-printed Labubus exhibited on a vendor’s table at the Labubu festival at the Albuquerque Food Park on Aug. 23. Local artists and vendors set up and sold Labubu themed crafts and merchandise for the first Albuquerque Labubu festival.
Leila Chapa / Daily Lobo / @lchapa06
OPINION: NFL 2025 division winner predictions
By Simon Reseigh @simon_reseigh
The long wait is almost over. The NFL season is set to kick off Sept. 4, with the defending Super Bowl champion,Philadelphia Eagles, facing their division rival, the Dallas Cowboys.
The NFL is often the most unpredictable league in sports, but here are predictions for each division winner for the 2025–26 season.
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are coming off a heartbreaking playoff loss in January to the Buffalo Bills and will look to take the AFC crown.
The AFC North remains one of the league’s most competitive divisions, but quarterback Lamar Jackson’s offensive firepower makes Baltimore the favorite to win the division and secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The uncertainty lies in the lack of a true No. 1 wide receiver. Fifth-year veteran Rashod Bateman will look to finally break out and claim that role.
Projected standings:
Baltimore Ravens (14-3)
Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
Cleveland Browns (5-12)
AFC West: Denver Broncos (12-5)
The Broncos are a young, hungry team entering the season with a promising QB in Bo Nix. Denver made key free-agent moves, adding safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw from the San Francisco 49ers.
With the Kansas City Chiefs looking weaker than in years past, this could be Denver’s year to reclaim the division throne, especially with a defense that looks strong on paper.
Projected standings:
Denver Broncos (12-5)
Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)
Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
Las Vegas Raiders (7-10)
AFC East: Buffalo Bills (11-6)
The Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl window remains wide open as long as MVP quarterback Josh Allen leads the offense.
The Bills signed running back James Cook to an extension, bolstering their chances of finally reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in more than 30 years.
With New England’s protection issues for QB Drake Maye, Miami’s concerns
over Tua Tagovailoa’s health, and the Jets’ continued struggles, Buffalo looks poised to stay on top of the division.
Projected standings:
Buffalo Bills (11-6)
Miami Dolphins (8-9)
New England Patriots (6-11)
New York Jets (4-13)
AFC South: Houston Texans
The Texans are aiming for a third straight division title, but QB C.J. Stroud must bounce back from a season where he regressed in nearly every passing category and was sacked 14 more times than he was as a rookie.
The South looks weak overall, with Jacksonville failing to make major moves in free agency, Tennessee rebuilding around top pick Cam Ward, and Indianapolis relying heavily on running back Jonathan Taylor.
Projected standings:
Houston Texans (10-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
Tennessee Titans (9-8)
Indianapolis Colts (5-12)
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
The defending Super Bowl champions look to repeat, re-signing All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun and replacing Darius Slay
Jr. and C.J. Gardner-Johnson with veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.
With Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley powering the offense, Philadelphia remains the division favorite.
Projected standings: Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Washington Commanders (11-6)
Dallas Cowboys (9-8)
New York Giants (4-13)
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
In year three of the Jordan Love era, the Packers look for a third straight playoff appearance and their first division title since moving on from QB Aaron Rodgers.
Green Bay has drafted Texas receiver Matthew Golden and added cornerback
Nate Hobbs. With the Lions losing key coordinators, the Vikings uncertainty about QB J.J. McCarthy’s health and the Bears still rebuilding, the Packers could see an opportunity.
Projected standings:
Green Bay Packers (12-5)
Detroit Lions (11-6)
Minnesota Vikings (10-7)
Chicago Bears (8-9)
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are aiming for a second
straight division crown after the 49ers shed several key defenders.
Los Angeles parted ways with receiver Cooper Kupp, who signed with division rival Seattle, but replaced him with former All-Pro Davante Adams, pairing him with breakout star Puka Nacua.
Projected standings:
Los Angeles Rams (11-6)
Seattle Seahawks (9-8)
San Francisco 49ers (9-8)
Arizona Cardinals (7-10)
NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are looking for a fifth straight division title. They drafted standout receiver Emeka Egbuka to pair with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Baker Mayfield resurrected his career in Tampa, throwing for 41 touchdowns and 4,500 yards last season.
Projected standings: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-6)
Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
New Orleans Saints (7-10)
Carolina Panthers (6-11)
Simon Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo. com or on X @simon_reseigh
HAPS The Entertainment Guide
Mama and the Girls
Monday
JC’s New York Pizza Dept.
Buy Pizza, Wings, and more
With LoboCash through Grubhub
11AM - 10PM; 215 Central Ave, Nw (505) 766 6973
Mama and the Girls Cannabis Dispensary and Education Center
Open 8 AM - 10:30 PM
Quirky Used Books & More Books, Puzzles, Stickers, Mugs, Etc.
11 AM - 6 PM 120 Jefferson St N
Tuesday
Birthright of Albuquerque
Providing love, support, and hope to woman both before and after childbirth.
birthright.org/albuquerque
New Volunteers Always Welcome 10AM-1PM; 3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept.
Buy Pizza, Wings, and more
With LoboCash through Grubhub 11AM - 10PM; 215 Central Ave, Nw (505) 766 6973
Mama and the Girls Cannabis Dispensary and Education Center
Open 8 AM - 10:30 PM
Quirky Used Books & More More than 24,000 Used Books 11 AM - 6 PM | 120 Jefferson St NE
Wednesday
Birthright of Albuquerque Providing love, support, and hope to woman both before and after childbirth.
birthright.org/albuquerque
New Volunteers Always Welcome 10AM-1PM; 3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept. Buy Pizza, Wings, and more With LoboCash through Grubhub 11AM - 10PM; 215 Central Ave, Nw (505) 766 6973
and Education Center
Open 8 AM
Birthright of Albuquerque Providing love, support, and hope to woman both before and after childbirth.
birthright.org/albuquerque
New Volunteers Always Welcome
10AM-1PM; 3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept. Buy Pizza, Wings, and more With LoboCash through Grubhub 11AM - 10PM; 215 Central Ave, Nw (505) 766-6973
Mama and the Girls Cannabis Dispensary and Education Center
Open 8 AM - 10:30 PM
Quirky Used Books & More Books, Puzzles, Stickers, Mugs, Etc. 11 AM - 6 PM; 120 Jefferson St NE
Friday
Birthright of Albuquerque Every Friday: 12PM–3PM Plus Mom’s Support Group on First Friday of the month (10AM–12PM) 3228 Candelaria Rd NE
JC’s New York Pizza Dept. Buy Pizza, Wings, and more With LoboCash through Grubhub 11AM - 12PM; 215 Central Ave, Nw (505) 766-6973 Mama and the Girls Cannabis Dispensary and Education Center Open 8 AM - 10:30 PM
Quirky Used Books & More More than 24,000 Used Books 11 AM - 6 PM | 120 Jefferson St N Saturday JC’s New York Pizza Dept.
Cannabis Dispensary
DAILY LOBO C ampus Calendar of Events Calendar
WEDNESDAY Campus Events 2025 Raza Junta Mesa Vista Hall, Ethnic Center Courtyard 11:30am – 1:30pm Kick off the year with food and music. Food is limited to first come first served.
Crafternoon UNM Women’s Resource Center 12:00 – 2:30pm Hang out, relax, meet new people, and learn a new craft.
Meetings
Abroad 101 Info Session Mesa Vista Hall, Room 2120 1:30 – 2:30pm Group sessions will review all the mandatory information you need to know before applying to study abroad.
Workshops
Financial Fundamentals
SUB, Nusenda Lobo Landing Branch 5:00 – 6:00pm Learn financial fundamentals. Free food and a chance to earn money through scholarship raffle.
ASUNM Full Senate Meeting SUB, Fiesta A/B 5:30 – 7:30pm Honors Student Association Honors College Forum 5:30 – 7:00pm HSA general meeting.
Theater & Film
Midweek Movies: Lilo & Stitch
SUB Theater 6:00 – 8:00pm Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Rideback, the film is a liveaction animated remake of Disney’s 2002 animated film Lilo & Stitch.
Lectures & Readings
Informational Session for the Japan Arts and Culture Study Abroad Program
Honors Forum 2:00 – 3:15pm Learn about the Japan Arts and Culture Study Abroad program.
Financial Fundamentals Centennial Engineering Center Room 2080 3:00 – 4:00pm Learn how to create and stick to a budget, overcome common money pitfalls, eliminate student debt fast, and plan for financial success.
THURSDAY
Campus Events
AISS Welcome Back Mesa Vista Hall Southwest Courtyard 12:00 – 2:00pm Visit with Native student organizations; enjoy food and refreshments; and connect with new and returning Lobos.
Family & Friends Cancer Support Group
Health Sciences, Education Wing 4:00 – 5:30pm A journaling support group for anyone who has a loved one with cancer, a loved one who has survived cancer, and/or a loved one who has died from cancer.
LGBTQ Resource Center Welcome Back BBQ LGBTQ Resource Center 4:30 – 8:00pm 15th annual Welcome Back BBQ to celebrate the start of the 2025 -2026 school year. There will be free food, music, and drag performances.
Hypnotist Zach Pincince 7:00 – 8:30pm SUB Ballroom C With his philosophy that entertainment should never be at the expense of others, Zach prides himself in performing a show that he ensures is not embarrassing for those under his trance, instead giving his volunteers the opportunity to “experience their dreams in real life.”
FRIDAY
Campus Events
AISS Open House Mesa Vista Hall, Room 119 12:00 – 2:00pm Meet the staff, enjoy food, games and a raffle.
Lectures & Readings
Chemistry & Chemical Biology Seminar Clark Hall, Room 101 4:00 –5:00pm John Watt, Los Alamos National Laboratory, presents.
Abroad 101 Info Session Mesa Vista Hall, Room 2120 11:00am – 12:00pm Group sessions will review all the mandatory information you need to know before applying to study abroad.
Thesis/Dissertation Presentation Dean’s Conference Room 2:00 – 3:00pm Ali Mohammadkhorasani, Interdisciplinary: Engineering, presents “A Novel Augmented
DAILY LOBO CLASSIFIEDS
Announcements
CLEARHEADEDNESS. COMPETI T IVENESS. CRYPTOCURRENCIES. HTTP://UNM.NU
LOOKING TO FORM Thinktank in conjunction with UNM Lobo Rainforest. All disciplines, levesl and ages welcome.Text 580-574-2151.
Services
MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS TUTOR. Billy Brown PhD. College and HS. Telephone and internet tutoring available. 505-401-8139, welbert53@aol.com
day!
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
Houses
DAILY LOBO C ampus Calendar of Events Calendar
Los Poblanos Quinta Gallery
4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque
Sports & Recreation
UNM Women’s Volleyball vs New Houston Christian Johnson Center
1:30 – 3:30pm UNM Women’s Volleyball faces off against New Houston Christian. Tickets are free for students but must be acquired online.
&
Legacy in Motion Elizabeth Waters Center for Dance 7:30 – 9:30pm Friends of Dance presents a fundraising concert for dance major scholarships. Tickets $24.50 at UNM Ticketing.
Tamarind Open House
Tamarind Institute
2:00 – 4:00pm Join Pulitzer Prize-winning local composer Raven Chacon and Tamarind Institute staff and printers for an afternoon of workshop demonstrations, gallery tours, and a preview of Chacon’s six-color lithograph, made in collaboration with Valpuri Remling and Ginny Fielding.
in Motion Elizabeth Waters Center for Dance
7:30 – 9:30pm Friends of Dance presents a fundraising concert for dance major scholarships. Tickets $24.50 at
CURRENT EXHIBITS
Tamarind Summer Season Through August 29, 2025
Fan Mail: Celebrating 10 Years of Art and Friendship. This special exhibition honors Tamarind Master Printer Valpuri Remling’s first decade of collaborative work, told through the words and artwork of the artists who have shared the press with her.
Office Hours
John Sommers Gallery UNM Art Building, Room 2 Through September 5, 2025
The second exhibition featuring works by CFA staff.
Gifts of Gaia
John Sommers Lobby Through September 5, 2025
By Stephen Johnston.
Bathrooms & Farmworker Dignity
Fourteen Fifteen Gallery/Alpaca 1415 4th St SW Through September 5, 2025
By UNM Artist Daniela Del Mar.
Inspired by farmworkers’ horrifying, heartbreaking, and hilarious testimonies in Bathrooms & Dignity, recently published by Not Our Farm, this exhibition explores the politics of health, safety, labor, and care while shining a light on the stark realities farmworkers experience across the continent daily.
Fritz Scholder: 1974-1984
Through September 12, 2025
Tamarind Gallery
2500 Central SE, Stanford entrance
Showcasing 20 rarely seen lithographs created by the late American artist Fritz Scholder, spanning a decade of his printmaking practice from 1974 to 1984.
Manhandled Through September 26, 2025
INHABIT Galerie 4436 Corrales Rd. NM. 87048
Presents UNM artists; Bailey Anderson, Luca Berkley, Nancy Davidson, Amy Johnson, Guy Mcmann, Piper Pelligrini, Jose Villalobos, Dangy Walton.
“Nothing Left for Me”: Federal Policy and the Photography of Milton Snow in Diné Bikéyah
Through November 8, 2025
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
This exhibition foregrounds Diné perspectives on the intersecting and ongoing legacies of both photography and American colonialism.
Entangled Cultures: How Humans and Microbes Co-create through Fermentation Through March 14, 2026
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
Entangled Cultures presents diverse global examples of traditional vessels used in the creation and consumption of fermented foods and beverages.
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.
About the Daily Lobo Campus Calendar of Events
The Daily Lobo Campus Calendar coordinator combs through 80+ UNM calendars to find events for you!
Here are the restrictions for what appears in the Daily Lobo Campus 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.
* Events must not require pre-registration.
* Events do not have to be free—if there is a cost, it will be noted.
Did we miss your event? Email us at calendar@dailylobo.com How do you know what’s happening on campus? This is