Daily Lobo new mexico
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Monday, May 2, 2022 | Vo l u m e 1 2 6 | I s s u e 3 5
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
New Mexico albaze, wildfire season begins By Elizabeth Secor @esecor2003
Destruction continues throughout the state as the combined Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak fires are currently the largest wildfire in the United States, having burned down 103,908 acres of land as of Sunday, May 1. Across New Mexico, there are currently 49 active wildfires as of Sunday, May 1, caused by severe to exceptional drought conditions, a leading cause of the wildfires that have been ablaze since early April, impacting communities and workers across the state working to keep everyone informed and safe. Intense wind conditions and years of drought have rapidly increased the speed at which the fires have grown, according to KOAT. In an emergency declaration from April 24, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham urged citizens to evacuate areas with fire warnings and cautioned a difficult summer ahead. At the time of the press conference, there were 20 active wildfires burning across 16 counties. "There are currently more than 1,000 firefighters working on these fires statewide. It will be a tough summer because our risk season is incredibly and dangerously early, and it means we have a longer,
Mackenzie Schwartz / Daily Lobo / @mackenzid5
A charred tree at Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area on Thursday, April 28.
more dramatic, and quite frankly, more dangerous fire season," Lujan Grisham said. Restrictions and closures can in-
clude evacuations of different communities. Even with the “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire awareness and preparedness plan in place, some-
times, due to fires moving quickly, residents like University of New Mexico student Tatiana Roache were not given much prior warning
before evacuating. “There was little to no notice for the evacuation in my case. We
see Fires page 2
AAPI Resource Center officially open Albuquerque underBy Nell Johnson & Maxwell Minty McGrael @peachesnell @maxmintymcgrael April 28 marked a historic event for the University of New Mexico’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community with the official opening of the Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center (colloquially pronounced as ay-perk). The ribbon-cutting ceremony boasted a large turnout of students, community members and notable guests. Although AAPIRC has been open for some time now, this marks one of the first large public events in the space with socializing and lots of tasty food. Farah Nousheen, the associate director of AAPIRC, led the ceremony, opening it with a series of warm welcomes. The event also included many distinguished guest speakers, including New Mexico’s Deputy Director and state Rep. Kay Bounkeua, UNM President Garnett Stokes, associate professor of communication and journalism Shinsuke Eguchi and others. Other community members were present to show their support, including the New Mexico Asian Family Center. Founders Irene Sanaoue, Emma
Hotz and Jacob Olaguir, alongside students, staff and guests, cut the ribbon to AAPIRC with great enthusiasm. Hotz said that she couldn’t believe it was real. In the moments following, AAPIRC invited everyone in for an open house event where students, staff and community members could share what the space means to them. Alina Le is a student who finds a place of belonging within the walls of AAPIRC. She explained that it is a place where she can be her true self. “It’s amazing to see how much got done this semester,” Le said. Doj Pimentel, a nursing student and member of the Filipino Student Organization, expressed the myriad of benefits AAPIRC provides, including increased cultural belonging, study help and snacks like spicy buldak ramen. Pimentel said the center is a great place to study and meet others with the same degree plan. Some academic departments and the Center for Academic Program Support have a presence at AAPIRC as well. Just a few of the classes that hold study sessions include chemistry, nutrition and biology. “It’s not just a social hub, it’s a homework/study hub. A lot of PLF’s or SI’s (peer learning facilitators or supplemental instructors) hold
their study sessions in AAPIRC,” Pimentel said. Socially, Pimentel explained that AAPIRC has been a great resource for him and other students, especially for 2020 high school graduates who started college remotely. He described the sense of grounding it has provided him and his classmates. “Now because of AAPIRC, anyone from these organizations or outside these organizations can have a place to stay. Personally, I used to go everywhere, Zimmerman, Centennial, Einstein’s, but now all I do is go to AAPIRC to study. It makes me feel welcome; there’s lots of friendly faces,” Pimentel said. Pimentel also praised AAPIRC as a place to crash in between classes — there are now two couches at the center. But beyond these offerings, AAPIRC provides something more: a place to explore one’s sense of identity and connection with family. Pimentel explained, for example, that some Filipinos feel isolated from their roots when relatives visit. AAPIRC and collaborating organizations like the Filipino Student Organization help them recognize those roots and escape the disconnect that results from assimilating into the dominant white culture.
see AAPIRC page 2
goes redistricting committee sessions By Madeline Pukite @maddogputkite
The city of Albuquerque is currently undergoing a redistricting process as is required by the city charter following every census, the latest of which happened in 2020. The redistricting committee has been meeting since early March to discuss potential new district lines and hear community input; their latest meeting took place on Wednesday, April 27. Redistricting has a substantial effect on how the city government operates as it ensures that the populations of different districts are equally represented within the City Council. Some districts have grown unevenly in the 10 years since the city was last redistricted. The redistricting process can also be used to ensure that marginalized comunities’ voices are being adequately represented and heard. “Resources, who represents you, how that individual will be elected to represent you, what happens, in your
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neighborhood: this process is about it,” Cathryn McGill, the chair of the committee, said. There are currently five district maps in heavy consideration by the committee, each drawn up by independent analytics contractor Research and Polling Inc. based on census data. At the meeting, Research and Polling Inc. presented another potential map that evenly distributed areas of higher social vulnerability across voting districts, as per the request of committee member Travis Kellerman, who is from current council District 7. Brittany Poss, director of data and analytics at Research and Polling Inc., said this was an unusual request. “(His idea), I think, is that the districts are more fair if that social vulnerability is spread out evenly across districts. I think there’s other people that would argue that it makes more sense to keep socially vulnerable areas together in the same district so that their voting power is sort of consolidated and increased,”
see Redistricting page 2