Editor,
The Albuquerque Tribune reported Thursday that The Sporting News ranked UNM 88th out of 115 schools playing Division-I sports. The magazine gave UNM an "F" for ethics based on the school's gender-equity policies, graduation rates and compliance with NCAA rules.
How did UNM Athletics Director Rudy Davalos respond? He called the reporter who filed the story a "jerk." I'm sure Davalos will consider me in a similarly unfavorable light.
As an instructor here, I have been threatened with physical violence by a UNM football player and a basketball player who I warned to stop disrupting class, read, with dismay, the seemingly endless accounts of athletes who have been charged with assaulting or raping other students, and observed the lackluster academic performance and attendance record of athletes who have no interest in education and can barely read and write.
But, of course, only jerks think a university exists to provide education in our great state. Our real purpose here is to coddle thugs who can throw a ball, run and provide sports entertainment for thousands of fans.
James Burbank
Teacher's assistant
English Department
