Editor,
I am writing in an attempt to dissuade
ASUNM from further lobbying
on behalf of a review week before
finals week. I feel this effort is a
mistake and, if successful, will only
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harm students by lowering the academic
standards of the University.
A professor of mine recently remarked
that we should not make any
mistake about our status as students
in the University of New Mexico.
Students here are not only among
the select few who attend college,
but they are also among those privileged
to live in the most prosperous
nation on Earth.
Put simply, we are the elite and
should not forget our great fortune.
The great blessing of being able
to receive a college education is not
something which should be dismissed
lightly, nor is it something
that should be achieved easily. If
a student is able to simply cruise
through his or her classes without
much stress or exertion, then it raises
questions about how much he or
she is actually learning. If no study
is required, are you simply wasting
your time by taking a class where
you already master the subject?
A college degree is a great thing
that should be honored, and now
we are discussing a reduction in the
amount of material that is taught
because it is too difficult. We do
not attend college in order to party
and get high for four years, and we
should remember the words of former
President John Kennedy, who
said we attempt great things "not
because they are easy, but because
they are hard, because that goal will
serve to organize and measure the
best of our energies and skills, because
that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling
to postpone, and one which
we intend to win."
Just last May, former President
Louis Caldera proposed raising the
bar of admission to UNM, arguing
the University's admissions philosophy
is to enroll all qualified students
who have the ability to succeed at
UNM. Caldera defined "qualified"
as a New Mexico high school graduate
with two years of a foreign language,
and "success" as a reasonable
chance to obtain a degree. Caldera
was criticized for this proposal, and
now he has resigned amid further
controversy.
In the Daily Lobo article on Tuesday,
Anthony Chen said finals week
is really hectic, and that "all of a sudden
you have to use your time more
efficiently." Using time efficiently is
something that is taught by every tutor
in existence, and free tutoring is
available at CAPS for those students
who cannot understand the time
management that college requires.
Brittany Jaeger stated that taking a
freshman final early on a Saturday
morning could affect retention.
But I think Greg Blalock said it
best when he said finals week is no
more problem than any other week
and that college is always busy.
This is the heart of my argument.
College can and should be highly
challenging and exhausting, but that
is the fire by which we are tried. I
would submit that too many people
have obtained college degrees from
institutions more interested in graduating
the maximum number of students
than educating them well.
If we are to lower our expectations
so no one feels challenged beyond
their ability, then we devalue the education
that all of us are paying good
money, time and effort to attain.
Jonathan Strawn
UNM student
