by Christopher Sanchez
Daily Lobo
People say it's taboo to bring up religion and politics in conversation.
But the director of religious studies said it's necessary to understand what's happening in the world.
"The bottom line is, in the 21st century, students have to know about religious traditions in the world," Richard Wood said. "Look at American politics. Look at what's going on in Iraq. Look at the international world - religion is driving all sorts of important things in the world."
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The Board of Regents approved an endowed chairperson position in Catholic studies on June 12.
The chairperson will be a professor who teaches, researches and writes about Catholicism, Wood said.
The position is a first for the department, but it won't be the last, he said.
Since Wood became director of religious studies three years ago, he has worked on getting an endowed chairperson in the department.
Wood said it made sense to start with a Catholic chairperson because the religion is a state tradition.
Graduate student Bhavana Upadhyaya said the endowed position is a great idea.
However, she is concerned that lesser-known religions, such as American-Indian spirituality, will get less attention.
"Religion is part of so many people's lives, but at the same time, there needs to be a careful, delicate balance," she said.
Wood said the position would have the opposite effect.
It will open doors for other religions to have a chairperson within the department, he said.
"I'd love to see a chair of Buddhism studies, a chair of Hinduism studies, a chair of Mormonism studies," he said. "There are all kinds of possible chairs
out there."
Wood said the chairperson must have a doctorate.
"It could be anyone from a historian to a musician, from a theologist to a sociologist," he said. "We want someone to teach about Catholic teachings on theological issues and social issues."
A seven-member committee will start a national search in the coming months, Wood said.
The archdiocese will nominate three members, but the dean of arts and sciences must approve them. The other four members will be UNM faculty members.
The committee will recommend applicants, but the dean of arts and sciences gets the final say, Wood said.
Wood said the position will be filled by fall 2008 or fall 2009, depending on how long it takes to get fully funded.
So far, the program has $1.8 million, including a $500,000 donation from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
The archdiocese is soliciting donations from the community, Wood said.
He said the goal is to raise $2.5 million.
One local, anonymous donor shelled out a $1 million donation to the program, he said. The owners of the Frontier Restaurant also provided $300,000, he said.
The chairperson could get paid as much as $120,000 per year or as little as $55,000 per year, depending on his or her degree and experience,
Wood said.
Student Matt Gallegos said the endowed chairperson for Catholic studies will promote
diversity.
"We have the option to enroll in a class taught by these people," he said. "They're not forcing it on the University. That was never the intention. It just happens to be the fact that New Mexico does have a large Catholic presence."
