Editor,
This letter is in response to the selfish, close-minded remarks of Lawrence Allen. In Friday's Daily Lobo, Allen stated that not only are the minority-directed budget cuts a positive change but that the proposed cuts do not go far enough. His ideas were as follows: 1) "Eliminate the Women's Studies, African Studies and Hispanic Studies Department," for they are "devoted entirely to lying to students" and "serve no purpose."
I can guess Allen is a male who is neither of African or Hispanic descent, for it is quite typical for one with his mind-set to be in favor of ridding the world, or, in this case, UNM, of anything and anyone possessing characteristics different than his own. I recall learning of someone with a similar approach to society: Adolf Hitler.
If Lawrence had ever attended an African-American or Hispanic studies class, he'd at least know that we don't have an African Studies Department, but an African-American Studies Department. I bet it makes him cringe - the idea of women, African-Americans and Hispanics coming together and learning about their culture and capabilities.
Allen, maybe we should resort to a method used almost a 100 years ago and just strip anyone who falls into these "idiotic" categories you speak of of books. You don't need any of us learning more than we already know, right?
Your second idea was to "Eliminate support services, ethnic centers and anything devoted to specifically helping nontraditional students, nonwhites and transfers." This is a new age, moron. In 2009, we actually do care about the success of everyone, whether they're a genius like you or need a little tutoring to help them through a course. You feel that "anyone who can't get through college without help has no business here." So why don't you and President David Schmidly do away with the CAPS program, the athletic tutoring, ramps for the physically disabled, and teaching assistants? Anyone who requires the assistance of any of the above mentioned shouldn't be at UNM in your opinion. In fact, why are you here, as I'm sure you required the assistance of your parents' bank account to get you through?
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Your third point was to "Stop handing out Lottery Scholarships to any moron who can keep his or her GPA above a D average," for it would free up state funds for students "who are suited to something other than unskilled labor" and reduce the number of "hoodlums on campus." First off, I come from a very poor family. I'm a black woman, and I am not a hoodlum. In fact, I am in a very prestigious medical program through UNM and have never been in trouble with the law. Imagine that. In fact, if you sat down to study with me, I bet this poor black girl could teach you more than you could ever teach me, and it wouldn't be about vandalism.
We poor folk need the scholarship money so that we don't have to become unskilled laborers, but so we may be the professors or doctors to your children someday. We all understand you have the brains and the parents with money to get you through college, but not all of us do. Some of us are first-generation college students who are very much more deserving of the scholarship than your pea-brained mind could ever fathom. The goal of this nation is not to reduce class sizes by reducing the amount of students who go to college based on income.
If you desire all of these changes so badly, why didn't you go to a private institution since you can afford it? You wouldn't have to surround yourself with poor students, minority students, students who need tutoring, students who deserve and desire to learn just as badly as you. Even better, why don't you go sit in Schmidly's office, and you two can learn from each other's off-balance ideas?
I am everything that you want to purge from UNM. I am low-income, so I receive scholarships. I am black, and I do enjoy going into the African-American Student Services to enjoy the company of whites, Hispanics, Asians, Middle-Easterners and other fellow African-Americans. Every now and then, I need someone to explain subject matter to me, so I go to CAPS and take advantage of our support services. I am here; we are all here. We are not going anywhere else. Deal with it, and live with it.
There are some things that no one can take from us, you or Schmidly, regardless of how much money we have. Going to college is more than getting good grades and making sure you can pay for it. It is about finding oneself, however that may be. Please, Allen, find yourself. If you already have, may God be with you.
Nicole Harris
UNM student
