Even in a crisis, anything is possible in the United States

Editor,

When I immigrated to the U.S. and to New Mexico in 1992, I began to hear the very famous saying that in this country "everything is possible." I was very skeptical about believing in this idea because I grew up in a country where hope had been killed by authoritarianism. Many circumstances and time taught me that this country, and New Mexico specifically, was a land that, although not with a perfect political and economic system, at least offers a place for improvement, and yes, opportunities.

I was hired in 1996 as a tenure-track faculty member at UNM through a search in which 212 people applied. From this pool, two women, who belong to what in the system is known as a "minority group," were hired, and I was one of them. New Mexico and UNM showed that the system, although not perfect, was responding to that famous saying. Twelve years and some months later, I still believe that.

Although not perfect, this country, New Mexico and UNM are places for improvement. It is just a matter of working with honesty, passion, responsibility and solidarity. Also, there should not be a place for the practice of arrogance and authoritarianism. In these years, I learned to be a New Mexican and a Lobo, and I understood that everything that looks like potential could become a present, bright reality with an even better future. This is not an optimistic view. Positive change very often (if not always) comes after systems or practices have previously fallen in disarray. Then the community gets courage and acts. And what looks like a possibility becomes a reality, a positive reality.

This is where UNM is right now. This is the moment to act and participate in shaping the future of this wonderful institution. This moment can be used in a positive way. If UNM higher administration, faculty, staff and students take advantage of this moment of an unpleasant but necessary dialogue to put UNM in the place that it deserves at the state and at national levels; if New Mexico's political leaders stop seeing UNM as a place for political patronage instead of a place for academics; if Democratic leaders understood that they can have an ally in UNM faculty (most of UNM faculty is liberal); if New Mexicans understood the importance of UNM's presence in the community through programs and service learning; if being leaders at all levels in New Mexico, including UNM's leadership, did not mean acting with arrogance but meant serving the public and creating a constructive dialogue with the people that put them in their positions; if UNM faculty's expertise could be appreciated, acknowledged and used for the benefit of everyone instead of spending millions in consulting companies; if everything in higher education is not seen as business-like; if leaders honestly seek solidarity, are passionate and, at the same time, responsible about their mission; if once in a while, we common citizens and workers see some signs of empathy in our leaders; if University's athletics could be recognized, appreciated and enjoyed by everyone without it becoming the tail that wags the dog; if instead of pizzas and T-shirts, Lobo athletics and its sponsors would give away at their games even small UNM scholarships for New Mexican families to send their sons and daughters to study abroad.

Do not tell me that all these and more "ifs" cannot become a reality, for, if so, this is not the place that I thought it was. But I refuse to believe that.

Celia Lopez-Chavez

UNM faculty