Editor,
I came to the budget summit because I wanted to see where my tuition money was going, and I wanted to hear what students had to say.
Protest was in everyone’s mouths. A lady in a suit seemed to be one of the people who responded to media inquiries about her well-being. She repeatedly said that she was taking it as “live theater” and as “impromptu live theater.”
Is that what I came to see? Is that what the student voices are viewed as?
By 11:36 a.m., the summit wasn’t through half of the agenda. Either the agenda was overambitious, or the summit was plagued by a deliberate lack of time management.
A student who attended previous summits told me that such elaboration on agenda items is uncharacteristic. With the time spent on certain topics, combined with chatter in the room (the protest), it seems the latter suggestion is feasible.
The clock struck 1 p.m., and we weren’t at the agenda bullet where we were supposed to be. I looked around and saw that stalling tactic had “weeded out” students who came to civilly voice concerns — valid and reasonable concerns.
Eventually, I left early, and so did most at the summit attendees. And I couldn’t help being disappointed in my institution.
This is where my money is going — to an institution that does not care that the “theater” of students is the “theater” that funds summits like these.
Faces that were familiar and friendly in other contexts eyed me with suspicion and caution. I was the enemy, and I was not to be trusted. I might have burst into theatrics or something.
But I did not, and neither did other students.
It would behoove UNM to remember where the money comes from.
Yes, there’s money from the state. Yes, there’s money from other sources. But the “big fuss” is the tuition increase, and who pays tuition? Students! Students work, at times, two or more jobs to make ends meet. Students don’t have insurance or 28 vice presidents to delegate problems to. Students presently take out loans for the promise of a better future.
UNM, I give you tuition, and I gave you my Monday.
The least you can do is to give back and put my money where it matters. Remember where it comes from. Take tuition-payers’ concerns into account.
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Desiree Quinones-Soria
UNM student
