Editor, New Mexico's congressional delegation has no idea why New Mexico's National Guard troops have only 33.8 percent of the equipment and support they need. Perhaps borrowing and spending $8 billion every month in Iraq might have something to do with it.
by Matthew Chavez Daily Lobo columnist The White House and its dwindling allies continue the struggle to pull redemption from the charred rubble of Iraq. Nothing unsettles the Bush administration more than a legacy of trillions of dollars spent and hundreds of thousands of grisly deaths with no strategic gain to show for it.
Editor, President David Schmidly's guest editorial Feb. 20 asking for the help of the UNM community to improve the school clearly showed that he does not understand the central issues plaguing UNM. Or, it showed he has no desire to deal with these issues.
Editor, I wanted to say I'm a big fan of Mike Smith's weekly column - it's the most entertaining in the paper - but I think there were some inaccuracies in last week's article. First of all, I highly doubt Los Alamos National Laboratory has manufactured tiny black holes in its laser-fusion experiments.
Editor, Do you know how your student fees are spent, who is spending them and why? The Student Fee Review Board is a committee of students selected by the ASUNM president and the GPSA president. It allocates about $8 million in student fees to departments across campus.
Editor, The article in Monday's Daily Lobo on the possible closing of the North Golf Course does not mention one big use by the public. I know - I have lived right next to the course for six years. It is dogs. People bring their dogs from all over town and feel at liberty to let them run without leashes.
Editor, During this month-long celebration for African-Americans, I can't help but think of one of America's greatest citizens, Martin Luther King Jr. I often listen to his famous speech, "I Have A Dream," and sometimes, chills run through my body. The reason for this response is not the magnificent voice or intonation of the words, but the truth of what was said and the hope for a better nation.
Editor, Ever-increasing tuition costs might lead one to think the money is going toward student and faculty resources, such as computers, student housing and maybe even a raise for our passionate teachers. You would be wrong, though, because it's going to our recently appointed president, who is bringing in $587,000 a year, which includes a $42,000 car allowance and a $45,000 housing allowance.
Editor, I am a UNM student and the mother of two children under the age of 2. As any other student, at times I need help with my classes in order to get the grades I desire. CAPS is the best resource for help at UNM. Last week, I needed help with chemistry homework.
Editor, Let me say that while banning cell phones while driving and banning all tobacco products and skateboarding on campus is a good start, it's not enough. Let us consider cell phones. The dangerous factor is not limited to having only one hand available while driving, but also includes the distraction of talking.
Editor, Amadou Diallo, a young African immigrant, was killed by four New York Police officers in a hail of 41 bullets on Feb. 4, 1999. All the officers were cleared of the charges. Sean Bell, a young African-American, was killed by five New York Police officers in a hail of 50 bullets on Nov.
Editor, Perhaps it is the distinct click-clack of a skateboard riding over the seams on a sidewalk that reminds me of childhood summers. Or, perhaps it is the memory of that beat-up skateboard at the door that always meant my brother was home. Or, perhaps it is the surge of pride I felt when my daughter asked for a skateboard for her birthday - a gift I never would have asked for as a little girl.
Editor, I want to join track and field member Karl Kalm in mourning the resignations of track coaches Matt and Mark Henry. For five years, I have had the privilege of working with them as the academic adviser for the track team, and it has been a delightful experience.
Editor, Over the past few months, there has been a lot of talk about banning smoking outdoors. Not only am I referring to the proposal to ban it from campus, but some cities have actually made it illegal to smoke outside, too. While I am not a smoker, I feel as though someone should speak up.
Editor, I would like to offer a correction to Wednesday's article concerning the tobacco motion passed by the Staff Council. I am a staff councilor, and I voted against this motion, so it is not accurate to say it was passed unanimously. Since the surgeon general has advised there is no safe level of secondhand smoke, I would agree it is in the interest of staff, faculty and students to have a smoke-free campus.
Editor, On Monday at track practice, head coach Matt Henry informed his athletes that he will not be coming back to coach next year. The athletes were stunned by the candid resignation, unwilling to accept the reality of losing their longtime mentor and friend.
Editor, This is in response to the student who complained it was an "atrocity" when her car was booted while illegally parked at the UNM Hospital structure. I am in complete agreement with the student - a boot should not have been put on her car. She should have been towed.
Editor, Without knowing much about UNM, I could now tell anyone that its future is brighter because of the hiring of Oklahoma State's president David Schmidly. Schmidly has done wonderful things for OSU's entire student body, faculty and university system.
Editor, I'm not sure if Joe Buffaloe was being facetious in his rant about the Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial in Wednesday's Daily Lobo, but he seems to be arguing that no one cares about the trial, and that the issues are confusing and unimportant. This could not be farther from the truth.
Solutions by The State News
