Dear UNM Community, I ask you each to consider something right now: How can you reach out and welcome the stranger in your midst? Are you bold enough to see — really see — another person? Do you recognize that you can make a difference in someone's life? My son will not be a sophomore this year at UNM.
Editor, I hear you already. All old people aren't cranky. I have a friend who is 96 years old and is the delight of all who know her. She is independent. She works in her garden every summer. She drives herself to church and the grocery store. She exercises a couple of times a day. She lives in a very small humble house, but it's her place, and she takes care of her home. Too often, my wife and I are out and "hear" crotchety old people. Often they are battering the waitress about the service or the food. Often we get out of their way at the grocery store in fear of being maimed for life by a grocery cart. When visiting in Florida, we look both ways when crossing the road more than once, because of several occasions we've almost been run over by a senior adult.
According to the Albuquerque Rapid Transit official website, in reference to the UNM/Nob Hill area, “designated eastbound travel lanes at University shift from the south side of the street to the north side, expect major delays for commuters. Commuters are advised to use extreme caution at the University intersection. Southeast intersection work is scheduled through September.” But how likely is the advice to use extreme caution heeded in light of the traffic flow and delays? The ART project has been ongoing, and as of the start of the UNM fall semester, it is still working towards completion. Questions about the process of construction as well as ART’s impact on the traffic flow for the City of Albuquerque are continually arising.
Editor, After the recent DOJ investigation at UNM over student sexual assault concerns, LoboRespect Advocacy Center has gained relevance into the new semester with mandatory "Grey Area" training for students. But aren't there other trainings that the University can provide us to improve campus safety? It was in light of this mandatory training that I got to thinking about the recent crime surge we've seen on Central and in Albuquerque at large. To my knowledge, there is no University-mandated training for students on how best to handle robbery, carjacking or aggressive panhandlers; a mass violence event or disaster or how to report such incidents to law enforcement.
Editor, The University of New Mexico student population will miss the contributions of Mrs. Debbie Morris. Mrs. Morris retired this summer as the director of the Student Activities Center. According to the UNM news website, she moved from the small town of Tucumcari to Albuquerque to attend UNM in the footsteps of her father and brother. She received her B.A. and M.P.A at UNM and started out as an accountant in Student Activities in 1983.
Editor, I’m David J. Forjan, and I aim to save Wolves. This letter is entitled, "Wolves and You," because as you’ll see, the persecution of wolves is the same kind of persecution that most of you will have to confront. But first, I’ll share this quote, because you all should never forget that your natural idealism should be preserved at all costs. It’s a quote from Matthew Norman, who said:
Entering the workforce for the first time can be a scary experience whether you’re a high school student or even a college graduate. Regardless of the situation, being prepared can have a major impact on how you may be viewed by potential employers. With so much emphasis on preparation, many may wonder what resources are available to them, and how they can get access to the information they need to better prepare themselves for the job market.
Editor, Debate over issues like abortion and immigration reform does more than push our red buttons. It often makes us shut down, disown our relatives and unfriend friends on social media. But we have to tackle it. On Thursday, June 15, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly signed a memo rescinding an Obama-era plan called the Deferred Action for Parents of Childhood Arrivals. It was one of two major reforms promoted to help solve our currently unworkable immigration system.
Editor, In an apologetic attempt to rationalize the dire state of the nation, political commentators blame the institution of democracy, and by extension, the American people, for the “election” of vulgar impotence and erratic incompetence. While the psychological assessment is correct, the political assumption is false and needs qualification. Despite widespread political immaturity, the people are in fact not at fault here. Donald Trump is an absolute minority president with the support of perhaps roughly 20 percent. He was rejected by the popular vote, which he lost by three million. This defeat still consumes him. It led him to install the so-called “Commission on Election Integrity” which aims at suppressing enough votes to secure future elections. Trump knows he can win elections only through manipulation.
Editor, On August 1, 2017, the University of New Mexico was thrust into national social discord when the Mentoring Institute was called out for a racially insensitive tweet. Days later, the University of Virginia was thrust into political discord as white nationalists and neo-Nazis carrying armor, artilleries, clubs and Confederate flags descended upon Charlottesville, Virginia for a so-called “Unite the Right” rally around the statue of Thomas Jefferson on the Charlottesville campus. The event ultimately escalated into physical violence, led to several injuries and two fatalities and caused Virginia’s governor, Terry McAuliffe, to declare a state of emergency.
Editor, I'm Jewish. I’m proud of being Jewish. In fact, being the only Jewish member of the State House of Representatives is a special source of pride. But there is always that concern — what if? When I was growing up, and we would read about what had happened in Germany during World War II, my father would warn me — it could happen here. I have never believed him. Our institutions, our culture, our history and our people are too strong. There will always be those who embrace hatred over understanding and love. But the vast majority of Americans will resist that hate.
Editor, Americans hope that President Trump and his team can resolve the North Korean tension. Nobody wants any place in America to be struck by an atomic or hydrogen bomb. We are not totally clear on what North Korea can do with a missile, but it is growing clearer their program has advanced and growing stronger almost day by day. Although few people seem to believe North Korea has a hydrogen bomb. We were blindsided by Japan December 7, 1941 when they attacked Pearl Harbor. The Japanese killed 2,335 servicemen. An additional 1,143 were wounded. They attacked us for 110 minutes from 7:55 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. Hundreds of Japanese planes sank or damaged 21 warships and destroyed more than 150 planes on nearby airfields. That was a horrendous day in our history that we never want repeated.
In his speech at the United Nations Climate Summit in May of 2017, former president Barack Obama said, “During the course of my presidency, I made climate change a top priority, because I believe that for all the challenges that we face, this is the one that will define the contours of this century, more dramatically perhaps than any other.” America’s view on climate change is one that has been in ever-changing flux for a while and has impacted everyone on often a political level and sometimes a personal level.
To the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Look, we’re all grown-ups here. Let’s cut through all the bullshit. Every USFWS employee involved with the Mexican Gray Wolf recovery program has sold them out. You’ve all sold out the Mexican Gray Wolves. Either by the “Sin of Commission” or the “Sin of Omission.” Either selling them out by direct action, like those who wrote the new recovery plan. Or selling out the Mexican Gray Wolves by their inaction, like not standing up or speaking up or screaming at the top of your lungs that the program has, and is continuing to fail the wolves.
Editor, The New Mexico Book Co-op had a meeting with Interim Provost White about the problems and future of UNM Press. It was touted that Dean Clement was coming too, but he was a no-show. The Co-op has over 1600 members — authors, publishers, stores, designers, reviewers from all across the Southwest — and 80 people attended on July 24. Although the Co-op has documents scheduling downsizing, employee eliminations (8), titles purged and most distressing — the UNM Press warehouse being emptied of books that are to be sent out-of-state — some UNM employees say that action is not engraved in stone.
The latest healthcare initiative from the Trump administration and the Republican Party's leaders in Congress seems set to sink just like the last version. Mitch McConnell can't seem to round up the votes to push it through the Senate; if anything, the House is more likely to tear apart than pass the Senate version, and the White House isn't getting anywhere with its attempt to mobilize the nation's governors behind attempts to modify the Affordable Care Act, aka "ObamaCare." Good. Even the most ambitious proposal up for serious consideration 一 repealing ObamaCare and reverting to pre-2010 rules 一 is just nibbling around the edges of the problems of maximizing care availability and minimizing costs, as was ObamaCare itself. Sooner or later 一 and the sooner the better 一 one of two radical solutions will be adopted.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Yes, I know, it’s completely cheesy to open up a column about volunteerism with a quote from Ghandi, but it’s true. Community service can help us find empathy, education and community. We come to understand that despite our various hardships and societal factions, we’re all just people: equally powerful, equally powerless. Still, we often forget that fulfilling volunteer work does not always have to be far from home.
When Executive Order 13769 was issued on January 27, 2017, protesters immediately took to the streets and airports, and news outlets brandished photos of protesters filling airports by the thousands. The results were clear: there was a definite divide on who supported the executive order and who did not. Many Americans were uncomfortable or outright angry with the order, which lowered the number of refugees to be admitted into the United States in 2017 and suspended the entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Editor, It is perfectly normal for college students to feel anxious at times, but is it normal for anxiety to interfere in your daily life, your college work or your fun activities? Many of us know that summer break is almost over for college students, and school is ready to start again. We are about headed for another semester, students! According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America website, “Forty million U.S. adults suffer from an anxiety disorder, and 75 percent of them experience their first episode of anxiety by (the) age of 22, and about 41.6 percent stated anxiety as the top pressing concern among college students.”
Editor, Between 1891 and 2017 the University of New Mexico has never had a female President! Chaouki T. Abdallah 2017–2016, Robert Frank 2012–2016, David James Schmidly 2007–2012, David Harris 2006–2007, Louis Caldera 2003–2006, Chris Garcia–2003, William C. Gordon 1998–2002, Richard Peck 1990–1998, Gerald May 198–1990, Tom Farer 1985–1986, John Perovich 1982–1984, William Eugene Davis 1975–1982, Ferrel Heady 1968–1975, Thomas Popejoy 1948–1968, John Wernette 1945–1948, James Zimmerman 1927–1944, David Hill 1919–1927, David Boyd 1912–1919, Edward Gray 1909–1912, William George Tight 1902–1909, Clarence Herrick 1897–1901 Elias Sleeper Stover 1891–1897.
Solutions by The State News
