My degree might make a great placemat someday.

First, I'd like to apologize to my classmates for missing my scheduled posting. Life sometimes brings things that are unfortunately unwelcome and inevitable. Sorry again.

Education has been drilled in me from infancy. My mother grew up in Mexico and never had the opportunity to attend school. My father did have a normal education but my parents got married at a young age. His parents were not fond of the matrimony and protested the marriage by refusing to further his education. (And I have to insert this note because every time I tell this story the first assumption is pregnancy. In fact- she was not… that came 3 years later. It really is a Romeo and Juliet type story without the dying of course!) My mom worked full time to put my dad through college and it paid off. He graduated UTEP in 1986 with honors and a degree in engineering and math. In his last semester his friend, who had graduated the previous semester, told him about the great job she had landed and the company was looking for engineers. She convinced him to apply for the internship and sure enough he landed the job. My dad STILL works for the company today. He has worked his way up of course, from incredibly meager beginnings in our tight family to a comfortable but moderate lifestyle for all of us. Although I must admit that I often wonder- where would he be if he hadn’t landed real life experience through his internship? Post graduation worries are everywhere. My friends, my sister my classmates all express the same concern. What happens next?

Next example, my best friend got her BA in communications. She’s had jobs but they’ve been all work study positions as a cashier or receptionist. All throughout college she lived on her own, whether it was in the dorms or in an apartment, she lived alone. She moved back home after graduation, searching and applying for jobs. Six months after graduation she still hadn’t found a job and she decided to get into real estate. She even moved up into an area where sales were great. She got her license and started selling… for 6 months after selling one small property. Most people wouldn’t buy from her because they felt she was too young and didn’t take her seriously. She graduated in 2005 and she just barely found another job. She works with the tribe in Durango for a meager 13/hr as a receptionist. She has no real world job experience, no serious computer, human resource or marketing skills. She stresses everyday to me “What did I go to college for if no one will hire me?” She has applied for every “entry level” position under the sun and still nothing. Is a degree really all you need anymore?

I think a degree isn’t enough anymore. I read an article early this year saying unemployed college graduates in on the rise. So many graduates move back home after graduation because they can’t find a real job. I haven’t graduated yet but I did what my dad did. I have tried to further my real world job experience as well as my education. A degree can’t be enough anymore. There is a lot of competition out there so what can we do to stand out from the other resumes? I’ve actually found some people get awesome jobs and don’t have a college degree. Examples include my boss, Brandon, who is in charge of lifestyle marketing for Atlantic and my friend, Matt, who is a marketing coordinator for Warner Music Group, but neither have degrees. What do they have? Experience- experience-experience. Brandon has seven years of marketing experience… he is 23! How should we go about getting this experience? I admit it is hard to get a decent job no matter how much experience you have (believe me I am sick of hearing the response “over qualified”) especially when you attend school. Should the school put more emphasis on preparing you? Could post graduate stresses be avoided by making a real job internship mandatory as part of you curriculum? Should we seek a professional mentor? Should we work our networks? I think it couldn’t hurt to try it all. I don’t feel that UNM puts enough emphasis on helping its students find jobs. Maybe it’s because I am uninformed about what the university offers but lets face it- I can’t be the only one. I read the lobo and listing career fairs can only do so much! I feel that at this point in our careers, if we don’t fend for ourselves, we’re screwed.

Transportation Dillemma: Scooters, Love ‘em or Leave ‘em?

Some people at the University of New Mexico have noticed the increase in motor scooter use on campus. Furthermore, not only has the increased use been noted, the increased nuisance due to these motor scooters has also been commented on. By looking at some differences in where scooters are more frequently used, versus where they are less commonly used, we may be able to identify if this is as big of a problem so as to consider banning motor scooter use altogether.

Transportation on main campus, aside from the shuttle system, involves a variety of numerous skateboards, scooters (both electric and non-electric), bicycles, sometimes even roller blades, and we can not forgot those who use good-old fashioned walking! On the north campus the majority of people either walk, ride a bicycle, and even a small amount of people ride scooters.

Although there are labels on the walk-ways of main campus that direct where bicyclists are supposed to ride, and where walkers are not supposed to walk, this seems to be a lost concept. It would be assumed that if one is riding a scooter, the same principal would apply to follow the labeled path. However, there have been many commentators who have mentioned one time, or several, when almost run down by someone riding on a bicycle or skateboard, and even scooter.

On north campus, although there are no labeled sidewalks for bicyclists, the populations are such that there is no confusion in which direction to walk when a bicyclist, or scooterist, is headed in your direction. It seems as though this may be proof of harmony between pedestrian and bicycle/ scooterist.

I do not think that banning motor scooters is the solution to the ever-growing “alternative transportation lifestyle” that the main campus faces. If anything, scooters are a better option than even bicycles because at least you can hear them coming behind you! Furthermore, a much more debated topic is the issue of being environmentally “friendly”, which scooters are more environmentally, and economically, sound, and produce much less pollution than cars and busses.

Therefore, rather than banning scooters I think it would be a much better solution if it could be enforced that bicyclists, scooterists, skateboarders, etc. could simply follow the bike pathways. Furthermore, this would also be easier to do, following the bike pathways, if there weren’t pedestrians walking on them. Needless to say, it may also help if people watched where they were walking, and could help to avoid these biker paths. This would be a great solution because than everyone would be happy. The only problem left is really HOW does one go about implementing this seemingly simple concept?

-Christina

What the...french toast?

OK people, lets be honest...

How many times have we gone hungry during our lunch breaks on campus due to not so grand food choices? Due to the fact that chick file just didn't seem to "float our boats" anymore or the fact that Sonic is on the worst list of food decisions when it comes to eating healthy and staying off the "freshman 15"?I have actually experienced something rather amusing yet ironic when i was last at Sonic...A worker that was busy shuffling fries in the grease was talking to her fellow coworker about this wonderful food resource. These were her exact words - " Why would anybody want to eat this? why would anybody want to stick so much grease onto their gut??"
So there I stand...stranded...waiting for my grease to be prepared, with such disgust and actual sorrow, thinking about my future harsh workout plan. Great!

Of course we also have "fresh" sushi and some Mexican variety...oh and lets not forget about the endless lines at the Deli corner and the carbs-full bread sticks from Pizza Hut...awesome!
Somethings gotta change. Don't you think?

For my personal research,I decided to talk to a couple of my friends who are transfers from other schools about the food choices in their previous schools and all came to the conclusion that UNM's food choices are pretty weak. What a shame. In such a diverse student community, with people wanting so many different things from life and living such different lifestyles I would expect all of my fellow hungry people to be satisfied when it comes to nutrition.
And some of you might be wondering right now- " gees, is it really that bad?do people really care?"

Well, i do have an answer. Indeed a problem persists....I read the Daily Lobo every day and I'came across many notes about how many people are dissatisfied with the food choices and the food decisions they are basically forced to make...

it comes to solutions, I wish i could see more restaurants open. The lines are ridiculous and take up so much of our time, especially when some don't really have long lunch breaks.
I'd love to see a salad variety.Maybe a special section in the sub that is all about the Healthy Yet Yummy food.

The only place I truly appreciate in the SUB is the Higher Grounds. I love their coffee and their breakfast and lunch specials. But it gets boring to eat that every day right?
Maybe some changes will appear very soon?

What do you think?

Time is running out!

Time is running out for Damien Echols, Jessie Miskelly and Justin Baldwin Jr. Three young men known as the "West Memphis Three" were injustly accused of murdering three 8 year old boys in West Mememphis, Arkansas in 1993. At the time they were arrested they were only teenagers who like many of the young students at the University of New Mexico wore heavy metal t-shirts, had long hair and liked to read Stephen King novels. There is no real evidence linking these men to the murders of these children. Except a 40 minute statement made by Jessie Miskelly who is mentally handicapped and was subjected to 12 hours of interrogation without legal counsel or parental consent. The three were convicted of murder in 1994; Damien Echols was sentenced to the Death Penalty, Baldwin was sentenced to life without parole.

Supporters and friends have set-up a website at www.wm3.org and at www.myspace.com/almosthomevol1 to raise awareness as to the grave injustice taken against these three men. If you believe in the American justice system and believe that a man is innocent until proven guilty, I encourage you to visit one of these sites. There you will find the latest information pertaining to their case. Information on documentries, books, essays and music dedicated to the "West Memphis 3".

Here is a short list of some of the supporters of the "West Memphis Three";
Wionna Ryder
Michale Graves
Henry Rollins
Amnesty International
The Cure
Metallica
Abolish the Death Penalty
Marilyn Manson
Steve Earle
and the list goes on...

Use your first amendment right and speak out! "Free the West Memphis Three"

Josephine

Restructure Collegiate "Experience"

Throughout junior high and high school teachers, parents, and friends preached how important a college education is to our future career success. So with that in mind we engage in an endless number of hours of extra curricular activities, volunteer work, and “character building” activities. We then look at our past and find that one element that would embody who we are, how we got here, and what we have to offer to society. What would spur high school students that are more interested in the opposite sex to divert time from flirting and hanging out to countless hours of monotonous work? To perfect that dreaded college application.However, prior to1994 there was a potential catastrophe brewing in the United States. It was reported that 3.4 million youth ages 16-24, representing 11% of that population, had not completed high school and were not currently enrolled in any form of school. Even more stricken of the remaining 89% of youth that did graduate high school a wopping 75% did not complete college or any other form of high education/training.On the other end of the spectrum employers were faced with an unskilled workforce. US employers, at the time, estimated 20% of employees were not proficient at their jobs and over 50% of these employees could not find qualified applicants for ENTRY LEVEL JOBS. With all these elements at play these employees were forced to spend over 30 billion dollars annually to train and retrain these unprepared workers. With the increased competition of international employees entering the US workforce the Clinton administration passed the Opportunities Act of 1994. The Opportunities Act provides fund for the implementation of “School-to-work” programs.School-to-work programs have been implemented in all 50 states. A recent employer survey, conducted by the National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce and the U.S. Bureau of the Census, found that 25 percent of U.S. businesses are now involved in school-to-work partnerships and that more than 90 percent of those businesses are providing students with onsite learning experiences, such as job shadowing, mentoring, internship, and apprenticeship programs. With this great success why are more and more collegiate graduates leaving the realm of collegiate life and faced with closed doors into the working world? http://www.education-world.com/a_issues/issues040.shtmlThe most popular answer from interviewing employers is, “You lack the experience we are looking for”. WOW, so the countless business models, plans, and group projects for these same businesses that were carried out in Anderson School, or the hours spent on chemistry experiments, or the hundreds of drafts, thesis’s, and legislative proposal that the political science student drafted and were used on the floor of the legislature is “not enough experience”. That doesn’t even tap into those volunteer summer internships with law firms, medical facilities, and advertising/marketing firms to build experience and knowledge.The School-to-Work program has a major pitfall. The major focus for most states within this program is aimed towards teachers in the realm of true working experience. In the final semester for an education major career they are not attending classes and lectures at UNM on a daily basis. These individuals are in the classroom of high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools initially shadowing then teaching these classes. They meet with a “mentor” once a week to discuss weekly happenings, but they are truly immersed in the “work force”. Upon graduation a large percentage of these graduate are offered positions at the school they did their student teaching. Why can’t this system be implemented in other disciplines?The different departments need to reevaluate their curricula. Obviously, employers are not just looking for applicants with a college diploma. They want a person that has “been there and done that”. They want that applicant that has completed that business model on top of all the other unexpected projects that appear in the working world. They wanted that lobbyist that has drafted legislative documents and trudged the halls of the roundhouse pushing their agenda.With employers showing a strong participation in School-to-work programs why can’t universities truly utilize these opportunities. Restructure the curricula to model the education department, where students spend their final months at the University in the work force. Not as an intern, but as an employee. If you move away from internships and actually being immersed in the work force these students allow themselves the chance for positional advancement, additional training, and gaining that much needed “experience”.As it seems evident with the annual increase in tuition, the goal of universities seems to move from educating to building the bottom line. If students in their closing semesters were not actually attending classes at the university less professors would be needed and less classroom space would be utilized. This would cut salary, electrical, and maintenance costs drastically and would allow universities to puff their financial gains. So it looks like this would be a truly win – win opportunity for everyone. However, could the collegiate institution take on a drastic change such as this…….. ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!!!

To Sit or Not to Sit

Campus facilities have taken much criticism in recent weeks. Unfortunately, I must add desks to the growing list of complaints- especially those tiny rigid desks filling many of the classrooms in many of the buildings all over campus. My gripe, frankly, is that some students, like me, just don’t fit! This only becomes an issue when, as in the case of many auditoriums, lecture halls and classrooms in older buildings, there are no alternate seating options. The result is that a larger student may have to painfully squeeze into an ill-fitting desk, hunt down a chair from another classroom and be yelled at by custodians, or sit on the floor or stand. When classes can last two and a half hours or more, these options become less than feasible, especially for students who may have health or mobility issues. So the question is, whose problem is it?

The easy way out is to blame overweight students for their condition, and insist they try diet and exercise-why should the university be responsible for finding larger seats because some students choose to maintain an unhealthy lifestyle? Well, this is a dangerous road full of assumptions. If losing weight and maintaining a trim body was so simple, people would have won the battle of the bulge decades ago. Instead, obesity in this country is growing at an alarming rate. According to the US Center for Disease Control in 2003/2004, obesity among adults aged 20–74 doubled from 15% to over 30% in the last thirty years. Despite mountains of research, doctors and experts in the field of obesity have not been able to pinpoint why so many people cannot permanently control weight by simply expending more energy than they consume.

It is now known that insufficient exercise and dietary behaviors are not the only causes of obesity. The non-profit organization called Obesity in America.org recognizes genetic, hormonal, environmental, and cultural factors attributing to loss of weight control as well. Genetic history, body type, slow metabolism, thyroid disorder, and medication side affects are just some of the mechanisms at work that can throw the balance of calories consumed and calories burned out of whack. So if we can admit that people’s loss of weight control is not entirely their fault, why don’t we give them the benefit of the doubt? And how can we possibly know where a person is on his/her weight management journey by mere appearance? My uncle has been faithful to a new health regimen and has lost 110 lbs, but you would never know it since he still weighs 280 lbs.

More important than why a student is overweight is the fact that overweight students at UNM pay tuition and fees for their education just like everyone else. Each student should be entitled to sit in a classroom as part of the learning experience. Alternative seating options like a bench or one set of table/ chairs in a classroom full of desks could easily be arranged without incurring high costs. A designated place to check out folding chairs or extendable desks could be another option. The point is that students don’t mind the extra effort to obtain alternate seating in a discreet and dignified manner.

How these changes can be implemented is another problem. The natural assumption is that UNM Accessibility Services (2021 Mesa Vista Hall) would be the department primarily responsible for these kinds of accommodations. Their mission statement claims: “Our commitment to quality and dedication to providing the best possible accommodations to our students is the hallmark of our department.” When I approached the office last year, however, they told me that alternative seating was not under their jurisdiction, nor could they direct me to any department that could help. When I complained to my instructors about insufficient seating, they told me their superiors had no answers. While obesity itself is not considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with obesity-related disabilities are protected by ADA. Therefore, Accessibility Services should champion this cause -the right to sit -for UNM students of all shapes and sizes. If you want to take a stand against weight-bias on campus, contact Accessibility Services and let them know that access to adequate seating should be ensured for all students.

Keep an eye out for the Soap Boxes

It is almost 2008 and with the coming of a new year, there will be “soap boxing” political candidates, debates, and many flyers and demonstrations around campus! This upcoming Presidential Election will be an exciting and potentially history-making event with a potential first minority president, one of which could possibly be our own Governor Bill Richardson.

So with all the exciting debates and speeches from political candidates coming to our state and our universities, how much will it change the turn out rate of College students actually voting?

According to a nationwide campus survey conducted by Tufts University, the more college students discuss politics and current events outside of class, the more likely they were to vote. However, there are many other factors that equate into a students choice to vote or not that include the major the student is studying, how politically active their family is and how politically active their college or university is.

This survey found that about 88% of students who discuss politics and current events outside of class on a near-daily basis said they went to the polls on Election Day. This number dropped however to 66% when those who discussed politics outside of class only a few times a month.

This survey also found that the major the student was studying also effected the turn out rate at the polls. Students who major in engineering, math, science and education are found to have voted the least often of the students surveyed.

I think that personally, which major I am studying isn’t a factor for me voting or not, it’s that I have a major in the first place. I feel that I am sometimes too wrapped up in studying for tests, writing papers, going to class, and working part time to pay attention to politics and how it affects my life and my future, and feel that a lot of other students feel the same way. I don’t feel that it is a lack of caring about the subject, it’s just sometimes we don’t have the time or mental energy to take away from the subjects we are studying until its really crunch time and elections are right around the corner. Only recently have I been paying more attention to politics, economics, policymaking and the world around me outside of my campus life.

One of my friends actually dosent exercise his right to vote at all because he dosent feel like he has enough knowledge on the subjects they are debating and dosent want to make an uneducated decision or base his opinion on superficial reason. But at the same time, he dosent have the time to devote to really understand the issues until he is probably out of college and no longer engulfed in studying.

I also think that the voting turn out will be determined on how active the candidates are with visiting Colleges and Universities and discussing their views with the student body, and how active the student body is about debating the points among friends and family.

But how much does the candidates coming on campus really effect who and how they vote?

Perhaps having our own state governor campaigning brings the choice of voting and the election that much closer to home (literally), and will catch the attention of more UNM students to learn, question and decided on political opinions.

I am really interested in seeing how UNM will change leading up to election time next fall due to the fact that I have never been in college during a major presidential election and am excited to see everything unfold.

So I say, bring on the flyers!

Possibly Offensive Displays at UNM

It’s always interesting when the subject of what is and isn’t acceptable propaganda for a college campus comes up – we’d like to think that most college students are mature adults that can handle adult subject matters, yet last October, when anti-abortion organization Justice for All put up a display in front of Zimmerman, many a student feather was ruffled. Why? Well, it might be due to the fact that the display, consisting of fifteen panels measuring eight feet wide by two stories tall, presented large, graphic and disturbing pictures of aborted fetuses for all to see. Or perhaps it was comparison of abortion to the Holocaust.

To be fair, those images and that comparison are extremely offensive, but it’s controversial tactics like those that grab your attention; in the Daily Lobo, spokeswoman Rebeccah Pedrick was quoted as saying, “The main reason we use this is because this causes people to stop and talk." Viewing the display on that day, it was hard to ignore the huge response received and the moth-to-flame like draw it had upon the students. If nothing else, Justice for All was getting their message heard.

But is that reason enough to display heartbreaking images that are so large it’s hard to miss while walking from class to class? Judging from the abundant outraged letters to the editor at the Daily Lobo, most students (and quite a few faculty members) did not think so and Tanya, a student writing to the Lobo, went so far as to say she felt “assaulted”. In fact, someone put use to the infamous UNM chalk messages and directed students to a “non-offensive” path. This brings up another issue: is it the responsibility of UNM to regulate these displays?

It’s hard to say and it’s definitely not a black and white issue. Banning displays because we find their images offensive sounds dangerously close to censorship, but you also have to look at the issue in the context of whether or not the pictures are proper for a learning environment. When faced with the criticism surrounding the abortion display, the dean of students commented that, “As long as an activity does not materially disrupt the teaching, learning, research or business activities of UNM, (the activity) would be approved.” This is actually a good point – the display wasn’t in classrooms and students weren’t required to stand and gawk at it like many did. I suppose a case could be made for “emotional distress” but, to be perfectly honest, that doesn’t seem like a good enough reason for banning.

If the university is to be faulted anywhere in this ordeal, the fault would lie in the fact that there were no proper warnings given out during class or before you entered the plaza. I, myself, had absolutely no idea that I could be accosted with such images as I walked to English class and, furthermore, if a student needed to get to the Humanities building, Zimmerman library or walk across campus, there was simply no way to avoid the display. However, on a campus with thousands of students, getting the message out to every single one of them would be near impossible.

Don’t get me wrong the display and its tactics were abhorrent, especially when you consider the erroneous and outdated misinformation that some of the panels contained. A better question might be whether the university has a responsibility to regulate displays that purport faulty facts to be true, but the overwhelming issue taken up here dealt with the heartbreaking photos. Even if it weren’t, it’s up to the student to cross-check facts – I’m sure the university has better things to do than research abortion.

Though their tactics were despicable and their “facts” deplorable, there’s one undeniable fact – the function of the pictures is flawless. Regardless of whether or not students were talking about the display in outrage, Justice for All accomplished its goal to create a dialogue, but does that dialogue have a place on campus? As an institute of learning, I think it does, though I may not agree with the execution.

Mitchell Hall: I Caught the Stink a Long Time Ago

Ever since the Fall semester of my freshman year, my thoughts on Mitchell Hall have not been positive. Unfortunately, I have had at least one class a semester in Mitchell since I began my education here at UNM. This building has not only been one of the least attractive, displeasing sights on campus from the outside, but the smell associated with this sight on the inside definitely is not a complimentary factor. From a molded, dirty water fountain to a constantly rattling heater to the unsanitary smell of a bathroom, Mitchell Hall is filled with unpleasant surprises.

In one article published in the Daily Lobo at the beginning of last week, which I am unable rediscover the date or title, the displeasing characteristics of Mitchell Hall were addressed and revealed, as the discontentment of the students was apparent. Observing the various new buildings being built all over campus, including the recently finished Architecture building as well as the up and coming Centennial Engineering Center, it does not seem reasonable that the current issues arising about Mitchell Hall are even a problem today. Although Mitchell Hall is an older building, with much historical value and pleasure to appreciate, sewage smells and unclean commodities are not acceptable.

In a following article, “UNM Getting Into Stink Over Mitchell Hall,” published in the Daily Lobo on Friday, October 5th, it addressed the concerns discussed in the previous article about the deterioration of the building, mainly focusing on the disgusting sewage smell and the smell of trash, which once was produced by the trash collection room which has recently been relocated. In this article, it reveals that officials have met and discussed these problems and concerns, but are still indecisive on what action should be made. It states that, “the Physical Plant told the Daily Lobo in 2005 that two ventilation motors caused the stench.” If that is the case, which it appears to be, I think that two years is more than enough time to discuss and decide an appropriate action to take to stop this put a stop to and fix this issue. In many people’s households, if for any reason a problem arises dealing the plumbing, you can bet that the problem is taken care of immediately. I know this is true for my household, what about you? I am shocked that this problem began two years ago and still, nothing has been done. This irresponsible decision to ignore the downfall of Mitchell Hall has only become worse over time and is a major factor contributing to the unpleasantness and discontentment connected to the building, by both students and staff, as well as visitors and perspective students.

Within the past week, there have been two articles directed at the “stink” of Mitchell Hall revealing its importance and its impact on the life of the students and the campus as well. In my opinion, Mitchell Hall is in dyer need of improvement. If the university has money to build brand new buildings and pay our newly hired basketball coach $975,000 a year, like discussed the “Where Does Our Money Go?” blog, I feel that the university officials have had the time and the money to take appropriate action. The sewage smell is unacceptable and has an overall negative impact on the perception of the university as a whole. The supposed $70,000 plan to fix Mitchell Hall may affect and restrict the budget in some fashion, but will have a minimal impact on it as a whole when looking at the outrageous amounts spent elsewhere. The smell is affecting the performance and attitudes of the students, staff, and faculty, therefore dampering the reason we are all here, educational achievement and success. It is time this problem gets solved and addressed, one step at a time! Who’s with me?

Online Courses: Do They Help Or Hurt Students?

I like many other students here at UNM and many other colleges are taking online courses. At this point I’m discovering the pros and cons of online courses because this is my first semester taking them. Students are offered both advantages and disadvantages from online learning.

It was estimated in a 2003 Daily Lobo article that about 8,000 to 10,000 students were taking online classes. I was unable to find any clear counts on how many students right now are using online methods. It’s safe to say the numbers are probably high.

Taking online classes provides a person with certain liberties and independence. The structures of the courses vary on the preferences and plans of professors. Often some classes do involve meetings on campus buildings to take tests or do presentations. The tradition of classrom discussion is modified in a virtual classroom through discussion forums, chat rooms and live sessions. Quizzes, research papers and deadlines come along with taking an online course. Many aspects of face to face learning and environments are modified to virtual settings. Textbook use is also present in some classes but some professors use various articles and excerpts, books, journals and magazines as reading material.

I have known several past and current UNM students and college students from other colleges who have gone the online route for different reasons. A few are also parents who use online learning to help them better juggle the parental and academic roles. Others use online learning to juggle work, health conditions, school and other obligations. Students have to worry less about arriving to class late and are able to spend more time at home or work. Some students are able to work maybe a few hours more each week in order to save money or survive financially. One of my out-of-state relatives depended on online learning for awhile after he was injured in a car accident. The convenience aspect of online classes is evident. But other aspects of online learning sometimes don’t always help students.

Online learning brings out stress for many and sometimes the online aspect of learning makes it harder for students to deal with. People have told me that they feel really alone and disconnected because they can’t communicate with their instructors or classmates in a physical sense. I know from past experience having physical contact with others helps when you have problems understanding course material. It is hard at times for me not to be in physical contact with other students who are learning the same material. Others have stated they hate depending on technology all the time in order to earn credit hours. A few people have admitted to me that often procrastinate more because they are not in a real classroom. I also understand the negative view on technology there are times I don’t want to spend time in front of a computer. Not being in a classroom also will give people more reasons to procrastinate because they really don’t have to answer to an instructor.

In many ways you could say that online education isn’t suited for everyone. Online classes take dedication and the ability to work independently. The downsides will continue to exist. But several universities and education advisement websites have published articles that give tips to students who are involved in online learning. So far I haven’t been able to find any tips lists or articles published by UNM to help students. In both my online courses the instructors have provided tip lists.

Students who are having difficulties with online classes should talk to their instructors or seek advice from students who have taken them in the past. I also think maybe on-campus study groups or workshops could also help students with their work in online classes. The experiences of students with online classes will vary because each experience is based on the habits and learning rates of students.

UNM honors might need some improvement

The honors program at the University of New Mexico is a wonderful program that offers a safe way for students to venture out side of their major. They do this by having a grading option where of pass/fail or “A”. This makes the honors class either a GPA booster or a safe chance to gain knowledge from a different subject area. Furthermore the program is equipped with very knowledgeable and qualified teachers. They are seriously the best of the best and treat the students with respect. So the problem is not with the content or the people, but it is one strange procedure.

The great flaw of the honors program is the odd requirement to attend preview night at the start of each semester. This is a one night event where the content of each class is presented and then each student hands in their two or three top selections for the classes. However if you cannot attend the preview night your picks are submitted on a different form and unlocked days after those who could attend. Consequently, those who are unable to attend are unable to register for their classes until after the general registration of all other UNM students. Most will find that there top choices are filled and they are forced to either shift their schedule around or sacrifice the honors class for a semester. Also since each person can only unlock three classes initially if those three classes are filled then the person must then go back to the honors forum and request for additional classes to be opened. I guess I just do not understand why they cannot mark honors classes like they mark prerequisites classes, just blocking them unless accepted into the program.

Personally I loved the honors class I took, it was very different and I learned a lot. Unfortunately, the next semester I could not get a class that fit in my schedule because I work, and was unable to attend preview night. Initially I was going to just skip a semester and make it up in the summer or double up the following semester. However I eventually found that it just was not worth it for me.

The honors program at the University of New Mexico is great…for the most part. The system just needs to be updated, perhaps like other universities. For example, the University of Utah has an honors program which allows students who have been accepted in to the honors program to automatically enroll in the appropriate honors class level. Also they have the option for departmental honors too, which are just specialized courses in the student’s major rather than courses that are random; however they also allow for regular honors if they choose to get general honors. Most importantly, they do not have the requirement to attend a “Preview Night”. Maybe UNM could just update the system a bit.

A manual for international UNM students, please

At UNM Admissions is divided in International Admissions, and “normal” Admissions.
It seems to make sense, but does it?

I am born and raised in the Netherlands, and of course I did all my school before UNm in the Netherlands, ergo I must be an International student. But wait: Over 5 years ago I moved to Albuquerque, which makes me all of a sudden domestic, even an in-state student. Confused? I am! As I am a permanent resident of New Mexico I am a domestic student. As all of my diplomas and certificates from before UNM are Dutch, the domestic people of UNM’s Admissions have no clue and need advice from UNM’s International Admissions.

One of the things I started to realize along the way was that I just knew that I wasn’t the first person who had to figure everything out by himself. Through the years UNM’s Admissions gave me different stories, and nobody could really tell me where to go. When I talked to a faculty member who was from Germany I got even confirmed that different Admissions people will tell you different things. At one point I finally got some useful advice: First I was told that I needed to translate all my Dutch diplomas and certificates and have these translations verified, and after that I needed to get evaluated by an organization which was a member of the “American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers” (AACRAO). As I have in-laws living in Los Angeles I chose to go with “International Education Research Foundation” (IERF), which turned out a big mistake. IERF turned out to in my opinion take shortcuts, and only recognize the most obvious diplomas. They simply claimed that the rest was short-term courses meant for professional development only. Thinking back of it I think I should have gone with an organization at the east coast instead where they’re more familiar with European education.

The most horrible thing was even when I found out that even the few diplomas that were recognized by IERF didn’t get me any credits at UNM Admissions. Because I had not heard anything from Admissions I dropped by after a few months, and after I only told the lady my name her response was: “O my God.” Apparently my name was well known at admissions, which didn’t feel like a good sign to me.

The mere fact that I had to find out every step by myself, while I am pretty sure that I am not the first person who comes to UNM with international diplomas and certificates, gives me the feeling like they say in Holland that I am inventing the wheel: It must have been done by others before me. I think that even at International Admissions people don’t realize enough that foreigners are not familiar with the American education system and have no clue where to go or what to do. I think it would be welcomed when UNM would make and issue a small manual for international students, which would contain a step-by-step plan for the students what to do. If UNM already has one, then International Admissions surely knows how to hide it.

Are Students Really Safe at Football Games

On Septembe 26, 2007 the Daily Lobo posted a great article about the UNM football games. The article stated how the UNM athletic department announced that they will no longer be selling standing room only tickets at any future football games. The athletic department claims that it is necessary to ban the standing room only tickets in order to keep everyone at the game safe. They have been contemplating the decision for a while, and after the Lobo game against the Aggies they have made the decision final.

The Football game against NMSU was the fourth largest game in the history of UNM's stadium. There was a total attendance of 41,033 people at the game. Out of all these people, only 700 were standing room only tickets. In a crowd of 41,033 people I doubt that the 700 standing room only tickets had any affect on the overall safety at the stadium. I think that it is really unfortunate that the athletic department has vetoed the standing room only tickets. UNM games often sell out so it is unfortunate that all of the other fans will have to be turned away.

It is really sad that the safety of the stadium depends on the size of the crowd that attend it. The safety should solely depend on the security guards. If the game is sold out more security should be brought in. With a game the size of the NMSU one, additional security must be brought in. I do agree that the game against the aggies was out of countrol. I was personally there and it was pretty crazy. I got caught in the mob, and got pushed around a lot. I am a guy though so it was not very bad for me, but a petite girl or a handicap person could have been seriously injured. The Daily Lobo article talked about a girl who was in a wheel chair and unfortunately got caught in the mob. She got pushed into a cement wall and could not free herself. Thankfully she was with friends and did not get seriously injured. This is when it is essential that security be present to prevent incidents like this from happening.

There was also a number of fights reported at the game against NMSU. A lot of students tailgate before the games and get drunk. This is why tempers are high and especially when playing a rival, students will be fighting. It is unfortunate but at the same time inevitable.

I really want to veto against the athletic department and try to get the standing room only tickets back. It is not fair to the lobo fans to not offer standing room only. Yes, safety is a big issue and changes with the stadiums security must be made. Incidents like the one with the handicapped girl are extremely dangerous and should not be happening. Hopefully the athletic department will be able to upgrade security and bring back the standing room only tickets.

Where does our money go?

Since I am not a current student on main or any UNM campus, I began my research for this blog in the Daily Lobo archives. I found an article dated September 5th that describes to student where their fees end up in the university. There was a pie chart that gave a breakdown of everything; the top three fees went to a faculty fee, the student health center, and ITS. Upon further reading there was a debate about whether or not athletics should get a student fee. According to the article, UNM students do not have it “that bad” when it comes to paying for athletic fees. Schools like Utah State pay a $53 fee where we pay a mere $36. The end of the article touched on the fact that tuition never pays for athletics and “never has and never will”.
First of all I want to mention how the students have no say in where their fees go. It is all left up to a board who decides what they think out fees would be best for. I would like to see a questionnaire go out to all students to see what they want (since we are the ones using the University Purposes and services). At lest that way the board would know what we all think. Now, I will move on to the athletics.

I am sports fan, however I think that UNM already spends too much on athletics to begin with, not all of them however get fair funding. An article from April 4th 2007, explains that our past tuition increase is to go to things like an increase in faculty salary, hiring minority faculty and establishing a department of international diversity. These things sound great right? Well now I will quote an article from March 26th that says that the newly hired basketball coach will earn $975,000 a year and his assistant will earn $250,000 for a total of $1,225,000. This is ridiculous compared to the $590,000 coach McKay and his assistant made combined, which is also ridiculous. These men are faculty so therefore we are paying them with our tuition increase, which the first article said tuition never pays for. The faculty of athletics counts as athletics therefore the quote from Curt Porter who is the VP of the fee board that tuition won’t go to athletics is a flat out lie. The current basketball coach makes more then the president of the United States and our team isn’t even good anymore! Now our tuition is paying for the coaches, although I’m sure the soccer, hockey, track etc. coaches are not making nearly this much.
So maybe our fees are to pay for new equipment and upkeep of the facilities, however, our amazing track coaches quit because the board would not give them money to upkeep the track. I had the privilege of working with both coach Henrys in high school before they moved to UNM and they are amazing men and know their stuff, but none of the money we pay in fees went to them. Why do I have the feeling it went to basketball and football? The reason I am told that these two sports get the most of the money is that they are big income bringers to UNM, however attendance at these two sports was at a low last year.

My overall view of all of this is that we are being lied to, which I don’t find surprising. Our fees are going to help one or two athletic departments while the others are left to fare for themselves in fundraisers. Our tuition increase goes to pay the basketball faculty ridiculous amounts of money, and we have no say in any of it. I would like to see us start deciding these things, not a board. For one, our money would go where the students want it, and two, the university boards and heads would know what we want for once. I don’t mind my fees to pay for athletics, I would just like to see it spread evenly or distributed between sports that I choose. Tuition increases to pay for faculty are okay too, but again I would like to choose the faculty departments that my money goes to. I don’t want to pay for basketball or football; I want to pay for hockey and soccer and rugby; I don’t what to pay the basketball coaches; I want to pay the Philosophy and English departments. It’s our money so I think we should have the final decision, or at least a say, in where it goes.