Taking a Stand

As many of you all know the economic state is affecting the University, and the University’s response to this is to cut the minority programs, or the programs that receive less than 35 thousand in funding, which just so happen to be the minority programs. I know that some of my class mates are writing about the same issue so I’m trying to approach it form a different angel not blogging about the issue itself but by blogging about the students response to the recent cuts and articles regarding the University’s so called solution to the recent economic crisis.

Now if this is your first time hearing this you must have been living under a rock for the past couple of weeks, but there are numerous articles online on the Daily Lobos website locate in the archives dating back to January 23rd 2009 that will help fill you in a little more. But basic any program that receives less than 50 thousand dollars of funding is currently on the chopping block to cut all funding. It just so happened to be programs geared towards minorities and women. But to my understanding 5% of the funding they receive currently will be taken as soon as next fall.

I know there are number of things that different programs have done in order to raise awareness of this problem but I can only speak for the things that the African American Student Center or the “Fro” has done because I guess this is what has directly affected me. The First thing the “Fro” did was organize a meeting to kind of put all the chips on the table and reveal to the students exactly what was going on and to tell them what wasn’t in the Lobo articles they have read. This meeting also pointed out the importance of student participation in all the AASS events, because this is how the University is basing its cut upon, importance to and benefit to students.


I think that’s apart of the problem though, having these separate meeting! I think the first thing that needs to happen in order for the UNM to understand the importance of these smaller programs is to see all the programs come together and make a stand. Cause when we come to the board and when we write letters to the Lobo we look like a slim few fighting for individual programs, especially since we are all ready the minority. But I think if we band together instead of fighting for just Native American student programs or just for African American student programs and fight for Minority programs together the University will understand that cutting these programs are not okay and shouldn’t even be an option!!!

See http://www.dailylobo.com/home/archives/
Jan23-31