Editor,
I believe there are legitimate complaints from a student's perspective concerning Monica Cyrino's teaching. I took her Greek mythology course last semester and was very disappointed. I understand why she has such a following, though. She acts like a "cool" student instead of like a professor.
The repeated references in Lobo articles to her clothing are mostly inappropriate. However, if you were in one of her classes, you'd see how she uses those clothes to make people like her. In class, she would draw attention to her cleavage as she clipped her microphone to her blouse, and then ask if any of the "hottie men" wanted to get a drink after class. She remarked how she loved Greek mythology because she is Aphrodite reincarnated and should be allowed to walk around campus topless.
If anyone draws attention to her attire, she does. This behavior was very amusing for about two class sessions, and then it got old.
The way she taught mythology was unbelievable. She would say these exact words when referring to Zeus calling on his messenger Hermes: "OK, so Zeus calls up Hermes on the Nokia and says, 'Hermes, dude, I've got a job for ya.'" This teaching style can only be used under the assumption that all of her students are stupid and need lectures to be delivered in little words. If I were a freshman or sophomore liberal arts student, I would find that terribly insulting.
Personally, I did not pay my tuition for the class to hear her ridiculous antics. I paid for a well-educated person's depiction of Greek mythology. Monica Cyrino is well-educated, but it is confusing to me that she would choose to demean herself and her students instead of using her brains to stimulate her students' minds, especially freshmen.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Kate Siegfried
UNM biology senior
