by Sari Krosinsky
Daily Lobo columnist
There have been quite a few naysayers to the Communication and Journalism Department's decision to withdraw its application for accreditation. I, however, must take department chairman Brad Hall's part, and say that this decision bodes to be a great boon for students.
However, I am afraid that even Hall does not go far enough. With the proper leadership and vision, this first step of losing accreditation could be the best thing to ever happen to UNM. I will be so bold as to suggest some further efforts by which the department may bring the current events to bear their greatest fruit.
First, the loss of accreditation is a wonderful step towards modernization. The department has been accredited for 50 years - clearly, this an outdated, old-fashioned tradition that UNM has been holding on to for far too long.
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But more can be done to perfect this triumph of modernity. The department must do away with such archaic notions as unbiased reporting and investigative journalism. Get with the 21st century! Press releases can be articles, too. One side of the argument is the only side you need.
I must also applaud the department for being non-compliant with diversity criteria. Perhaps now that this non-compliance is public, even fewer people of color will think of entering the program. At least one department is standing up to the multi-cultist invasion of our University.
I have lately heard a number of journalism students say that they are considering switching majors. This will lead to some immediate benefits from the impending loss of accreditation. As the exodus begins, the department will gain a higher faculty-student ratio, without even having to hire additional faculty. Class sizes will go down and it will be easier for students to get into the classes of their favored professors. Those seeking advisement will have shorter lines to contend with.
The only thing I can suggest to carry these benefits even further, would be for the department to declare in no uncertain terms that it will never apply for re-accreditation again.
There is one suggestion of the Accrediting Council that I think the department ought to pursue. They should indeed develop a plan for student learning assessment. Then, those students who fail to make the cut can be killed and their meat can be sold to raise funds for the department. This may also be a good way for alumni to stay involved in the program, especially those that fail to make it in the world of journalism.
After the meat is sold, the department can put the skeletons on display, to publicly show how serious it is about graduating only the finest students. It may also deter those less fine students from applying in the first place, and thus prevent a decline of the faculty-student ratio.
There are those who believe other methods better suited to the advancement of the department. The naysayers make such proposals as these:
lThe department should make a more concerted, planned effort to come into compliance with the accreditation standards, because a lack of accreditation may reflect poorly on students applying for jobs and graduate schools.
lThe department should deal systematically with such areas as recruitment and retention of diverse students and faculty, advisement and assistance for students seeking internships, areas that are currently left to individual faculty members to pursue, if they are pursued at all.
lThe state should value education more highly, and provide the University with the resources needed to strengthen its departments.
lThese suggestions, however, are pipedreams and any time spent following them would be wasted.
In a final note, I must commend the department for keeping daily newspapers out of all but one of its offices. The media are just full of lies, anyway.
Send proposals, modest or immodest, to Sari Krosinsky at michal_kro@hotmail.com.
