Editor,
I commend those students that came out Thursday, in protest of Dean White's and University College's mishandling of Chicano Studies.
As I myself witnessed a poorly attended public presentation by the one and only candidate for the position of director of Chicano Studies and, more recently, a well-attended student demonstration at Chicano Studies, I thought it would be appropriate to share with the entire UNM community the same concerns I have already expressed to Peter White, the dean of University College, and to the steering committee.
Though I understand that the lack of resources has historically been a problem for the program and has contributed to its poor overall performance, I find it more and more difficult to accept this as an excuse.
Given that a nuevomexicano studying at UNM can readily obtain a bachelor's in African-American Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences but cannot do the same in Chicano Studies or, for that matter, Native-American Studies, I have to wonder if "a lack of funding" is really the problem. I contend that University College is the problem.
Dean White's statements in Friday's Daily Lobo, regarding his unilateral approach to imposing limitations on the search process were revealing. They suggest that University College is interested in controlling the program only to perpetuate its poor record and, ultimately, its demise.
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While I agree with the notion that there should be more student input in the process, it should also be noted that the steering committee has allowed for both undergraduate and graduate student representation to sit and have input in the process. Unfortunately, when the dean is deciding on a process all on his own, I wonder if the steering committee even has any input.
Thursday's student demonstration at Chicano Studies revealed another ugly problem facing the Hispano community at UNM: communication. El Centro de la Raza serves a social, advisement-type environment for the Hispanos on campus, yet over the years, it has passed up several opportunities to bridge the gap between its purpose and the academic mission of Chicano Studies, never aggressively advising students to explore Chicano Studies.
It seems to me that the director of El Centro should take more than a passing interest in who will be the next director of Chicano Studies and that the many students who use El Centro's facilities would have better access to information regarding the search.
D. Xavier Medina
UNM student
