Daily Lobo Readers - The Daily Lobo

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Opinion

Letter: Cancellation fees for on-campus housing this fall should be waived

Daily Lobo Readers | August 4

The University of New Mexico has had to be flexible and adapt to the impacts COVID-19. UNM asks that students be ready for possible changes during the fall semester — a semester that may have “to pivot rapidly to address changing health conditions in the State of New Mexico.” I now ask that the students be afforded this same flexibility and accommodation when it comes to our housing contracts. The continuation of housing cancellation fees is putting an unnecessary burden on UNM students. We had to make housing decisions well before we understood the impact that COVID-19 would have on our education and well before UNM had offered a clear picture as to what a “hybrid system” of learning would look like.

Opinion

Letter: Don't let the economic elites divide us: Demand reparations from them

Daily Lobo Readers | June 30

Dear Editor, Black lives matter. It is a travesty that this still apparently needs to be said over and over. There are still too many tragic premature deaths that can be directly traced to the shameful legacy of racism in American history. Violent unrest is sometimes necessary for achieving justice. However, history shows that when it lacks a focus, such unrest makes the situation worse. By contrast, when it has a clear focus, it can achieve great things.

Opinion

Letter: Yale pump station should be preserved

Daily Lobo Readers | April 15

Editor, Years back, there was a somewhat overrated, but compelling hit song that spoke of "paving paradise" and replacing them with parking lots. Today, the University of New Mexico takes a step further towards being the kind of institution that does just that. I'm referring to the school's recent decision to raze a nearly 100-year-old pump structure off Central and Yale to add to the area's already aggressively expansive parking superstructure. Granted, an old and somewhat dilapidated pump building isn't exactly "paradise", but it will certainly be taken down, paved, and made into yet another expression of the "free market," where students and visitors can fork over more of their money for the benefit of the private companies that make these electronic "pay stations."

Photo courtesy of the UNM Bonds website.

Opinion

Letter: My favorite places to cry on campus

Daily Lobo Readers | March 7

I have been at UNM for three years pursuing my undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry. There are a plethora more places I have cried, and am planning to cry in the future. In all seriousness, I encourage you to take care of yourself this week despite the high stress and volume of tasks. If you’re reading this, I implore you to take a deep breath, you can do it. Prioritize your sleep (no, coffee is not a replacement for sleep, sorry), make sure you’re eating and drinking enough. Good luck on your exams, and remember that your performance on exams does not dictate who you are as a person.

Opinion

Letter: I want to live simply and die simply

Daily Lobo Readers | October 28

Editor, I enjoy living simply and I want to die simply, whether I die tomorrow or 30 years from now. I reject cremation! Cremation of one body requires the energy it takes to drive a car thousands of miles. I reject embalming! Embalming is an expensive, unnecessary use of poison chemicals. Cooling the body with no embalming can delay burial to two or three days after death.

Opinion

Letter: Faculty need more management training

Daily Lobo Readers | October 28

Editor, In some academic departments, faculty members supervise some staff members. We will refer to these faculty members as FSS (faculty supervising staff). While FSS may go through the minimum required mandatory training such as sexual harassment and safety many do not take any organization development courses offered by Human Resources (link provided above) which teaches them useful skills to be a good supervisor.

Opinion

Letter: Bashing Trump will not help Democrats

Daily Lobo Readers | October 23

Editor, I seem to be in the minority in today's national Democratic Party. I disagree with the tendency of most Democrats (including political candidates for Congress and those in the news media) to constantly bash Donald Trump over his obnoxious personality and his divisive comments.

Opinion

Letter: Taproom doesn't mitigate dangers of alcohol

Daily Lobo Readers | October 23

Editor, Many people who were taught that having sex with anyone they are not married to is sin — drink booze to turn off their shame and guilt. Many men who were taught that having sex with men is sin, many women who were taught that having sex with women is sin, drink booze to turn off their shame and guilt.

Opinion

Letter: We stand against racism at UNM

Daily Lobo Readers | October 18

Dear UNM Community, We were disappointed to hear that harmful racial remarks were stated by students at the 2018 Greek New Member Summit. We felt moved to write a statement of support for the Black Student Alliance (BSA), African American Student Services (AASS), and all African American students, staff and faculty at UNM. First and foremost, we commend the BSA for taking action. As academic advisors, we are well aware that many UNM students are stressed from not only meeting the demands of their academic workload but also having to hold jobs and navigate the administrative requirements of a flagship research university.

Opinion

Letter: UNMPD's bike policy does it right

Daily Lobo Readers | October 16

Editor, I wanted to commend the UNMPD for the timely response to an interrupted bike theft that I encountered this summer outside of the Johnson Center. I was leaving the gym when I saw a man fiddling around w/my bike which was locked at the bike rack. He had cut the cable and when I confronted him he walked away. I was lucky, because two staff bystanders came to my assistance right away and called UNMPD. The officer who responded was Officer Robert Duren — he responded promptly and was very courteous and professional. A foot chase ensued (by two other officers), but unfortunately the thief escaped.