Editorial
By The Chronical Editorial Board
There have been a number of devastating shootings, and our government needs to take these situations seriously and start building reform for mental health in America. On Friday Oct. 1, at LAX airport, shooter Paul Ciancia pulled a .223-caliber assault rifle from a bag and shot TSA officer Gerardo Hernandez and then went from person to person asking people if they were TSA agents, according to cnn.com.
Another incident recently occurred right here in Albuquerque. Christopher Chase died in shootout and car chase with police that ended at Fourth Street and Montano Road on Saturday, Oct. 26, according to KOAT.com.
It is almost infuriating that the media is so concentrated on the suspects and their motives, down to what tattoos a suspect may have had. It is redundant the way media covers these issues, instead of speaking with the victims, and finding out how these incidents really affect the people who are injured or forced to be witnesses to such crimes.
No one should have to be subject to such atrocities; it is because our government does not care either way, and pretends not to have the capability to change how these individuals are treated mentally. Gun laws will always be an issue, but mental health is something that has not been addressed in this country since the 70’s, and this editorial board thinks it’s high time the government took responsibility for the people it governs by giving better and more accessible facilities to people that truly need help, before incidents such as these occur again, which they will, and hopefully the government will see that change is truly needed in mental healthcare fields before it is too late.
Category: Editorials
Thanks for the memories
Editorial, By The Chronicle Editorial Board
A group of us here at the Chronicle just got back from the Associated Collegiate Press Convention in beautiful New Orleans, and we would like to thank everyone who helped make this trip possible.
The Chronicle is run by a small group of students still learning how to write, design, and produce weekly newspapers, and it really is beneficial when CNM allows us to go to conventions like these so we can bring back what we have learned and make our paper better.
We hope to inform, entertain, and educate our readers even better now that we have learned so much at the bi-annual convention.
Even though the cost of these conventions comes from our own budget, the people here at the Chronicle would still like to acknowledge everyone who helps us to get to these conventions, who help us to achieve more and make the paper better with each issue, as well as allowing us to learn beyond our campuses.
CNM is truly a special school, because of the people who work here who believe in the students, and give students opportunities they would not otherwise have if they did not attend this great school.
So again, thank you to everyone who helps us achieve our goals of making a better paper for all of us to enjoy.
Special speakers enrich student experience
Editorial, By the Chronicle Editorial Board
It is so good to see that award winning pets and writers are coming to CNM to speak and inspire students to strive for what these writers have achieved.
Endeavoring to become a writer can be tough, especially with the abundance of writing careers that are sometimes impossible to get, which is not usually stable long-term employment, so it is crucial to have these successful writers come to the school to speak, to show students that they can succeed, and that they can in fact become the writer they hope to be in the future.
The Chronicle salutes the Writer’s Clubs on campus, that not only help up and coming writers to hone their skills, but also to bring students the opportunity to see real published writers that have succeeded in the world, and who inspire students to reach for their dreams of someday being nationally published writers.
Student groups such as the Writer’s Club are the fabric of what makes our school special, because they can make a difference and inspire students to become everything they want to be after college.
Editorial; Issue 17 Volume 19
By CNM Chronicle Editorial Board
For students attending community college, sometimes student-life can feel more college and less community. The Communication, Humanities, and Social Science department is trying to change that by bringing the students and faculty together for a day of socializing, as mentioned in the article “Mix it up!” on page 2.
At CNM, there is a definite focus on the trades programs, while other areas of study are seemingly ignored. It can feel, at times, that the college just wants to get us out of here and into a four year college. This event helps to put the CHSS areas of study back into the forefront of the college life, and put more emphasis on these types of degrees. Instructors want us to know that they are important and they do matter.
Often times we pick our majors because we are fascinated and truly engaged in all aspects of our study, but this is not always enough to get us through a dependable career. So, we try to avoid the dreaded question explored at the Thanksgiving dinner table: ‘What are you going to do with a degree like that?’
For a CHSS major, thinking about life after college can be discouraging; all around, others are focusing on degrees that seem to come with obvious career options and even the promise of a comfortable paycheck.
The instructors donating their time and energy for this CHSS event are hoping to provide answers, or at least, to provide direction to the many questions students may have. Students will be given the opportunity to get to know one another as well as members of the department, and be able to explore career options and expectations, which is crucial for success.
Not getting involved and making connections in college can be cause for regret. This CHSS event creates a platform for encouragement and networking. Making friends who have similar interest makes the college experience that much more meaningful.
Choosing a degree can be nerve-wracking. It also takes some trial and error before you find a field to pursue, so attending this event can take away some of the stress. Hopefully, it will make a much easier time of getting a degree and planning a future.
Bravo to the faculty who has attended to the needs of the students and has decided that an event like this is not only important, but necessary. All students that attend CNM need to feel like their area of study matters, because if we do not feel it now, we probably will not feel very optimistic about our futures.
Everybody, just cool your jets
Editorial, By The Chronicle Editorial Board
After finding out about the incident that occurred on the morning of Wednesday Sept, 11 when a student rode by security on a skateboard and was tackled and detained until APD arrived on the scene, one has to wonder what constitutes excessive force when it comes to the men and women that secure our campuses.
Students should not be riding their skateboards where there is high foot traffic on campus, and some students can be seen maneuvering and skating their way through crowds of people up to the doors of buildings such as the Student Services Center, which can be a hazard or could potentially hurt someone that is just trying to get to a class on the walkways.
Campus security used force last week on a student that heard security telling him to get off of his board, but kept skating anyway. This resulted in officers throwing the student’s board across the parking lot, tackling the student, pinning him to the ground, and witnesses say choking him before cuffing him.
Security does so much for the school, from helping students with medical needs and issues, to stopping the assaults and thefts on campus, but to the Chronicle, this particular incident seemed to include excessive force that could have been avoided. Security should have made themselves clear in their intent to detain this particular student, instead of throwing him to the ground for not listening to them and allegedly choking him before cuffing him, because he had no idea why they had grabbed him in the first place.
Students on skateboards need to be aware of where and when they are skating, and if there is a congested group of people ahead on a walkway, they should stop and get off the board, because it really is not worth being even later to class for being detained by security.
Editorial: New building woes
By The Chroncle Editoral Board
Students and employees of the bookstore are feeling the pinch after relocating to the new building named after Robert P. Matteucci or RPM, as mentioned in the front page story “Shrinking Pains.”
During the last few semesters, it seemed the bookstore employees were developing a decent system to deal with the overflow of students on certain days, but since being moved, the bookstore is trying to get back on track. For now, students will have to be patient until they work out the kinks.
Since the beginning of the fall semester, students were forced to wait hours to get inside the bookstore, just to wait again in the checkout line to get school supplies.
Bookstore employees are trying their best to get everyone through in a timely manner, but with system shutdowns and never ending lines, it is hard for employees to even assess how to deal with the issues faced by the new move.
Students have also had concerns about the new outdoor buyback window, because if students hope to sell their book back, he or she has to be prepared to wait in the elements for almost the same amount of time as buying books. This is not only an inconvenience to students outside, but also to people going inside because the line is right in front of the entrance to the building.
The bookstore is not a place for children, but some students are forced to bring their children with them if they do not have proper childcare. Standing in line with children adds a new level to the inconvenience, as children typically do not do well waiting in line for hours. This can cause a problem for the parent, and those around them. If the bookstore had more room and the lines went quicker, the parents at CNM would not have to worry about bringing their children along on what should be a quick errand.
The bookstore is not the only area of the RPM building that is way too small for incoming students, as even the culinary arts side of the building has cut corners. Culinary students need to have as much space as possible in order to be able to move around and maneuver quickly, which is not the case in the new building. Instead, students have to constantly tell each other the “right behind you” rule, or they would bump into one another with hot plates and knives in hand.
Hopefully, culinary art majors will not have to deal with an increase of on the job accidents, because no one wants to be burned or cut when going to class.
Administration needs to fix these issues over the semester so students coming back in the spring do not have to go through the absolute nightmare that happened this fall when attempting to get supplies from the bookstore.
Welcome to college, now get to work
Editorial, By the Chronicle Editorial Board
Getting involved in school is one of the best ways to ensure success.
Attending college for the first time can be a daunting experience and students may be juggling family life or may not know exactly what is expected of them. Tapping into the resources CNM has to offer will not only help stress levels, but will make the college experience a whole one.
CNM has a wide range of resources set out for those who need them, but it is up to the student to utilize these resources. The Disability Resource Center, The Vet Success Program (as mentioned in the story “Veterans services available at CNM”), and CNM Connect can all be of assistance.
In addition to these resources, CNM offers many opportunities to work with various student organizations. Whether it’s the Writers’ Club, the Gun Club, or the Science Fiction and Fantasy club, there is something for everyone.
Getting involved in student activities helps make the most of the college experience. Student activities provide a platform for networking with others who may have similar interests, and creates relationships that are intellectually stimulating.
If nothing else, make sure to keep in mind the tutoring services offered in the Student Resource Center. With focus on a variety of subjects, the tutors work with students one on one. Feeling stuck is never good, and the tutors will make sure that class materials are fully learned and understood.
Make sure to stay on top of your assignments and create study groups with other students. Meet with teachers during office hours and do not be afraid to ask questions.
Take responsibility of the education that CNM has to offer and remember that the most important part of success in college relies on personal responsibility and taking initiative.
New students will face challenges and could have a hard time getting started, but these resources are designed to help newcomers with any issues that may come up along the way.
Remember to keep up with class assignments, stay organized, don’t miss classes, don’t take everything so seriously and your educational experience will be an enjoyable one.
Editorial Issue 10 Volume 19 : Unwanted Degrees
The whole goal and bigger picture of going to school is finally finishing and getting a degree or certification to be able to move on to a stable career or a four-year college for a Bachelors. Most students at community college never got to walk the graduation line in high school and most students look forward to being able to celebrate earning a degree.
Since Emily Sarvis (see front page story, Surprise, you’ve graduated) was graduated without her knowledge she lost her financial aid and has to pay out of pocket for the rest of her classes and books this year to be able to move onto a four year college in her field.
Sarvis unfortunately had the privilege of walking the line stripped away from her, without being notified until after graduation of this last spring semester. She is going to school for a degree in biology, and because she was forcibly graduated early, she will have a hard time this next year finishing her intended degree.
Sarvis could have attempted to reverse the degrees she was given, but said she would rather try to pay out of pocket for her classes than try to file for a financial aid extension, which can be tough to get because approval is at the discretion of school administrators.
To get a financial aid extension one has to file for continuing federal funds and grants, and usually must have impeccable grades or GPA to even be considered for an extension. Also students have to wait a considerable amount of time to be approved, and because it is up to the discretion of administrators ones fate at school can be taken away in the blink of an eye, and students who are not prepared cannot continue unless they can afford classes on their own, which is usually rare during this post-recession time.
The insensitivity displayed by the records department in these matters is an injustice to students that work hard to earn their degrees and deserve to be able to walk the line at graduation just like everyone else.
The student records department really needs to take into consideration how a forced graduation and unsolicited degrees that are not being applied for are going to affect a student’s goals in college, and if students are even capable of being able to succeed without the help of financial aid.
Walking the graduation line is the final leg of college that students most look forward to at the end of their careers as students, and if students are having that moment taken away from them by being forced to graduate it defeats the purpose of celebrating getting a degree altogether.
At the very least, there should be notification emails set-up for instances such as this, and students should have the option to get degrees in a chosen, specified field before being forced into graduation.
Students that go above and beyond, such as Sarvis, who is president of the executive council of students and was a STEM-up peer mentor for students, that are worthy of better treatment from the departments of CNM’s main campus.
Editorial : Providing childcare at Main campus
Editorial, By the CNM Chronicle Editorial Board
In relation to the day care and no kids’ policy in the student resource center stories on the front page of this issue, one has to wonder if CNM officials even care if single parents succeed at this school.
Because the day care associated with CNM only providing child care for 3 to 5 year -olds and has a cap of 38 children, this facility only helps a small population of the student parent community and is not a viable resource for the student-parent population.
The Chronicle applauds Torrey Moorman, Khoa Pham and Karissa Trebizo for their innovative idea of proposing a student-run daycare here at main campus and following through with trying to make it a reality. This idea could truly help struggling parents with not having to worry about where they can have their children on campus and can provide an ongoing program to help student parents succeed.
Some students have it hard enough with limited class availability in some majors, and have tight schedules with classes, a job, and children to take care of on top of all that, which can sometimes be overwhelming. Student parents sometimes have to drop classes because they cannot fit four to eight hour courses, (depending on major) into their daily lives. Especially during summer semesters, and with the implementation of more eight-week courses, students sometimes have no choice but to bring their children with them to campus, which has proven to be an issue at certain campus locations. Students should have a safe place where they can bring their children to campus— for a low, or no-cost fee—because so many students at this school are parents learning a specific trade.
Having a place on campus for all student parents is something that should already be in place. With costs for child-care soaring, student parents have a hard enough time finding proper daycare facilities for their children, especially in the area surrounding the college. Student loan changes are altering the way student parents are helped with financial aid and since resources are being tightened this proposal would be ideal to help keep student parents in school.
With students selectively being asked to leave resource rooms in the SRC because their children are with them, this proposal could stop any further such events from happening. Students could take their children to an onsite facility and be able to use resources without feeling demeaned for having to get an assignment in, or use software only available to them through the school.
A student-run day-care could also help majors going into teaching fields, and if proposed work-study or credited internships were to occur students could have yet another resource to learn from in a real teaching environment.
High schools throughout Albuquerque already have similar programs with child-care classes that are incorporated into day-cares on campus that have been successful for more than a decade. Also, colleges throughout the United States have day-care centers for student parents that facilitate the population of the school’s students.
Our school should think about getting up with the times and consider opening a student-run day care center to at least try it out, because many schools have done the same and have great programs for student parents that benefit both the school and student.
Going back to school can be tough, especially for a struggling parent, and having a campus day care center could really help students with the convenience of being able to have their children at an easily accessible location throughout a students’ school day, and can help students to focus on school and class instead of personal matters of being able to afford proper day care.
The Chronicle hopes that the school’s officials take the time to hear the upcoming proposal from the three students mentioned and can come to an agreement on how to better the college for student parents to help those parents do well, and be able to successfully graduate from CNM.
Editorial- Who let the dogs out
In the Nob Hill and University neighborhoods one will see dogs off their leashes constantly, whether these dogs are with their owners or not, and one has to wonder why a dog owner would walk dogs without a leash, or just let them roam the streets.
Not all dogs are friendly, and not all dogs are safe to walk on their own, with distractions such as loud traffic, other animals and many other people walking around as well. All it takes is one small distraction for most dogs to go bolting into the street, whether they see a cat, another dog or some food they want making dogs unpredictable when it comes to having them off a leash and letting them roam.
The Nob Hill and University neighborhoods have become more congested, not only because of the constantly fluctuating student population, but also because of the revitalization of these neighborhoods to attract more people. As a result, these neighborhoods have more traffic than ever, especially on the weekends and in the summer.
People need to leash their dogs not only to ensure the safety of their own pets, but also to ensure the safety of other people and their animals as well. It is blatant neglect of other people and animals to let ones dog walk around without a leash, and can lead to a bad situation that cannot be undone.
Countless times people of the editorial board have picked up dogs that got out of their yards, or ran away from his or her owners because they had been spooked, and it just seems redundant that so many dog owners would be neglectful of their own pets.
The Chronicle board knows that sometimes dogs just get out, especially the ones that like to jump, but being a responsible pet owner means that one has to make sure that their dogs are in a safe and secure place while left unattended and to leash their dogs while walking them at all times.
The Chronicle board also knows that some people don’t like to put constraints on their dogs such as leashes, but when dog owners do this, they risk that their dogs could be harmed or could harm others, and it is not a viable reason to just let their dogs roam free.
During the month of June at Kinko’s on Central Avenue, a man parked his truck with two dogs in the bed and left them there unattended while he went inside. Not two minutes later, another man was walking his three dogs without a leash, and without a few seconds notice, all five dogs were running around the parking lot freely, causing havoc.
More than a few people were in their cars trying to leave and almost hit these poor dogs. It is this type of neglect that needs to be addressed because it could have been worse if people were not paying attention, and any one of these dogs could have been hit, being this occurred right on a major street in afternoon traffic.
The Chronicle cannot stress enough that poor judgment such as this is one of the reasons why people lose their beloved pets. This can be fixed by leashing or securing animals. So please, dog owners think before you let your dogs out as well as making sure your yards are secure, and put a leash on your dogs, for the safety of your pets and the safety of the community.