Homework Blog #6

In recent news, New Mexico gubernatorial candidates Diane Denish and Susana Martinez were no-shows at a higher-education forum at the University of New Mexico on Wednesday. UNM's student government said both were invited early this summer. Students and faculty said they feel like they were snubbed. "For the candidates not to show was kind of a slap in the face," said student Jakob Schiller."We were very disappointed," said undergraduate student and Associated Students of UNM chief of staff Michael Thorning.

It wasn't just the state legislators who attended or Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Brian Colon students had wanted to speak with.Professor Rich Wood said it was gubernatorial candidates Denish and Martinez who students, faculty, staff and even the UNM Board of Regents wanted to see at Wednesday's higher-education forum.
Wood is also the Faculty Senate President. He said he helped plan the event, along with students in the ASUNM and faculty council."To say to the students, (and) also the citizens of New Mexico, that higher education is not a priority for us to attend and talk about is the wrong message to send," Wood said.

UNM has undergone five budget cuts, a professor shortage, graduate students filling in the teaching gaps and an increase in tuition. With higher education being a large issue this political season, students were left scratching their heads and wondering why neither candidate attended. "For them to sort of shrug us off the way they did, it sort of makes me feel that neither candidate is paying attention to education they way they need to," Schiller said."I think both gubernatorial candidates owe the citizens of this state an explanation of what their real plans for higher education," Thorning said.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Being that in a couple of years, you will be in the same boat, what would you expect from these candidates? Remember that both candidates discussed how education is crucial to their campaign. Please write a short paragraph describing your view on this situation.
-Noriega