'UNM's Dedication to Sports Shortchanges Education

I am probably one of the biggest Lobo sports fans in this entire University, and I have been since my childhood. My parents used to bring me to football and basketball games, and I became one of the loudest fans in the stands, next to my father. Also, when it came time to choose my college, there was no doubt I was going to be a Lobo. I enjoy being at this school, and I support all Lobo athletics, but I was absolutely appalled when I picked up Wednesday's Daily Lobo and found out how much our new basketball coach was going to make.

The article compared it to giving out 225 school tuitions or hiring 10 full professors. I can only imagine that the money could be used in other ways, as well. I am especially concerned about this as I am nearing the end of my college career, and I am being stopped dead in my tracks just meters from the finish line.

You see, I am an education major, and I cannot be accepted into the College of Education. This is not because my grades are bad; they are excellent. This is not because I scored poorly on entrance tests; I scored in the top 4 percent in all categories. This is also not because I do not have all the preliminary classes; I have completed all of my basic courses. I am very qualified to be accepted into the College of Education, but the reason I cannot be accepted is because there is not enough money to hire enough teachers to teach the classes I need. I know through conversations with my peers that many education majors are in the same boat as [I]. I also know that the nursing program faces the same problems ....

I am aware that sports events may very well bring in the most revenue for our school, and I fully support athletics, as I mentioned previously. But the question I have is this: When did sports become more important than education? The state of New Mexico is hurting for good teachers and nurses, but our school is failing to supply them because the specific colleges do not have enough money.

I do not want you to go away from this letter thinking I am one of those people who believe that athletics get all the money and breaks. Please understand that I am trying to complete my education and become a teacher, and I am tired of being held back from that dream because UNM cannot get its priorities straight and make education No. 1 - as it should always be. So, instead of spending the cash on a basketball coach, why don't we try to focus on the students? Because some of us do not want to spend six years here - I know I don't. Then again, what choice do I have?

Lindsay Holloman'