Letters to the Editor: School project, NMT, City Pool

Request for a school project

Editor:

Dear People of the Great State of New Mexico,

Hello! I am a third-grade student in Northern Virginia. Our class is learning about the United States, and I will be teaching our school about the state of New Mexico. In late May, I will create a display for our State Fair that I hope will make you proud.

Although I have gathered facts about your state from books and websites, I think that I can receive the best information from the people who live there. This is why I am writing to you. I am hoping that you would be willing to send me some items to help me learn more about the best things in your state. You might consider sending items such as postcards, pictures, souvenirs, this newspaper article, or any other unique items that would be useful or show your state’s pride. Here are a few questions:

Why do you live in your state?/What first brought your family there?

How do you make money?/What is your job?

What does your state look like?

What do people do for fun?

What animals live there?

What traditional food/recipes does your state have?

What type of music is native to your state?

Do you have a state athletic team?

What geographic features are unique to your state?

I will need to gather all of my information by the second week of May. You can mail items to the address below. I really appreciate your help!

Sincerely, Vera

Miss Campbell’s Class

The Langley School

1411 Balls Hill Road

McLean, Virginia 22101

NMT should be forthcoming

Editor:

I congratulate the Chieftain editor on printing an uncomfortable story about the Wells/Regents lawsuit in your February 6 edition. As higher education itself is under attack from federal forces of fear, cynicism and ignorance, it is even more important that institutes like Tech demonstrate rectitude and transparency in their operations. At the same time, it is good for both Tech and Socorro for Tech to use local vendors/businesses whenever possible. Former President Wells alleges that tens of millions of dollars were invested at First State Bank for a well-below-market rate of return. While public comment by the current NMT President, the Board of Regents President or First State Bank President regarding these allegations about past events may be legally unwise, information about the present investment status should be forthcoming to the Socorro/NMT community.

Information about how NM Tech’s reserve funds are invested at present, and at what rate of return, should be available without legal complications. I hope the Chieftain seeks and publishes this information, or that it is volunteered by NM Tech management in the near future. Best wishes to all for a continued synergy between NMT and Socorro.

Richard Sonnenfeld

Socorro

Socorro should invest in a pool instead of a waterpark

Editor:

Isabel Morris’ letter in the February 6th Chieftain pointed out several better uses for city money than the proposed water park. I’d like to suggest another: Instead of funding a water park, how about putting some money into our existing pool?

For what a water park would cost to build and maintain, we could probably put a dome over the pool and keep it open all year. Barring that, the pool could certainly be kept open longer during the year.

Unlike the Sports Complex and proposed water park, the pool is centrally located and within walking/biking distance for much of Socorro.

Jim Ruff

Socorro