Blog: UNK

A Letter Regarding Budget Cuts at the University of Nebraska Kearney

2023-09-30 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

 
   

      A Letter Regarding Budget Cuts at the University of Nebraska Kearney    

   

      A shameful time at the University    

 
 
   

To: The University of Nebraska and the community

My name is Pablo Morales. I am writing my concerns regarding the immense budget cuts happening across the University of Nebraska system and specifically at my alma mater, the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

I ask Julie Shaffer-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (shafferj@unk.edu) and Jon Watts-Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance (wattsjc@unk.edu), and Chancellor Douglas Kristenen (kristensend@unk.edu) to please help us find a solution to stop this massive budget cut. So many people's livelihoods are at stake which involve people's education, teaching positions, academic services, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

    My Letter to UNK and NU System  

This week I found out that the university "needs" to perform a $3 million budget cut at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). This is angering and saddening. This creates a huge hole on the UNK campus.         I graduated from the university in 2019. I graduated with a B.A. in Modern Languages. This hurts to hear that many programs such as the French program are being cut. The Modern Language Department was my home during my time at the University. It pushed me out of my comfort zone that led me to even great worldview experiences such as study abroad. The French program in Modern Languages helped prepare me to become a teacher and helped to interact with people of all backgrounds and cultures.

UNK needs to have a complete modern language department to prepare students in this globalized world. Learning a language isn't about learning simply a language. Languages expand a person's worldview. You learn culture, you learn experiences, you learn how different societies work. We can't have young people's viewpoints and perspectives stuck glued to the environment they are in. They need to branch out. Going to college is a place where people learn to build deeper connections with others. This includes people they interact with daily and people who are different from them culturally. The modern languages department is such a vital program.

What hurts more is the attack on the arts and humanities. The arts and humanities are important for a well rounded education. We need students to explore subjects outside of their majors. I learned a lot from the humanities and the arts.

I ask the University of Nebraska not to eliminate these programs. If the entire university system wants to retain more people in Nebraska, before entering, during college, and post college, we must allow these opportunities.

UNK is the only proper public university in Nebraska that geographically serves so many students in the western half of the state. UNK offers so many programs closer to home that many in years past had to attend schools further away from home to enter the programs needed.

I am proud to be a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. This saddens me to see UNK and the entire university system go through this dark time. Please reconsider all the damage that is to come. Every single higher position university administrator and faculty must fight for the interest of students - current and present.

Representatives of the Nebraska University system need to find and pressure funding from the state. The state has done so much damage from cutting budgets year after year. We must fight those who are against public education and higher education who put us in a chokehold.

We are currently facing so many attacks on public education and higher education from various places. The University of Nebraska system is no exception.

Pablo Morales

University of Nebraska at Kearney Graduate 2019  

New Student Enrollment Leader (NSE) at UNK

2018-12-28 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

Pablo Morales-Garcia

New Student Enrollment Leader

Phone: (308) 865-8526   |    Email: [email protected]

Pablo Morales-Garcia

Favorite Place On Campus

I really love the campus in its entirety from the art to the history of building and monuments. One of my favorite features on campus are the trails and sidewalks that connect you to all of campus but also to all of the bike trails in the city of Kearney. It is so easy to get to Cottonmill or Yanney Park on the nice trails. Around campus, I really enjoying riding around on my longboard! I can use my longboard to get point A to point B in a snap! You'll thank me later when you're running behind for class! I really enjoy the social aspect by meeting fellow longboarders.

Favorite UNK Tradition

My favorite UNK Tradition would be Big Blue and Gold Week. It is such a good way to get started on the new school year and it is such an opportunity to get to know people by just having fun. One of my favorite events during BBGW is going to destination downtown and watch the food eating competition. One of my fondest memories is being able to ride on a float during and just having a blast! Not every day do you have the chance to ride on a float during a parade, cool, eh?

What are you passionate about?

I have always been passionate about travel and languages since a young age. My views of the world have expanded so much ever since I traveled when I was a kid and even more when I studied abroad in France. Traveling gives a person experiences that you cannot get in your backyard or in your daily routine!

I want to spread the importance of learning more than one language. I want to share my passion of being open minded about the world and embrace languages. Just by learning another language opens the door for you in many ways you could never ever imagine!

I Chose UNK Because...

When I came for a tour of UNK, I instantly became in love with the campus. Just being here I didn't feel overwhelmed being on the campus. Everyone I ran across was so nice! I felt such a personal connection especially when I met with the chair, advisor, and a professor of my program. Of all the school visits I had gone to the past, not one had offered me to meet with my potential advisor to do this. At that moment I realized that "This is the school I want to attend!" It all came down to the little things that would make such a difference in picking a school! After that....the rest is history! 2018 Staff

Jennifer Garcia

Mary Dworak

Noah Journey

Odwuar Quinonez

Pablo Morales-Garcia

Shelby Hoffmann

Valeria Lozano

Taylor Janicek

We are difference makers
University of Nebraska at Kearney

"

Survived the first week of College

2014-09-01 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

"Hey guys! Pablo here!

[caption id=""attachment_311"" align=""alignnone"" width=""240""] Work out #selfie[/caption]

Wondering if I was still alive or not? Well here I am. I made it through the first week of college. Since the minute I stepped foot outside my car I knew I was going to enjoy it. Most of it, minus the move in day process.

 

I got to see my good friend Lucas, who just came back from Brazil to come study here at UNK. Man I missed this guy. He is my roommate that I will be staying with all year long. I just hope we don't kill each by then. So far we are getting along great.

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Later that morning I got to meet my suite mates: Thomas and Riley. These two are from around North Platte, NE. Who knew we would all be alike? We are all like brothers from another mother. They've made the week great.I wish I would have met them earlier!

[caption id=""attachment_307"" align=""alignnone"" width=""300""] Pabs and Tom (right)[/caption]

Since we are now bros, we have done many fun activities. Activities like working out or even just walking around (towards the cafeteria of course :) )

The first weekend of college was great. There were a lot of fun activities. There was a lot of free food and free stuff!! I got a free stylus for my touch screen computer. That was the highlight of my free stuff shopping spree. I really wanted the free iPad. Oh Well.

Who doesn't like free stuff?? I know I do!

I have made many friends so far. I am glad to see many of my friends that I went to school or that I knew especially from the World Leaders Camp.

People on my floor are amazing. I've met people from Italy to Venezuela. I enjoy being on such a diverse campus where people immerse you in their culture. This will really want me to study abroad.

There have been some funny moments on my floor. Like this one kid who danced to anaconda

It has been such a great week here at UNK. I felt welcome and lucky to be at such a great school. I hope you all enjoyed this post. I hope to hear from many of you guys.

GO LOPERS!!!

Here are some more pictures.!

MAN I <3 COLLEGE!!

 

 

 "

Day 3 - UNK World Leaders Camp

2014-07-23 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

"Sleeping at the hotel in was one of the most comfortable places. Who knew old fashion was better? Breakfast wasn't what I was used to. It consisted of A slice of bread with cold cut (deli) meats. You cant forget a great cup of joe! What a simple breakfast? we made kolaches. Kolaches are a traditional food in the Czech Republic. They are formed like a cookie. We make a crater in the center to fill it with fillings. Fillings like apricot or cherry fillings. We also had cream cheese filling. Here is the result.

 

Delicious right??

Then we went on a tour around Wilber. We learned the history and reasons people moved here. One was religious freedom. (Sound familiar?)

I got to play the bagpipes. It was odd but cool at the same time.

[caption id=""attachment_261"" align=""alignnone"" width=""225""] Me playing the bagpipes[/caption]

 

Then we learned how to dance polka and some waltz. It was fun. Now i can dance! (I was salsa dancing in Omaha yesterday.)   We had an amazing lunch that consisted of duck, dumplings, sourkrout, and a kolache for dessert. I tought it was best meal in a long time. Czech food is actually good and healthy. Richard I'm coming to the Czech Republic for more food. LOL :-P

To end the stay in wilber Nebraska the local children entertained us by showing us traditional dances in traditional outfits. I think it is cool that these children are continuing their traditions.

Now I'm back in the dorms. Going to go get ice cream or something. Then I'll go work out with my roommate and have some bro time.

Follow my blog by registering!! On the left!!!

 "

Day 1 – UNK World Leaders Camp

2014-07-22 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

Yesterday was a great first day. I checked in at UNK around 11am to put my stuff and away. Then I met my awesome roommate Collin. Him and i got to stick together. We are the only guys in the camp. Next we introduced ourselves to the ladies. They are some nice people. The laugh a lot. Like nonstop. Lol.

We went to go grab some lunch at the diner. The food was great. Im going to love this school. I like the ice cream the best .

Our first activity was about culture. We were asked about describing our culture. Its was quite the open question. It wws alson hard at the same time. It shocked me that many of the participants didn’t know where there culture was from or any inform about it. It was a learning experience for all of us.

Then we did another activity comparing different cultures in different countries or groups of people. it was interesting seeing the differences.

After all this we had dinner. Didn’t meat much. I had the option to go to the swimming pools or go do something else. So Colin and i decided to do manly things like excersise. The girls went to the pool instead. I ran a out two miles. While running, Colin worked on his football workout. He is going to be a kicker for the UNK football team. Which is pretty awesome.

I then after we played apples to apples. It was quite intense. Then it got crazy funny. The girls were just losing it with nonstop laughing. It was fun. Hey! We had pizza!

Overall I’m enjoying this camp. I’m making some great friends and being around people who have great interests as I do.