DAILY LOBO new mexico
September 28, 2010
Out of a cannon, into Congress see page 5
tuesday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
GREETINGS, MR. PRESIDENT
Obama hopes to improve grad rates by Chelsea Erven cerven@unm.edu
President Obama spoke out about education reform and what he’s doing to help college graduates succeed in today’s job market in a Monday conference call with student journalists. Obama drew attention to efforts made to strengthen the nation’s higher-education system, which he said is important to the country’s success. He said America’s college graduations rates have plummeted from first in the world to 12th in just one generation. “If we’re serious about building a stronger economy and making sure we succeed in the 21st century, the single most important step we can take is to make sure that every young person can get the best education possible, because the countries that out-educate us today will beat us tomorrow,” Obama said. Obama outlined steps he is taking toward higher education, specifically reclaiming the world’s top college graduation ranking and having the world’s highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. He said policies being implemented are designed to make college more affordable. That includes changing federal student loans so that loan money goes directly to students, tripling the investment in college tax credits for middle-class families and raising the value of Pell grants to make sure that they keep up with inflation, Obama said. “Higher education is the only place where inflation is higher than it is in health care,” he said. “But (these policies) are allowing us to support community colleges and make college more affordable
Terrance Siemon / Daily Lobo President Obama chats with NM State Representative Al Park a few minutes after landing at Kirtland Air Force Base on Monday evening.
President Obama arrived at Kirtland Air Force Base on Monday evening before meeting with a local family to discuss the economy at a small gathering. The stop is one of a series of meetings the President is holding with American families who say their lives have been improved through Obama’s policies.
DL
Check out DailyLobo.com for a photo gallery of the President’s visit.
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Daniel Hulsbos/ Daily Lobo Security officials monitor the Air Force One landing site atop a hangar before President Obama’s arrival.
Professor leaves behind intellectual legacy by Leah Valencia
news@dailylobo.com Emeritus Peter Dorato dedicated years to the UNM Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, but his students and colleagues said his passion and kindness is what they will miss most. Dorato, 77, died Sept. 18. His daughter, Sylvia Dorato, said her father did everything full force. “He loved people,” she said. “He loved interacting, and he loved teaching. And that is something he did literally until the very, very end.” Dorato was celebrated in his field. He was named a Gardner-Zemke Professor for outstanding teaching. He was also given the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Third Millennium Medal, the World Automation Congress Lifetime Achievement Award and the School of Engineering Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. He wrote eight books and more than 65 journal articles, his daughter said. “He was extremely well-known and respected in his field and in his area of research,” colleague Chaouki Abdallah said. “He really
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enjoyed what he was doing, He was one of the best teachers, one of the most concerned about education and about students that I have ever met.” Abdallah said that Dorato’s love of education is reflected in his students. “He enjoyed arguing with people in intellectual arguments,” he said. “He liked the Socratic exchange of ideas, and he really honestly believed in it.” Dorato is survived by his wife, four children and 10 grandchildren. He served as chairman of the ECE department from 1976 until 1984. He retired from UNM in 2005, though he continued teaching as an adjunct professor until he died. Former student Todd Barrick said Dorato’s classes were unique. “I sought out his classes,” he said. “And just sought out information from him in general even when I didn’t have classes with him. He really cared about what students thought and had to say.” Abdallah said Dorato was in it for the students. “He would do teaching sessions for classes he wasn’t even teaching, just because he wanted to help,” he said. “He didn’t care about money. Sometimes he wouldn’t ask for a raise; he would ask
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for something for the department.” Beyond teaching, Dorato was a nationally ranked senior tennis player and taught an Italian culture class in the Continuing Education Department. “It is just another example of him going all the way with the things he did,” Sylvia said. Abdallah said the department will feel a void without Dorato’s presence. “It is going to leave a big hole, and we are not going to be able to fill it for a long time,” he said. Family and friends will hold a service Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Aquinas Newman Center on the UNM campus.
Service for Professor Peter Dorato Thursday 10 a.m. Aquinas Newman Center 1815 Las Lomas Rd N.E.
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