LETTER: Misguided spending

Contributed by Francisco Reveriano, computer engineering major

When shopping for colleges I was constantly told that UHCL had a better Computer Engineering program then UH Main. In fact, I was constantly told that the robotic program at UHCL was top notch. So far my experience has been more than satisfactory, which has raised the question of why spend all this money in a new Mechanical Department?

Many students in the Delta Building have asked and discussed this question. The answer we are told is to increase enrollment, make the school more attractive, and increase revenue stream. This, in turn, would help with the college debt. This thought has never made sense to me. It has always connected with the analogy that in order to lose weight you need to eat more.

While working in outdated labs, using networks that constantly crash, and classrooms with malfunctioning projects students ask why the money is not spent where UHCL is known to be good at? Why isn’t more money spent in the robotics programs? Why aren’t the labs updated and constantly cleaned? And why is there a shortage of available electives?

I ask this question because to the students in the Delta Building there seems to be a large disconnect in campus. It seems that everything exciting and new is happening to the other side of campus. While those of us in the Computer department are neglected. When in truth we are the ones that most uphold the reputation of the college.

A sensible policy of focusing on what the college is known to be good at instead of creating whole new departments would had made more sense. It would also had increased pride and commitment by its students.

Also published on Medium.