There’s more at UTPB than meets the eye

Re: "UT System's new student regent visits UTPB," July 19:

As student body president at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, I disagree with UT System Student Regent Ben Dower's comments in the Odessa American regarding UTPB student life following his recent visit.

I, for one, chose this university in part because of the opportunities to participate in student activities and advance into leadership positions.
This summer, class enrollment has increased 18 percent over last summer. So there are more students on campus at this time, and many are involved in Camp Falcon, leading orientation groups and planning for the fall within student government.

His comments compare us unfavorably with UT Austin in terms of number of students living on campus and student activities. I believe that is an unfair comparison because, during the regular school year, our campus is teeming with activities such as:

>> 11 Intercollegiate sports teams involving more than 300 students.
>> Student political organizations.
>> Student clubs, community and volunteer organizations.
>> Homecoming Week.
>> Battle of the Bands.
>> Comedians and musicians.
>> Halloween Carnival.
>> Fall Festival.
>> Faculty/student softball game.
>> Intramural sports.

The 600 students living on campus can attest to the long strides that have been made in both attendance and involvement in extracurricular activities, even during summer sessions.

These ample opportunities for students to become engaged in Student Life-sponsored activities are due to the hard work and creativeness of Rolando Diaz, director, and Susan Lara, vice president for student services.

Furthermore, Dower alluded to the lack of a health center, but our students do have access to the Texas Tech Health Science Center in Odessa. We recognize that this was an initial impression, based upon a new board member's first visit.

We welcome him back once he's visited other campuses with similar student demographics, and the regular school year has begun.

John Paul Garcia
Odessa