Diversity office is ideal for handling hate crimes

Editor,

Due to the recent articles and letters published in the Daily Lobo regarding our stance on the Hate Crimes Task Force recommendations, I would like to offer some clarification on the opinion rendered on behalf of the Staff Council.

Judicial affairs specialist from the Dean of Students Office Robert Burford presented the report to the full council on Feb. 20. At that time, feedback was provided and councilors had the opportunity to bring this issue to the attention of their constituents for further input. More information can be found at Unm.edu/~stafcom/.

In June, the president's office requested that each constituent group report back to the president and the Board of Regents its opinions regarding the Hate Crimes Task Force report. After receiving this charge and discussing it at a Staff Council executive committee meeting, it was decided that we forward this request to the Staff Council environs committee so that it may render an objective opinion. The environs committee met and discussed the report provided by the Hate Crimes Task Force. Its opinion was presented to the full council at our August meeting. More information about this meeting can also be had from the above-mentioned Web site.

Vanessa Shields, Staff Council president, submitted a memorandum and reported their conclusions to the president and the Board of Regents at the regents meeting on Sept. 11 as requested of us by the office of the president.

To clarify, the Staff Council is not against either the findings or the majority of recommendations made by the Hate Crimes Task Force. Where we differ is in our opinion that "hate crime" is well within the purview of the Office of Institutional Diversity's goal to create a campus culture of civility. Creating another office will not solve the problem; we need to utilize the current office. In fact, we were very pleased to see the letter in today's Daily Lobo from the Interim Vice President for Institutional Diversity Rita Martinez-Purson saying hate crimes, such as the desecration of the Mexican national flag, will not be tolerated and will be addressed by her office, which we consider to be the appropriate place.

Loyola Chastain

President-elect

Staff Council