Editor,
The Daily Lobo article about UNM Press on April 1 inaccurately describes the layoff of three employees. By titling the article "UNM Press to fire three employees," the Lobo implied that the individuals in question were terminated for some kind of wrongdoing, which is not the case. The employees were laid off because of economic conditions.
The editor, Damian Garde - not the reporter - titled the article and determined that "fire" and "layoff" are synonymous. Fired employees do not have the opportunity, as the UNM Press employees do, of receiving priority consideration for other UNM positions that open up. Fired employees do not generally qualify for unemployment benefits, either. Garde's decision to skew public perception through use of decidedly inflammatory verbiage is irresponsible journalism.
Carolyn Gonzales
UNM spokeswoman
