Editor,
What’s the big deal? Why are people so upset? The football coach is getting a raw deal. I don’t understand all the hand wringing. Violence happens frequently at this University, despite all the pompous denunciations. I am not referring to the recent extreme case involving physical violence. I am referring to the more frequent type of non-physical violence, often called bullying, in which managers and supervisors mistreat and abuse staff on main campus and on north campus. There are many outstanding staff, faculty and managers at UNM. Unfortunately, there are also bullies.
It’s not just one, two or a handful of managers who bully their staff. Why is it tolerated? It’s very difficult to prove because there are no physical bruises or police reports. There’s plenty of evidence, however, in the form of mental anxiety, emotional upheaval, loss of sleep, lack of concentration and additional time off. Poor coach. One punch and he’s a villain, yet there are vice presidents, deans, directors and general administrators high and low, who get away with violence all the time. The question is not: Is it happening? The question is: How much is it happening? Does it happen to 1 percent of staff? 2 percent? 5 percent? Does anyone know? Does anyone want to know? Does anyone really care? Here are excerpts from a resolution by the UNM Staff Council presented to President William Gordon in 2001 in support of an Ombuds Office: “Whereas, many staff not currently included in a bargaining unit find themselves without meaningful high-level assistance to resolve workplace issues, and whereas, there are numerous types of problems that are not amenable to resolution through a dispute system, including issues such as managerial misconduct, health and safety issues and workplace violence.” Similar resolutions were presented to President F. Chris Garcia in 2002 and to Interim President David Harris in 2006. There is still another resolution in development. It’s getting close to the 10th anniversary
of negligence by the University administration and the Board of Regents in ignoring violence. Maybe it’s time to petition
the New Mexico State Legislature during the January 2010 session to establish an independent commission to investigate physical and nonphysical violence at UNM. I realize these are tough economic times for everyone, but there is never a “good” economic time for this issue. It will always get pushed to the end of the priority list. It’s time to stop the violence at UNM.
Phil Szydlowski
UNM staff
