After contentious debate, ASUNM passed a resolution by a 10-9 vote Wednesday encouraging UNM administrators to make the salary book available online.
Supporters voted in favor of transparency, while those opposed voted to protect employees’ privacy. The salary book lists salaries of all UNM employees.
Sen. Melissa Trent, who sponsored the resolution, said making the document available online wouldn’t be burdensome for the University. She said she has viewed the salary book for class projects, but having one copy at Zimmerman Library that can be checked out for two hours is problematic.
“All this information is already public,” she said, adding that other universities post electronic versions of their salary books.
Daily Lobo editor-in-chief Pat Lohmann went before the ASUNM senate earlier this month as well as the Faculty Senate and GPSA to propose the idea of an electronic salary book. GPSA passed the resolution at its first meeting of the semester, and the Faculty Senate voted to table the resolution Tuesday until its November meeting.
Sen. Alonzo Castillo, who voted against the resolution, said he supports an online version of the book only if employees’ names aren’t included.
“I see it as being a safety and privacy issue for staff,” he said. “I want it to show positions and not names.”
Sen. Adam Ornelas said he voted for the bill to increase University transparency.
“As students we are also customers, and this is where our money is going,” he said. “We talk about moving forward … But we’re still in this archaic mode where we only have one book for New Mexico’s flagship University?”
Some expressed concerns over negative public response and possible tension if the salary book was easily available.
“Our web savviness is far ahead of our maturity levels,” said Senator Adrian Cortinas. “Some students might want to use this to start pointing fingers.”
Yet Trent said the salary book commands only as much concern as University members demand.
“If it raises tension, then there’s a reason there is tension,” Trent said. “If people want to get upset about it, want to talk about it and reevaluate it, then that should be their right.”
Among other items, ASUNM passed a voter registration resolution in support of NMPIRG’s effort to register students before the November elections. Sen. Greg Golden presented a resolution against cell phone use while driving.
He said the resolution would coincide with a Department of Transportation effort to lower drivers’ cell phone use.
Golden said he was not aware of any UNM students who have crashed while talking on a cell phone or texting, but it’s still a pressing issue.
“Using a cell phone, whether hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s
reaction,” Golden said.
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