Editor,
I am writing this letter to complain about UNM’s practices when it comes to construction or repair of school property, in particular with regard to outdoor public furniture such as picnic tables or benches. I was surprised to see this morning when taking a walk across campus that my favorite lunch bench, the brown one located on the northwest side of Mitchell Hall, had been removed. I have eaten lunch there almost every day at two for the past three years. If you have ever walked by you’ve probably noticed me, baseball cap, Bills jacket, rocking out to Husker Du or something similar.
Upon seeing this, I of course became rather upset especially at the fact that it had been removed without any level of notice to the student body. Removing it is your choice as it is your property, but let the students know beforehand so that those who receive much benefit from its presence will not be so surprised and possibly upset. The same thing occurred with my favorite reading bench on the southwest side of Santa Clara hall.
You wouldn’t drain the Olympic pool in the Seidler Natatorium without previous notification to the public would you? The same disclosure between UNM and its student body should be present with all changes to the face of this campus, big or small.
Philip Lafreniere
UNM Graduate Student
