Opinion

cartoon

UNM should start short-term disability program for staff

Editor, In light of recent restructuring of the catastrophic-leave program at UNM, I would like to urge administration to implement a short-term disability benefit as an opt-in program for UNM staff. I strongly believe the catastrophic-leave program is a valuable resource for life-threatening situations for our staff, and I also strongly believe that there is room to close the gap of coverage for non-life-threatening, but just as crucial, medical attention.

Catastrophic-leave program quick to deny valid requests

Editor, UNM staff should carefully consider remaining in the catastrophic-leave program. Recently, a UNM employee whom I supervise was involved in a serious accident that required a three-week hospital stay. This employee's annual and sick leave banks were quickly depleted, and he filed for catastrophic leave.

Cartoon

Male professors should be run through sheep dip, shot

Editor, Speaking as a male faculty member, I would say most of us men deserve to be put down. I think that's the compassionate, sensible, likeable and pleasant thing to do. Most male professors spend their days drooling away in their offices or sucking up valuable classroom space.

Cartoon

Focusing on differences only perpetuates gender inequality

Editor, Articles addressing inequalities, such as last Tuesday's article, "Study: Female professors earn less than males," are hard to find within any sort of publication, and so I applaud the Daily Lobo for putting an effort into educating the community on an issue that is often overlooked.

How to stay healthy during finals

It's finals time. What are you doing reading the paper? Shouldn't you be studying? Drop this rag, go buy a candy bar and hit the library. No, wait. I'm not serious. It's a good thing you're taking some time to relax. I know these days and nights are mostly filled with cramming for exams, cranking out papers and tanking up on caffeine and junk food.

Cartoon

Republicans need to get over Obama's win, prepare for '12

Editor, You lost. Get over it. This letter is directed at Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, among others. I'm not sure if you recall this, but there was a democratically held presidential election in November. We hold one of these things every four years, and we have for more than 200 years now.

With new editor at the helm, Lobo should focus on campus

Editor, I want to say congratulations to Rachel Hill for becoming the new editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo. I have seen genuine improvement in the Lobo over the past year, and I'm hopeful that Hill's guidance will make the paper better than ever. With this change in leadership, this seems as good a time as any to explain one of my pet peeves with the Lobo, one that I think has been getting better recently, but should still be addressed.

Regents' budget strategy robs New Mexicans, UNM

Editor, Judging by the Lobo's latest reports on UNM's 2009-10 budget, the UNM Board of Regents has adopted a four-step strategy for covering its 5.2 percent increase in expenses over last year. Step one: Rob the poor to give to the rich. The budget approved by the regents Friday calls for decreasing expenditures to its branch campus by rates ranging from 6 percent at Taos and Las Alamos to about 4 percent at Gallup.

Obama's respect toward other nations a welcome change

Editor, After reading Daniel Martinez's letter, I had a nice, long laugh at the pure foolishness that he was spewing as what, I imagine, was supposed to be some sort of argument. It absolutely baffles me that people want to somehow correlate a simple formality - a meet and greet - as some sort of demeaning process for the United States.

comics

An immigration system in peril

With tax deadlines over, we can breathe a sigh of relief for making it through one more year of incomprehensible forms and stacks of paperwork. Most people can also be thankful for not having to deal with another government system that surpasses the IRS in complexity.

Smoke-free poll a tyranny by the unrepresentative minority

Editor, I will surely be thought an old fogey because I received my graduate degrees at UNM more than 20 years ago, but it still seems appropriate that at least someone at this newspaper would have an elementary understanding of statistics and the like. The "UNM sets smoke-free date" story mentioned in passing that the poll of interested persons on campus received fewer than 360 responses.

Cartoon

Environmental groups, Schrader not approaching issues correctly

Editor, Recently, a member from an environmental group standing near the SUB casually asked me, "Do you have a minute for the Earth?" I politely told her "No." Perhaps I should have told her I use a water-saving showerhead; I ride the city buses very often; I do all my laundry only once per week including my bed sheets; and I carpool very often.

Obama's stimulus plan won't benefit people on Main Street

Editor, After numerous months of attempted interpretation, I finally realized what President Obama meant by his campaign slogans "hope" and "change." I heard a professor on TV on Tuesday talking about how the recent stimulus package is exactly what America needs and that, as a result, change is on the way.

Professors must allow sick days to students with flu symptoms

Editor, Many of us are deeply concerned about the welfare of this country's health - especially with the arrival of the new strain of flu: H1N1 (swine flu). I am very concerned about my fellow students. Professors, please give students the time off and chance to retake exams if students are presenting symptoms or have been exposed to the flu virus without red tape and superfluous hoop jumping.