Editor, I don't want to hurt any administrative feelings, because I know the new definition of campus integrity requires that I "demonstrate self-control in difficult situations" and that freedom is now defined as "open-mindedness toward people who hold differing opinions" than I do.
Editor, We all value the diversity of New Mexico, particularly at UNM. Multiculturalism is a valued perspective and appears to be sought after across the board. If we evaluate issues affecting our state in terms of productive versus nonproductive activities, perhaps we can identify and determine which aspects of diversity and multiculturalism are an end or a means to an end.
Editor, President David Schmidly may not be the best president for UNM. Though after President William C. Gordon left, UNM hasn't exactly been a magnet for successful leaders. There have been more than enough lackluster presidents to pass through the revolving doors of Scholes Hall.
Editor, In response to the gathering economic storm, the University administration plans to give staff the option to take unpaid furloughs from their jobs. Few staff members are in a financial position to do this. Therefore, it is logical to expect that the policy will save little money.
In Regents President Jamie Koch's op-ed published in the Albuquerque Journal on Feb. 4, he made two statements that I would like to address. First, he claimed that tenure and tenure-track faculty members on the UNM Main Campus make "an average of more than $94,000 in salary" per year, and second, that these same faculty members are "contracted to work for 189 days per year" and are given an additional "39 personal days per year to devote to outside interests and pursuits.
There is a parallel between the meltdown on Wall Street and the meltdown at UNM. Both have taken place at almost the same time, and both were deregulated by their public oversight bodies. Congress deregulated Wall Street; the governor and state Legislature deregulated UNM.
Editor, The coverage of all that has been going on at UNM lately has been superb. I've read about reactions from the students, staff and faculty with plenty of facts and interviews with people with different perspectives on the issues. Kudos. However - I know, there's always a however - the "Crisis hits the small screen" article, while excellent, got one thing very wrong.
Editor, To President David Schmidly and Regents President Jamie Koch: Thank you for taking it easy on the employees of UNM by offering us the opportunity to take a voluntary furlough. For those of us canny enough to read between the lines, voluntary furloughs equal layoffs if not enough folks volunteer.
Editor, I believe that the time is ripe to organize and get the type of university that we want. We need to act fast, though. Otherwise, this whole mess will blow right by, and we will not get a chance to speak. I am not currently a student, but I will be eventually, and I want to help participate in the creation of the new University.
Editor, In response to the Feb. 12 Opinion section of the Daily Lobo: Phillip Howell, you offer nothing as an alternative to the stimulus package. The only evidence of waste you write about is money to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is not a not-for-profit, much like any church; it is not called "Planned Abortion.
Editor, I love UNM, and it is consoling to see such coverage of the current crisis enveloping this University. The importance of collaborative involvement to abate this manifesting problem cannot be overstated. It is, however, very disconcerting when I find that the president of ASUNM and other students like Charles Matthews are still defending President David Schmidly.
Editor, Here is one employee who will not be doing a voluntary furlough, and I am sure there are many others in my situation. After 21 years with UNM, I am earning a whopping salary of $30,000 a year, and I doubt my furlough would even make a dent. I will need to work a few more years in order to have a decent retirement as I support myself.
In a news conference Monday, President Barack Obama warned that in our current economic state, "Inaction could turn a crisis into a catastrophe." It is undeniable that economic catastrophe is becoming a real possibility as collapsing excesses from Wall Street continue to inundate Main Street.
Editor, After listening to a news broadcast about President David Schmidly's plan to have staff take furloughs, I was infuriated. The staff at UNM is the backbone of the University. Being a former employee, I had noticed over a long period of time that the staff is expected to do the jobs of two or three people already.
Editor, From the trials of history and the embryo of social allegiance, we've finally matured to a defining cohesive social partnership in this country. Together, we have set aside the segregating serums that have plagued our growth and tainted the fibers of love so evident in our blueprints of life.
Solutions by The State News
