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Prior days' news: By date | Search This week's print issue Back issues: By date | Search April 10, 2008Official at New Mexico State U. Apologizes for Sending Pornographic E-MailAn associate dean at New Mexico State University who was accused of sending pornographic e-mail to a professor has apologized for doing that, according to a memorandum described today by the Las Cruces Sun-News. The official, Larry K. Olsen, said in the memo, dated March 31, that the e-mail was “a bad attempt at humor.” He added: “I regret this mistake and know it will never recur.” The recipient of the e-mail, John Moraros, and his wife, Yelena Bird, were both denied tenure in the university’s College of Health and Social Services shortly after he complained about the e-mailed pornography. The university is now investigating the matter, which also includes James Robinson, head of the university’s health-science department, who rejected the professors’ tenure bids despite a faculty panel’s unanimous vote to approve them. —Andrew Mytelka Posted on Thursday April 10, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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If you read the newspaper article linked above you will find the universities actions incredible.
— GL Apr 10, 03:33 PM #
Hardly incredible, unfortunately.
— Samagaltai Apr 10, 03:54 PM #
Sounds a bit incredible and embarassing to see from my home state.
RL
— Raymond Lewis Apr 10, 04:58 PM #
….and close the curtain on Act 1. This show ain’t over, folks, so don’t get up. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. We’ve still got Luscious LaRue and her woeful tale of how she lost an eye, and those pugnacious pimps of porno, the Twizzle Twins from Talahassee, who promise to drop more high explosive bombs than the Enola Gay herself! If we get raided folks, there’s two exits toward the rear. Now on with the show!!!
— marci Apr 10, 05:08 PM #
Can someone explain how the pictures were supposed to be funny?
— Evan Apr 10, 05:45 PM #
This is strange. Very strange. The sender of the offensive material keeps his job, the receipeint of the, perhaps, unsolicited email loses his job and tenure. His wife becomes guilty by association.
— joe Apr 10, 06:01 PM #
The offender is administration. The victim is untenured. What else do you need to know?
— Fred Apr 10, 06:10 PM #
oh, I get it now…the fox will examine the chickens? chicken wings anyone? this is just laughable. and to think NM tax payers paid for these outrageous behaviors…the academy’s haughty little preserve is quickly shrinking and this is just one snowflake on the tip of their iceberg. The highest administration should be FIRED. They certainly KNEW about this and did nothing but pull the rug over the dead elephant before them. How typical.
— g Apr 10, 07:07 PM #
Given the quality of gubernatorial leadership in New Mexico are you surprised by the lack of Regential and administrative leadership.
— FEL Apr 10, 07:45 PM #
Fred: Is it always that simple?
— Guy Apr 10, 08:44 PM #
Fred: Your comment is an example of something that I have seen with woeful frequency in higher education. Here we are, supposedly the most highly educated in scholarly inquiry and critical thinking, and I read and hear blanket statements such as yours from the “intelligentsia”. The actions reported at NMSU are inexcusable; however, your comment with all its underlying prejudices is worthy of concern also.
— Faye Apr 11, 09:10 AM #
Why could not the recipient of the allegedly pornographic emal merely ignore it and get on with his work, as most men would have? In any event, there probably were other reasons for the non-renewal. The knee-jerk reaction of believing an administration is always wrong is getting tiresome.
— /case hardened Apr 11, 09:41 AM #
I am certain Fred speaks from his own painful experience. Let’s not dismiss it, just because we don’t agree with it or haven’t had the experience ourselves. I think Fred and I have shared a campus or 2 in the past unfortunately (for us).
— grace Apr 11, 09:43 AM #
I used to work at NMSU, but got out of there as fast as I could. It is a horribly managed place – they run it like a for-profit business and not like an institution of higher education. The most powerful person is not the president, but the business people. It is very sad and the effect on student development and the student experience is dismal. NMSU is run like the Bush administration with it’s cronyism and the placing of people into jobs- often without searches – which they are not qualified to do. This incident is yet another example of the kind of place NMSU is. I am glad I got out of there.
— Former NMSU Employee Apr 11, 11:47 AM #
This will probably take a long time to play out, but NMSU is likely to have a big black eye and end up writing a big check. Sounds like incredibly bad judgment to me.
— Al Apr 11, 01:30 PM #
To former NMSU Employee. Many colleges and universities have businessmen (and women) running them, but in many cases they ARE the presidents.
— mike Apr 11, 01:44 PM #
This is a true travesty of academic justice. There is a huge cover-up underway at NMSU and unfortunately up until these most recent revelations, I was an unwitting contributor to it. No more….
Unfortunately, it starts at the highest level with President Martin and Provost Cruzado-Salas and moves down the chain of command to the Dean of the College of Health & Social Services Jeffrey Brandon, Associate Dean, and known porn addict Larry Olsen and Department Head, the pointed white hat is missing, James Robinson. I know all these individuals fairly well and I can assure you there is no integrity of character among them or the senior administration housed at Hadley Hall in this University. The two junior faculty members were gravely injured and egregiously retaliated against for having the strength to stand up, the moral fiber to object to practices that were common place for years and to firmly demand an investigation by the University administration.
When the original story broke out, President Martin and Provost Cruzado called for an “emergency” high administrative meeting among all the Deans and Associate Deans within NMSU and asked us to “rally around Larry because he needs our support.” We were all further assured that “there is no evidence to support the allegations against Associate Dean Larry Olsen.” We all circled the wagons and decided to protect one of our own against these vile, malicious, and erroneous allegations.
I feel betrayed and lied upon. If Associate Dean Larry Olsen never sent out pornographic e-mails from his University account during work hours no less, to another faculty member, who it appears clearly felt uncomfortable by the offensive content of these e-mails and requested of him to stop on numerous occasions, why did the Associate Dean issue a “confidential letter of apology?”
President Martin you seriously erred in your derogatory and sexist comments equating our students protest regarding what now appears to be real concerns about racially discriminatory, sexually harassing, intimidating and hostile work conditions to nothing more than a “sewing circle.”
However, the unfortunate handling of that situation and your public apology pale by comparison to the gravity, seriousness and egregious nature of attempting to cover up the truth in this incredible story.
These are no longer allegations but facts!!! Then I ask, why are Associate Dean Larry Olsen and Department Head James Robinson still employed by NMSU?
Not only they have not been fired from their posts as they duly deserve but NPR reported last night, the senior most administration at NMSU was arrogant, corrupt, blind, and foolish enough to sponsor both of them to attend and administratively represent NMSU at the national AAPEHRD conference in Fort Worth, TX, no less!
Kudos to our NMSU students for having the strength of their convictions, not allowing the NMSU administration to intimidate and bamboozle them and having the fortitude to follow Larry and Jim all the way to Fort Worth TX and openly protest against them by handing out thousands of leaflets during the national conference.
It is high time for the NM Governor’s office to take these matters seriously, actively get involved and undertake an external, transparent, objective and thorough investigation in these disturbing illegal practices. They have brought much shame and ill repute to our University and something must be done about it!
President Mike Martin there is a dead elephant under the rug and its huge ears are sticking out.
Therefore, Mike do the right thing at NMSU and immediately remove Olsen and Robinson. At least it will be a small, belated but important step in the right direction.
I too plan to get out of this place as soon as possible!
— concerned university administrator Apr 11, 01:51 PM #
I am a parent, advocating since November 2007 for my daughter and her fellow student who have exeprienced first hand the deliberate deceitful, discriminitory, harrassing, intimidating, stonewalling tactics of the NMSU Administration.
I personally dealt with Larry Olsen concerning my initial formal complaint and with no knowledge of his reputation ( positive or negative ) had what I thought to be open discussion and a solid committment from him to investigate my complaint. I gave Dr. Olsen a week to address my concerns and on a handshake he promised to investigate and verbalized his heartfelt concern for my daughter.
He did absolutely nothing to investigate in that week which prompted me to take that compalint along with a cover letter addressing his non responsiveness to the following offices: NMSU President, Provost, Board of Regents, Omsbud. After numerous repeated follow-up calls to all of these offices I was stonewalled. During this time my daughter and her fellow student were harrassed and intimidated by the administration. I took it upon myself to investigate with what outside sources were available to me and what I uncovered was a pattern of discrimination, intimidation, deceit, harrassment and non-compliance by the NMSU Administration.
I then filed a second formal complaint with these same offices outlining my investigative findings – which are all verifiable and have been documented – and again hand delivered this complaint to the above offices…. again no response and no returned phone calls.
When I contacted Dr. Olsen again, as this was my only option, he said that he was investigating and would be mailing me a written response to my complaint. I did receive a written response telling me that he had conducted an investigation and the complaint was resolved. No additional information – just that he considered the matter closed.
The second complaint clearly stated charges of deceit, misuse of power, discrimination, harrassment, and total non-response by the administration. I contacted the Attorney General’s Office and was referred to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office… here I spent much time relaying our situation, files, documentation and concerns regarding the total lack of response and policy and procedure non-compliance. After my persistence and many, many attempts by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office I was able to make an in-road to begin communication with the Health & Social Services Department – obviously, by this time the administration figured out that I was not just going to “go away” and that they had to somehow find a way to address my complaints.
Around the same time I read with great interest the complaints from with-in the NMSU University Community that were surfacing publicly and it solidified my belief that the issues that my daughter and her fellow student are facing are rampant on this campus. These professors who have had the courage to speak-up and the community – university & town of Las Cruces – who have joined in voice to say – We will not allow these illegal and immoral behaviors to exist… We demand an investigation by the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office into these allegations of discrimination, harrassment, intimidation, misuse of power and non-compliance by the NMSU Administration, they are the catalyst – the opportunity – for change.
The Students, Faculty, Parents, and Community need your intervention… we are begging for it via emails and letters. This is the time and we have the opportunity to make changes… to do the right thing for the paying customers/students, faculty, the community. Sure it seems a daunting task – sure it’s easier to turn away from the ugly trappings of these abhorent behaviors… but I for one CHOOSE to add my voice to the demand for justice and change…. it is time to bring NMSU Administration kicking and screaming into the light of the 21st century.
My hope is that the leaders of the State of New Mexico will CHOOSE to answer our pleas for justice and equality at this State and Federally funded Institution of Higher Education that is a direct and powewrful reflection of our community and it’s values!
— locked out by admin Apr 11, 02:28 PM #
University Counsel Bruce Kite has had several meetings with the administration, President Martin, Provost Waded Cruz Salas, Associate Provost Jose Deleone, Gerard Nevarez, NMSU Director of Institutional Equity for the most part. As a staff member working at Hardley hall, I have seen all the corruption and heard all the plans to frame Larry Olsen as innocent, Bruce Kite had concluded that he had successfully achieved that goal as of two weeks ago, however the latest evidence leaves much to be desired because if this goes to trial, I am willing to testify as I will be out of here soon.
I am so dissapointed at the administration for trying to cover this up and making up stories against faculty, students and staff. A few weeks ago, the provost and presidents office issued an alert that a black student had a gun and was going to be killing administrators in the College of Health and Social Services at NMSU. I for a fact, know that this was not true because this student, a lovely young man who has nothing, but goodness had raised complaints on sexual harrassment and hostile work environment. I have talked to him several times and it was shocking that the administrators, particularly Josephine De Leone spent time to frame this student and as a result initiating a partial evacuation of the building so that they could take him to an asylum!! This was to discredit his grievance because the whole evidence was in their hands.
Now, covering use of university resources to send porn during work hours!
I cannot fathom how Mike Martin sleeps during the night when he has all this garbage with him.
In short, Larry Olsen needs to be fired. President Martin needs to be fired. Josephine De Leone needs to be questioned and possibly fired for making such horrific, but false allegations against a student.
— Disgusted NMSU Staff Member Apr 11, 05:33 PM #
I am awestruck by this!! Wow, this school is in a mess. Something needs to be done with president Martin.
— Unbelievable!! Apr 11, 07:57 PM #
Associate Dean Larry Olsen is unfortunately only one in a string of incompetent, unethical, and arrogant administrators at New Mexico State University (NMSU). These administrators believe that they are above the law and can do just about anything to their colleagues and particularly to their subordinates, faculty and staff. This is particularly true at the College of Health and Social Services under the leadership of Dean Jeffrey Brandon and Associate Dean Larry Olsen who spend more time covering things up and hiding them under the rug instead of addressing issues such as discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and retaliation in an effective manner. This is the college that circumvented the search process and hired not one but two of Associate Dean Olsen’s cronies to serve as administrators in the Department of Health Science (one of the three departments in the college) to continue with this culture and practice of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and retaliation at the departmental level. This is the college and department where words such as ‘negro’ and the other ‘N’ word have been used to refer to people of color. This is the same college and department that does not hesitate to use any and all tactics available to silence dissention and diversity among students and faculty, that shells out rewards and promises to those who follow their ‘rules’ without questions, and that hold on to the status quo at the expense of the well-being of the students, faculty, and staff. This is a college that ‘talks’ about doing the right thing while blatantly discriminates against minority students and faculty, harasses and intimidates those who think differently and express diverse opinions, and retaliates against anyone who dares to speak up.
This time I hope it is different. This is no longer about a few ‘unhappy’ people – a dismissive tactic that has been successfully used by the department and college in the past. It is about racist, sexist, and retaliatory comments and actions. It is about spreading rumors about students and using racial profiling to frame them. It is about discriminating against minority faculty. It is about having a ‘purge’ list and doing everything to get rid of hard-working and well respected faculty. It is about a culture of arrogance in which e-mails with pornography content are tolerated and the perpetrators given a public apology by the President of the University. It now needs to be about all of us standing up and letting our voices heard. It is about a community taking back its institution of higher learning from the stranglehold of egotistical and arrogant administrators who have not hesitated to spend public funds for their own benefit and well-being first and foremost and who have squandered the public trust away.
I ask the Governor to take a serious look at the atrocities that continue to occur in the Department of Health Science, the College of Health and Social Services, and at NMSU as a whole and lead the way with some thoughtful and appropriate remedies. The entire administration of the College of Health and Social Services and the Department of Health Science needs to be replaced by competent and compassionate people. Finally, President Martin and Provost Cruzado-Salas need to examine their own culpability and their absolute lack of leadership and moral fortitude and do the right thing. Resign.
— A Discriminated Faculty Apr 11, 08:06 PM #
As I read these accounts at NMSU, I am reminded of VERY painful memories of my own years at both Ivy League and Big 10 schools. At each of these “distinguished” schools I witnessed atrocities of administrative judgment that could only be defended by OJ’s dream team or ethically prostituted professional tribunals, whose only goal is to defend the indefensible and do so regardless to the emotional, physical, mental, professional or financial cost to the victims.
At one Big 10 school, a director of a very successful and well-established student services unit was harassed by an emotionally imbalanced NEW associate dean/supervisor. The director, at first, tried to reason with the offending supervisor. This only served to exacerbate her highly unprofessional behaviors (including obscene e-mails and harassing phone calls at 2 a.m.).
He finally reported the harassment to HER supervisor (THE dean of the college). From there his life became a living hell at the hands of the offending supervisor AND legal counsel whose primary function on ANY campus is to defend the offending officials, regardless of the proof against them. It is important to note that he even shared his experience with THE president of the university.Not un-typically, these university officials immediately identify the complainant as a “whistle blower”. In this instance, the director, realizing that he would not be helped in anyway by those charged with the responsibility to do so, left his position. The offending associate dean went on to perpetrate abuses on innumerable of her staff. Eventually, she removed from her position. But this did not happen until her behaviors of abuse escalated to the point that she went so far as to order a Black subordinate to sit in a corner with a dunce cap on his head! AND STILL legal counsel worked feverishly to “defend” her actions.
Today, she is hidden away in the attic of the central administration building with a token appointment as “special assistant to central administration”. Yes, she went on to keep her 6-figure salary and is still there, doing nothing at taxpayer expense and WITH full knowledge of even the president of the university!
At one Ivy, a highly respected student services administrator had become the focus of racial exclusionary practices perpetrated by members of another racial group (he was European descent from a Latin-American cultural background). After repeatedly being sabotaged during several searches and being denied positions that he was ideally qualified for, he reported his experience and documented hostile and confrontational attacks that had occurred during the interviews. He even provided the names and statements of other university faculty/staff who had witnessed the assaults and even with this proof, neither the legal counsel, nor the VP for the division, nor the worthless “ombudsperson” office, nor even the PRESIDENT investigated or provided remedy for this person. He finally left the school to continue his trajectory to even higher success and acclaim.
But he was never the same after that deplorable and disgraceful assault at the hands of “top” administrative officials. Eventually several of the offending officials were terminated for among other reasons, misappropriation of funds (using campus accounts for personal reasons), sexual harassment of students (one even became the father of Freshman woman’s baby), engaging in drug dealing to students and even taking money in exchange for admitting students who were by any metric NOT admissible to this school.
Today, both institutions (and others) spend inordinate amounts of money to promote their image of a “progressive, liberal, safe and enlightened” place to work and study. These fraudulent efforts also include creating illusions of “diversity” and “inclusion” and “social justice” with the help of modern digital photography to create fake scenes of campus social harmony that don’t exist ANYWHERE on campus, ESPECIALLY in their administrative ranks.
Today, the contemporary academy is in VERY bad shape, ethically, morally, legally and dare I even say it, philosophically. Politics of every conceivable kind corrupt searches, promotions, investigations and accountability is considered an inconvenience only to be inflicted on lower levels of the plebian academic/administrative food chain.
How do I know? I experienced these acts myself.
NMSU is only the most recent administrative sewer to have its lid removed. My best wishes to those unfortunate enough to have suffered at the hands of these cowards.
— grateful to have survived Apr 12, 10:51 AM #
So many great faculty – such an inept administration.
— depressed aggie Apr 12, 03:01 PM #
I would like to commend, congratulate, and stand in solidarity with faculty and students alike at New Mexico State University (NMSU) for having the courage and the intestinal fortitude to eloquently verbalize and bravely expose what has been silently acknowledged and complicitly and fearfully accepted to be “normal” administrative practices within the Department of Health Science and the College of Health & Social Services (CHSS). I am certainly glad and proud of the fact that many of our students and faculty have the integrity to voice their moral indignation to such “dirty” but unfortunately customarily practiced “tricks of the trade” within the Department of Health Science, and CHSS at NMSU.
Additionally, I would like to openly advocate on behalf of faculty and students and to assure them that there are powers outside of the University’s sphere of influence that are closely examining the developments at our Institution and are prepared, able, and willing to ensure that unlike many other instances in the past, this time the University’s administration is held accountable for their malicious retaliatory practices aimed against those who have had the courage to come forward and openly voice their growing dissatisfaction and grave concerns.
Regrettably with Dr. Robinson’s appointment as the Head of the Department of Health Science at NMSU the extraordinarily productive work of nearly a decade has been destroyed in but a few months. Confidence among faculty and students has been replaced by self-doubt and openness and collegiality by intimidation and hostility.
However, let us not forget the real culprit behind the recent sad developments; Associate Dean Larry Olsen. Dean Olsen’s discriminatory and harassing actions as witnessed and experienced for many years by many faculty and students are reprehensible on a multitude of personal and professional fronts and his secret administrative agenda for “ethnic cleansing” and insatiable megalomania are directly responsible for the irreparable damage caused to the Department of Health Science and the College of Health and Social Services today.
One of the most accurate and long standing criticisms leveled against the high administration at the CHSS and particularly against Associate Dean Olsen has been his tendency to meddle, micromanage, and otherwise interfere and attempt to control the day-to-day activities and operations of the Department of Health Science. Dean Olsen loves to collect administrative
titles and control positions of authority and feels deeply offended when asked to share or God forbid, relinquish them; case in point, the stunning and surprising “resignation” of former Dean of Research of CHSS, Dr. Carl Kendall.
It is an open secret among students, staff, faculty, and administrators in the CHSS that Associate Dean Olsen overtly campaigned, intentionally subverted the integrity of the hiring process, and covertly conspired to bring his “trusted friend” and “administrator extraordinaire” Dr. James Robinson at all costs to NMSU. On several occasions witnessed by many faculty members and students, Dean Olsen loudly stated as is his habit that “Jim is coming in to clean house,” “Jim has a list of undesirables,” and “Jim is coming in so that (faculty) heads are going to roll.” Dean Olsen insidiously poisoned Dr. Robinson’s mind about the overall quality of the faculty ranks within the Department of Health Science and specifically encouraged him to target certain minority students and faculty members even before Dr. Robinson’s actual arrival at the NMSU campus.
Since his arrival, Dr. Robinson has plainly materialized and methodically delivered on each of these threats while regularly reminding students and faculty that “I owe my job to Larry!” Associate Dean Olsen and Department Head Robinson implicitly conspired to create through their machinations an environment of certain and absolute failure for all minority and certain other supportive faculty members.
While February was dedicated to Black History month, recently we marked the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Assassination, and our country is on the verge of a time of unique and great historical significance with the very real prospect of potentially electing either its first Female or Black President, it deeply offends and truly disgusts me to have high level administrators within my Department and College as recently as on or about the end of October 2007 openly question my race and ethnicity; insist that “you are not black” and base their reasoning and explanation on the premise that “you do not talk like a black woman,” “you do not dress like a black woman,” and “you are too educated to be black,” while others on or about the end of January 2008 were openly referring to a potential black faculty candidate for the Department of Health Science as “a Negro, friend of mine.”
Dr. Olsen’s and Dr. Robinson’s actions are indeed morally reprehensible and professionally deplorable and they should be truly ashamed of themselves. They are calculating, cruel, and heartless and they are prepared to stop at nothing, respect no one, destroy everyone who stands in their way, and use all means necessary in order to accomplish their hidden agenda. We informed various levels of the NMSU administration starting in the fall of 2007 that we have been consistently the victims of horrific sexual harassing and racial discriminatory practices and fearful of a sinister retaliatory plot at the hands of Department Head James Robinson and Associate Dean Larry Olsen.
We attempted to inform and offered evidence to support our claims and suspicions to the University’s senior administration that Department Head Dr. James Robinson and Associate Dean Larry Olsen were colluding in an effort to make us “disappear from NMSU” immediately following our complaints of racial discrimination, sexual harassment and hostile work and academic conditions in the Department of Health Science and the College of Health & Social Services, only to find every door slammed shut in our face. The University’s senior administration chose to turn a blind-eye to our serious complaints, stonewall us into frustration, and unsuccessfully attempted to ensure our “hasty” and “silent” exit from NMSU before our concerns became public knowledge.
The non-renewal of our employment contracts for “no cause” at NMSU despite the Departmental P & T committee’s unanimous vote for our renewal is a grievous, injurious, premeditated and thinly veiled retaliatory act for having the strength of our moral convictions to stand up and openly state “enough is enough” to the sexually harassing, racially discriminatory victimization and hostile work environment conditions prevalent in the Department of Health Science and the College of Health & Social Services at NMSU.
This brief but broad historical perspective of only a few events that have actually transpired in the Department of Health Science and the College of Health & Social Services and the University’s senior administration apathetic response and at times clandestine efforts of cover-up, brings into focus the underlying intimidation, harassment, hatred, and discriminatory practices exercised by high level administrators against students and faculty of color.
I am rightfully proud of my Black heritage and African roots and fully cognizant of the struggles my people have persevered through in order for me to be afforded the educational and professional opportunities I enjoy today. If being “young, gifted, and a person of color” still poses a threat to the antiquated, predominantly white male establishment ruling the NMSU academe, I make no apologies and warn them to get used to it! Many more are on the way!
During my nearly four years as an educator at NMSU, I have worked long and tirelessly with many students, irrespective of their ethnic origin and race to make their educational experience at our Institution a fruitful and memorable one. I taught them how to be strong, disciplined, fearless, hard-working, and encouraged them to think outside the box and to always stand up and fight for issues of social justice. I promised them that I would always lead them by example and I am certainly not going to fail them now!
Respectfully
Yelena Bird MD, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professors
Department of Health Science
College of Health & Social Services
New Mexico State University
— Yelena Bird Apr 12, 09:01 PM #
Dr. Bird,
I could have used a colleague like you at Wisconsin, where good old boys (and gals) keep their jobs and their dirty secrets with full knowledge of top administration who spend most of their time patting themselves on the shoulder for a job well done, while they stand on the bones of the careers of principled, ethical and professional staffand faculty who refused to lay down and become part of the landscape of abuse. May I have the pleasure of meeting you some day. My well wishes are yours…g
— g Apr 13, 02:47 PM #
As a student of Larry Olsen’s, I must say that he seemed to be one of the few professors that knew each student and gave their work personal attention — a sometimes rarity at NMSU. As a female student of Larry Olsen’s, it makes me uncomfortable that his “poor attempt at humor” involved objectifying, in essence, the gender of half of his students. Dr. Martin, you owe no apology to Dr. Olsen. Dr. Olsen, perhaps you owe an apology to those females who regularly share office and classroom space with you, whose overall esteem for you you have ultimately betrayed.
— Sound off Apr 13, 05:28 PM #
Dr. Bird
Based on what I have heard about you and your husband, NMSU will have a great loss of two fantastic faculty. The University has lost its status among higher education institutions in the United States and I am ashamed to have been a willing contributor to the alumni funding. I contribute over $2000/year for the past fifteen years. After this, no more contributions from me and I will encourage other alumni to do the same as I am positive that if they can reduce Michael Martins salary that will cover some costs to run this once honorable institution which is now the nations disgrace. Who would expose our kids to sex perverts and offenders and try to cover that up with no slither of a conscience, apparently Michael Martin is fine with that.
I am dissapointed with how Dr. Bird and Dr. Moraros have been abused by the NMSU administration and yet the University has the courtesy to pay for the two culprits to represent them nationally, that is aweful and regrettable.
— NMSU Alum Apr 13, 05:37 PM #
I did some research and apparently Larry Olsen is indeed a sex offender. He abused some women at Pennsylvania State University and yet he has been afforded deanship by NMSU. President Martin you need to get this monster away from our children and after that do yourself a favor and quit for you have failed your University and the State of New Mexico. I would not be surprised if an investigation is done and you have some porn from Larry as well!!
— bk Apr 13, 05:44 PM #
I am writing as a concerned student. I have worked with Dr. John Moraros and Dr. Yelena Bird and I have nothing other than uttermost respect for them both. I commend these two professionals, and other students and faculty, for standing strong and pushing forward despite facing uncertainty, backlash, racism, and injustice.
Having been a part of the College of Health and Social Services (CHSS) for 3 years I have witnessed many changes, especially since Dr. Robinson took over as the Department Head for the Department of health Science. Dr. Moraros and Dr. Bird are excellent professors, have brought notoriety and numerous grants to the College of Health and Social Services, and have exhibited nothing but professional excellence and have always had high expectations for each student they have worked with and taught. I admire Dr. Moraros and Dr. Bird’s commitment to the community and to women within the region. In addition, Dr. Moraros and Dr. Bird are two of three minority faculty in the College of Health and Social Services. As a minority serving institution I find it unacceptable that there are so few minorities in the department and college. I also find the racism and injustice that minority faculty and students face in the Department and College morally reprehensible.
I cannot believe that concerns that are obviously seen and felt throughout university by numerous professionals are not being looked into. Where is the transparent process? Do high up administrators believe that as educated students and professionals we will just them at their word as they assure a thorough internal investigation will be completed, especially when at every turn we are told that we have no rights to know what the recommendations or findings are? I don’t think so.
I demand a just and thorough investigation into Dr. Robinson’s, and Dr. Olsen’s injust and obscene actions. Dr. Moraros and Dr. Bird are an asset to the Department and University that can not be replaced. They stand for excellence, quality, and professionalism.
— concerned Apr 13, 07:48 PM #
I am posting the email below so that anyone who can see, feel or hear the injustices in the behaviors/actions of the NMSU Administration may choose to help this University Community by getting this communication out to those who would support our plea to Governor Richardson for an outside investigation by his office and the Attorney General’s Office of the State of New Mexico.
Please consider joining our collective voice by helping us to collect names in support of our request/demand.
Thank you.
____________________
To all concerned …..
New Mexico State University (NMSU) Administration is corrupt. The University Community has been working to bring the administration’s documented illegal and immoral actions/in-actions regarding, discrimination, intimidation, harassment, mis-use of power, and policy/procedure non-compliance to light through peaceful demonstration, release of verifiable facts to our local news media, and unanswered requests for Governor Bill Richardson’s Office along with the New Mexico State Attorney General’s Office to immediately intervene and conduct an outside investigation into these public and private charges.
If you would like to know more please go to:
*This is the latest community article in a saga of news events and should help to answer any questions you may have.NMSU memo details apology in e-mail uproar – By Ashley Meeks Sun-News reporter
Governor Richardson will be attending a lecture in Recital Hall on Wednesday – April 16th at 3 PM.
A peaceful protest will begin at 2 PM and the plan is to present the Governor with an unending list of supporters ( local and beyond ) who are requesting/demanding that his office and the Attorney General’s Office Conduct an immediate outside investigation of NMSU Administration’s behaviors and illegal actions.
Please help us stop the inequalities and mis-use of power by the NMSU Admistration negatively effecting the livlihoods and career paths of students, faculty, and employees of our Community.
Please sign under the statement below and forward to as many friends, family, coworkers, and like minded organizations as possible to help us to reach our goal of justice for all. Thank you kindly for your efforts on behalf of our struggling community.
_______________________________________________________________________
I, the under-signed, request/demand that the Governor’s Office of the State of New Mexico and the Attorney General’s Office of the State of New Mexico conduct an immediate, transparent and outside investigation of the charges brought against New Mexico State University Administration regarding non-compliance of policies & procedures, discrimination, intimidation, harassment, mis-use of power, and immoral conduct.
NOTE: WHEN THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REACH 200 or so PLEASE FORWARD THE LIST TO: charfvip@comcast.net and begin a NEW EMAIL for the next 200 signatures and so on…..
NAME CITY/STATE & ZIP-CODE
1. Charlotte Frank Las Cruces, New Mexico 88011
— locked out by admin Apr 14, 12:41 AM #
The following email was sent earlier today to all NMSU employees. Thought some of you might have an interest.
On behalf of the Office of Institutional Equity and Human Resource Services
April 14, 2008
Given the recent commentaries and news articles pertaining to New Mexico State
University, this statement is intended to review the goals behind certain NMSU
policies and to stress the importance of maintaining confidentiality in all
personnel actions.
As the state’s land-grant university, NMSU’s mission is to serve the educational
needs of New Mexico’s diverse population. A vital component of the mission is to
provide an environment that is conducive to effective teaching, learning, research,
outreach and public service in all areas without regard to age, race, gender or any
other protected class. Everyone at NMSU is afforded the opportunity to bring forward
concerns and issues as described in NMSU policies. Allegations submitted pursuant to
university policy are thoroughly investigated. A critical component of all personnel
matters is to provide a confidential environment. This is designed to protect all
individuals – faculty, staff and students.
The recent allegations regarding the College of Health & Social Services are
factually inaccurate. Moreover, they should be viewed against the value placed at
NMSU on protecting confidentiality and maintaining the integrity of our processes.
Even though some statements have been made in the media regarding this ongoing
investigation, it is important to point out that not all of the facts have been
revealed and not all the reports are accurate.
While this is not an appropriate venue to argue the merits of these allegations, the
university is always committed to protect the confidential nature of these processes
and all individuals involved.
Gerard R. Nevarez, Director, Office of Institutional Equity
D’Anne Stuart, Director, Human Resource Services
— a friend Apr 14, 03:30 PM #
“The recent allegations regarding the College of Health & Social Services are factually inaccurate.”
All the allegations? Completely without fact? I thought NMSU was busy trying to find the facts and here we are being told that the accusers are all wrong, now that’s hard to believe. Certainly some of the statements/ comments are inaccurate, some way over the top, but you can’t throw it all out.
— bo Apr 14, 06:39 PM #
I would remind the administrative lapdog lackies that Moraros & Bird just might differ with the institutional perspective on the matter. But what would they know. You guys at NMSU just need to shut up and dust off your resumes. Your days there are numbered too. Amazing the arrogance.
— greg Apr 14, 07:50 PM #
The email/statement that was handed down today to NMSU employees by Mr. Nevarez & Ms Stuart is laughable.
Given my personal documentation and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office of this very State’s documentation of the total lack of response to inquiries and complaints brought forth to the NMSU Administration … I find it disgusting and an insult to this community’s intelligence that the “simple explanation” for all of the woes facing this Administration is their undying committment to “protect confidentiallity” and the “integrity of the processes.”
Exactly what processes are you talking about here?? The processes of active discrimination? or the processes of active intimidation? or the processes of harrassment? or the processes of mis-use of power? or, maybe the processes of non-compliance?
The ONLY thing that the so called – “integrity of the processes” protects now is the inexcuseable and illegal behaviors of this Administration.
I mean – WOW – so now they want the protection and respect that they so willingly choose to rob others of…. there is no rhyme or reason to the “processes” of the Administration at NMSU… if there were a ounce of morality in this Administration we all would be enjoying a different converstation right now!
— locked out by admin Apr 14, 09:32 PM #
I absolutely agree that the e-mail sent to all employees at NMSU is yet another example of what is wrong with the administration at the university. Yesterday I was one of the three minority faculty in the department of health science who received a threatening note slipped under the door of my office that I discovered when I got into my office in the morning. The note was filled with vile language and included a direct threat to my safety and well-being. All, because I along with three of my colleagues and some students have been speaking up on the discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and retribution that have been systematically practiced on the select few who have the guts to speak up.
Can somebody tell me what process, what confidentiality, and what integrity we are talking about while I fear for my own safety while I am at work?
— A Discriminated Faculty Apr 15, 07:47 AM #
I take back my original comment posted on April 10, when this story first broke. Incredible does not do justice to what is happening at NMSU.
Words fail me.
— GL Apr 15, 12:33 PM #
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The state of affairs at NMSU is indeed bizarre and nigh inexplicable, however; I have seen with the eyes of the blind and so should you. Warning signs of the administrations corrupt and unjust abuse of power have been many and date back to the beginnings of the current administration at hand.
This is not to say that the “good ‘ole boy” structure of NMSU is recently formed. Rather, it is its sad history. Even before its current nomenclature was assigned and it was referred to as “New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts,” there was a record of racism and prejudice.
Sadly, even when the university turned against a blind student in November of 2007, refusing to allow him egress into television production and filmmaking, no clarions call was heard. Certainly, faculty and staff were aware of the situation, as well as the students. After all, the circumstances, at least peripherally, were reported in the schools newspaper, The RoundUp, under the heading “Best Read Blind Kicked Off Campus.” Not a word of protest was raised. Now the administration has moved from attacking students to its own faculty and staff, and it seems to have alarmed you. Surprising.
Although I certainly agree that the treatment of these two doctors has been atrocious, why is your outrage so selective? When blind students are slandered and disavowed because of the college’s inability to accommodate them as is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and there is no subsequent outrage, why then would you be surprised at its continuing abuse? When one member of the university family suffers, whether it be a blind student, the maintenance staff, or doctors seeking tenure, we all suffer. The lions of the university may seek to hurt us, selecting out our weak and our young to attack and destroy. However, they should tread lightly, lest the herd stampede and trample them beneath their feet.
So, if you’re going to protest, protest all the injustices, don’t just selectively champion the cause of your personal friends. United, we can bring about change, but if we remain in our cliques, our self segregated circle of associates, then there is no hope to end this type, or any other abuse of power. Be it at the university level or at an international scale, the axiom of Matthew Walker still rings true, “united we stand, divided we fall.”
-Best Read Blind— Best Read Blind Apr 15, 01:42 PM #
From someone who works at a college wherein Olsons roam freely tearing down the fabric of the institution, let me tell you, stories like this are only shocking to those who have never worked in higher education administration. I live in constant fear of certain documents making it to the press, though if I had them, I’d make sure they got there myself.
— PRDirector Apr 15, 05:34 PM #
Um . . . Yelena? “Egress” means the right to go out. I think you mean “ingress.”
— watch this space Apr 15, 06:08 PM #
In response to Best Read Blind – I am personally grateful for your comments and am sorry that your mistreatment was not championed by any group or advocate… I have exeprienced that lonely and helpless spot and can only say – thank God that you survived the mistreatment of NMSU Administrators and have obviously moved forward in a productive and positive manner with your life… as I chose to do after my experiences of the same type of mistreatments.
Your words today bring our community strength and tighten our ranks calling for change.
You will be aprt of our collective voice for change… We will keep on message, we will be heard, and we will do this for justice for all!
— locked out by admin Apr 15, 08:04 PM #
This university and the location itself was on the top of my list of places to apply to teach.
I’m a former journalist and produced screenwriter who after working for quite some time went to NYU Tisch School of the Arts to obtain my MFA precisely so that I could obtain a tenure track position. Since I graduated, I’ve only been offered adjunct positions, which were rewarding in terms of the wonderful students I met. Being an adjunct, however, paid so little that eventually I had to quit. Still, your university is one that I had hoped would have a full time opening for me. Not being from New Mexico, I had no idea such racism could still reign at a public university. I have a BA in Latin American Studies from Brown University, a MA in communications from The University of Missouri at Columbia, and a MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Still, after all I’ve heard and read regarding racism at NMSU, I won’t hold my breath waiting for a positive response from the applications I’ve sent in.— SD Apr 15, 10:04 PM #
NMSU administration will like to convince the concerned faculty, staff, and students “the recent allegations regarding the College of Health & Social Services (CHSS) are factually inaccurate.”
However, they fail to mention exactly which allegations are inaccurate!
Is it the allegation (now proven) that Associate Dean of CHSS Larry Olsen sent out pornographic e-mails to his colleagues and students from his nmsu administrative account?
Is it the allegation (now proven) that Associate Dean of CHSS Larry Olsen admitted to sending out the pornographic e-mails?
Is it the allegation (now proven) that Associate Dean of CHSS Larry Olsen apologized for the pornographic e-mails?
Is it the allegation (now proven) that CHSS is a racist, sexist, discriminatory, harassing, hostile and intimidating work place?
Is it the allegation (now proven) that NMSU senior administration is arrogant, ignorant and corrupt?
I am a little confused on the matter and I would appreciate some clarification from our ethical and benevolent leaders!
Our best professors have been leaving this University in droves for years (I have changed three mentors in three years) and our graduates prefer to forget all about our University as soon as they can graduate and get out of dodge.
It is frustrating, inexcusable and regrettable that there is not a single iota of integrity, accountability and transparency among administrators at NMSU.
In the meantime, as recently as the end of last week President Martin made it publicly known that students who express concerns regarding these grave issues that plague our Institution will be “held accountable for the harm they cause the University!”
President Martin, a better question is exactly who is going to hold you and your corrupt minions accountable for dragging our University through the national gutter and running it like a bathroom?
I am ashamed to call myself a graduate student in this once small, out of the limelight, but proud Institution.
— Disappointed student Apr 16, 12:36 AM #
I don’t know all about the administration at New Mexico State. I do know Jim Robinson and Larry Olsen. Both of them are well respected in the field and have received much recognition. Dr. Olsen actually received the AAHPERD Honor Award in Fort Worth last week for his many years of professional service. I find it hard to believe that he is sending pornography, and especially sending anything to people who have indicated they don’t want it. This is not the Larry Olsen I know.
It’s even harder to believe the claim that these two folks did not have their contract renewed because they protested against receiving pornography.
Jim Robinson has apparently been accused of everything in the book – except sending pornography. I also know Jim well. He is not a person who would discriminate against people because of race or gender, and is certainly not a person who would attempt to harass or intimidate faculty. I have to believe that Drs. Mororos and Bird have it wrong. Just because a contract is not renewed does not automatically mean the administrator has dicriminated against the person, or otherwise treated them unfairly. University’s have offices responsible for investigating allegations made against administrators or other faculty. A post from yesterday indicated the response from the office at NMSU. They indicated that “allegations are factually inaccurate.” They further noted that not all of the reports in the media were accurate. They also stated that the matters discussed in the media were part of an on-going investigation. Could it be that Mororos, Bird and others are feeding the media information that is incorrect? Why haven’t they let the investigation that they call for actually play out. They are circumventing the entire process. They seem to be attempting to convict Olsen and Robinson in the media. Is this because they know if they ever go to court they have no chance – because the truth is not on their side and their only chance is to win in the court of public opinion? All I know for sure is that people who do not know Dr. Robinson and Dr. Olsen have been quick to judge them based upon allegations made by people who did not get their contracts renewed. I don’t know all about the situation – but I do know Larry and Jim. If a person wanted administrators who would move the department and college forward and treat faculty fairly they would be hard-pressed to find better people than Larry Olsen and Jim Robinson.
— observer Apr 16, 12:59 AM #
Mr. Observer, I respect your point of view but as my mama taught me “know me and live with me” are two different things….as someone who has been in the same College as Larry for the last 8 years trust me when I tell you, he does sent out porn (and I will be happy to testify to that effect because it is the truth) and if you have not received any porn from Larry then you do not know him that well….
In so far as Dr. Robinson is concerned, I believe my esteemed colleagues over in the Department of Health Science would firmly disagree with you. It is their impression that the many years Jim spend teaching 3rd graders defines his current administrative philosophy of handling University faculty members and as you can tell with disastrous results!
— Get a clue Apr 16, 02:06 AM #
Working in a position at a university investigating discrimination, and having also done so in the Federal Government, the determination as to whether sending pornography constitutes sexual harassment is sui generis. It depends on the facts unique to this situation, which are not available to us. As to whether retaliation occurred, a determination again depends on facts that are not in front of us.
Having send that, it is clearly inappropriate behavior for a senior level administrator to send pornography to others at the university and such inappropriate behavior should be punished, which could include termination.
— heartland Apr 16, 09:54 AM #
Corrections Added.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The state of affairs at NMSU is indeed bizarre and nigh inexplicable, however I have seen with the eyes of the blind and so should you. Warning signs of the administrations corrupt and unjust abuse of power have been many and date back to the beginnings of the current administration at hand.
This is not to say that the “good ‘ol boy” structure of NMSU is recently formed. Rather it is its sad history. Even before its current nomenclature was assigned and it was referred to as “New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts,” there was a record of racism and prejudice.
Sadly even when the university turned against a blind student in November of 2007, refusing to allow him ingress into television production and film making, no clarions call was heard. Certainly faculty and staff were aware of the situation, as well as the students. After all, the circumstances, at least peripherally, were reported in the schools newspaper The RoundUp, under the heading “Best Read Blind Kicked Off Campus.” Not a word of protest was raised. Now the administration has moved from attacking students to its own faculty and staff, and it seems to have alarmed you. Surprising.
Although I certainly agree that the treatment of these two doctors has been atrocious, why is your outrage so selective? When blind students are slandered and disavowed because of the colleges inability to accommodate them as is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and there is no subsequent outrage, why then would you be surprised at its continuing abuse? When one member of the university family suffers, whether it be a blind student, the maintenance staff, or doctors seeking tenure, we all suffer. The lions of the university may seek to hurt us, selecting out our weak and our young to attack and destroy. However they should tread lightly, lest the herd stampede and trample them beneath their feet.
So if you’re going to protest, protest all the injustices, don’t just selectively champion the cause of your personal friends. United, we can bring about change, but if we remain in our cliques, our self segregated circle of associates then there is no hope to end this type, or any other abuse of power. Be it at the university level or at an international scale, the axiom of Matthew Walker still rings true, “united we stand, divided we fall.”
-Best Read Blind— Best Read Blind Apr 16, 10:14 AM #
At this point, nothing short of an investigation (yes, yet another one), by the Governor’s office or any Federal agency responsible for awarding government contracts to this “institution” will silence the defenders of the indefensible.
I have seen this circling of the legal and PR covered wagons before on several Ivy and Big10 campuses and the results are always the same —- the perpetrators eventually leave under a huge black cloud (sometimes with a very fat severance agreement) , the defenders remain standing in the mud, wiping it off their faces for the rest of their careers, the victims try to pick up the pieces of their battered personal and professional lives and try to put this horror behind them and the rest of the campus community “moves on”, transfer, graduate or just quit the academy in disgust. EVERYONE loses and yet the alumni and development cup-rattlers primp on Saturday mornings and dress-up in their college-color outfits and head out shamelessly to the next round of drunken tailgaters.
Eventually, a “blue ribbon” panel is appointed to arrange for the mopping up of the blood and they organize, re-organize, prioritize, re-prioritize and just add to the chaos and confusion and in the near future, appoint, annoint a savior, knight-on-a-white-charger, who is then charged with the insurmountable task of restoring the integrity of the institution. HA! What another joke, that’ll be.
The academy is in a very deep morass of moral and ethical bankruptcy and this case only gives that abstraction real faces and real names.
Shame on NMSU administration (ALL of it), the Governor’s office and shame on any alumni that continue to feed this machine of destruction and decadence with their checkbooks.
But then again, maybe they too are getting what they pay for. Just unbelievable!
The only winners here are the legal advisors on the NMSU payroll and we can hardly expect their view to be unbiased or ethical. WOW!!!
— gre Apr 16, 10:25 AM #
A Note to Mr. Nevarez & Ms. Stuart.
It was and still is all I can do to keep from laughing at the 2 of you for your outrageous announcement above (#31). Do you people go to some HR/Diversity/Equity Brainwash camp every year to re-program your morality? How dare you even put your name on something this stupid.
But yet, I find that your response is the typical administrative drone knee-jerk that I have seen at EVERY school I have worked at. Stick to counting your Affirmative Action beans and sending out that fake letter of access and equity that you mail out to all prospective employees.
My advice to you both, enjoy your ride home in your BMWs and be sure to update your resumes tonight. YOUR offices are very much to blame for the instititional climate and culture that allowed something this outrageous to occur and go unpunished.
Now get those cowboy boots shined and remember to leave the turquoise earrings at home and the leather fringe suede off, when you interview for any job East of your state’s border. There is a world out there that doesn’t dress up in cowboy gear to go work, except of course in the rodeo. Your letter is laughable. Shame on you. With administrative clowns like you to rely on, Moraros and Bird didn’t have a chance.— grace Apr 16, 10:58 AM #
Another Note to Mr. Nevarez & Ms. Stuart
Shame on you for sending a generic letter to cover up these horrendous, reprehensible and atrocious crimes. I cannot wait to know what facts are inaccurate as the message came from a memo. I cannot wait to hear you lie in front of the court of law and be charged with higher crimes that will throw you in jail. Most importantly, I cannot wait to see all the people that have damaged the reputation of this once great institution to the level of less than mediocre. It is my understanding that you Ms Stuart are actually working with Larry Olsen and Jim Robinson in the investigation at NMSU and that these culprits have been found ravaging through a students personal information in your presence and yet 6ou preach confidentiality and integrity. You need to be ashamed of yourself, both of you. Don’t think that people who are watching the downfall of NMSU from all over the world are stupid.
I have traveled many a places and been in the academe for a LONG time and KNOW the strategies and skills people like you use to violate Civil Rights. Shame on you!!
— Dr.P Apr 16, 09:45 PM #
Apparently there were racially charged threat letters sent to faculty and students at NMSU. However, no college announcement has been made in the Department to inform us on what safety measures are being taken to protect “US” the students as well as faculty and staff. If the administrators like Dean Jefferey Brandon are concerned about our safety this should have happenned three days ago, but he and his other cronies are comfortable and not worrying.
My logical answer is that either Dean Brandon, the provost or president sent the threat letters or initiated them, otherwise why the complacency and lack of urgency about such horrific threats. Have they not seen what’s been happenning in different campuses especially as we all remember the atrocities at Virginia Tech a year ago this week.
We find it interesting that the timing of these threats comes at about the same time Virginia Tech had their worst nightmare which shook the whole nation.
My question to President Martin and the Board of regents is that what safety measures have you taken to protect STUDENTS as well as those directly targetted by the threats?
— Concerned Students Apr 17, 03:12 PM #
President Martin,
I am concerned about my safety as well as the safety of other students, staff and faculty following the numerous menacing threat letters slipped under office doors, of which I am one of the recipients, at the College of Health and Social Services. I have contaced Associate Provost Jose DeLeone and she has implied to me through her e-mail that it is not that important to her and that I should not have complained in the first place as this is a direct consequence of being vocal and thus should focus on my studies and forget about everything else. Frankly, it is equally important to have a conducive, non hostile, and safe work and academic environment, something I feel the associate provost (soon to be vice president of Equity) has overlooked (see her e-mail below).
Upon asking Dr. Jozi DeLeone, Associate provost about what she would do to protect students and faculty alike about the hate and threat letters received in the College of Health and Social Service. She implied to me that since I complained about some of these issues I was on my own, had I not complained she might have had a different attitude and treatment towards me.
“It is most unfortunate that you put yourself in a situation that has intefered with your main purpose here at NMSU. I wish you well this semester.” Joze Deleone, vice president for Equity and Diversity Elect starting July, 2008
I am astounded that the very perpetrators of crime continue to pat each other on the back giving themselves titles, but overlooking the most important body in academia, the students.
Jozi DeLeone additionally threatened me by cautioning me to focus on my studies and choose wisely about the information I would like to believe.
Subject: Re: Retroactive Drop and Hate letter
From: “Deleon, Josephine” <jdeleon@ad.nmsu.edu>
Date: Thu, April 17, 2008 2:38 pm
To: “fcheteni@nmsu.edu” <fcheteni@nmsu.edu>
Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version | Download this as a file| Add to Addressbook
Freedom,
When you made your request for a retroactive withdrawal, I did exactly what I’ve
done with other students that have come to me who are taking DACC courses. I
referred you to DACC. Ike Ledesma, as the Campus Student Services Officer for DACC,
renders the decisions on his campus. His decision is an administrative decision and
is final. I do not have any role in this matter.
You have not received a response from me about the comment posted in the Chronicle
because it is preposterous, sick, and twisted. It is also libelous for defamation
of character of the people named in the commentary. Also, If you are feeling
stressed because of what “came to your attention”, I would caution you to scrutinize
what you choose to believe.
I would advise you to focus on your studies and less on distracting events and
stories that are being spun. It is most unfortunate that you have placed yourself
in the middle of a situation that has interfered with your real purpose for being at
NMSU. I wish you well this semester.
Jozi De Leon
The Chronicles of Higher Education Commentary by an NMSU staff member is on this link
http://chronicle.com/news/article/?id=4291
“University Counsel Bruce Kite has had several meetings with the administration, President Martin, Provost Waded Cruz Salas, Associate Provost Jose Deleone, Gerard Nevarez, NMSU Director of Institutional Equity for the most part. As a staff member working at Hardley hall, I have seen all the corruption and heard all the plans to frame Larry Olsen as innocent, Bruce Kite had concluded that he had successfully achieved that goal as of two weeks ago, however the latest evidence leaves much to be desired because if this goes to trial, I am willing to testify as I will be out of here soon.
I am so dissapointed at the administration for trying to cover this up and making up stories against faculty, students and staff. A few weeks ago, the provost and presidents office issued an alert that a black student had a gun and was going to be killing administrators in the College of Health and Social Services at NMSU. I for a fact, know that this was not true because this student, a lovely young man who has nothing, but goodness had raised complaints on sexual harrassment and hostile work environment. I have talked to him several times and it was shocking that the administrators, particularly Josephine De Leone spent time to frame this student and as a result initiating a partial evacuation of the building so that they could take him to an asylum!! This was to discredit his grievance because the whole evidence was in their hands.
Now, covering use of university resources to send porn during work hours!
I cannot fathom how Mike Martin sleeps during the night when he has all this garbage with him.
In short, Larry Olsen needs to be fired. President Martin needs to be fired. Josephine De Leone needs to be questioned and possibly fired for making such horrific, but false allegations against a student.”
— Disgusted NMSU Staff Member Apr 11, 05:33 PM #
Presidents letter to the whole campus.Date: April 17, 2008
To: Campus Community
From: Mike Martin, President Waded Cruzado, Executive Vice President and Provost
Subject: Update regarding the College of Health and Social Services
This is to provide an update on a few critical items regarding the situation at the College of Health and Social Services. We are all eager to complete this process and return our full focus to our core mission. Here are the next steps as we move to resolve this situation.
First, we want to comment on the progress of the investigation. As always, we are committed to following NMSU policies and procedures. A thorough and confidential process requires adequate time, and we have applied extra resources to help facilitate the completion of the report. The fact-finding part of the grievance that was filed should be completed soon and will be submitted by the end of April.
Second, we are announcing the formation of a task force. The role of the task force is to examine this process with the intent of providing advice on the current situation and recommendations for the future. This is a separate commitment to the campus community. We will apply the lessons learned from this experience and make appropriate recommendations to guide our actions.
Faculty and student leadership will convene to work on this review, and we are asking them to provide recommendations by early May.
Members of the task force will include Regents Professors and university officials who have been selected for their leadership roles and their outstanding contributions to our university. The distinguished qualifications of these task force members will help ensure and certify that policies, procedures and outcomes are fairly and consistently applied. The task force includes:
Lowell Catlett, College of Agriculture and Home Economics
Malu Gonzalez, College of Education
Daniel Howard, College of Arts and Sciences
Ricardo Jacquez, College of Engineering
Glenn Kuehn, College of Arts and Sciences
Kenneth Martin, College of Business
Luis Vazquez, College of Education
Kenneth White, College of Engineering
Marisa Ortega, ASNMSU President (ex-officio)
Scott Moore, Dean of Students (ex-officio)
Jerry Nevarez, Director, Office of Institutional Equity (ex-officio)
D’Anne Stuart, Director, Human Resources (ex-officio)
Chairing the task force will be Dr. Jozi De León, associate provost. During her career at New Mexico State University she has served as academic department head and associate dean. Dr. De León worked as deputy secretary for Academic Affairs, Research and Planning for the New Mexico Higher Education Department in 2005. She completed her temporary appointment with the Higher Education Department and returned to NMSU in May 2007. Dr. De León has accepted a new post – as vice president for Equity and Inclusion at the University of New Mexico – that she will assume on July 1. Dr. De León is nationally recognized for her contributions in addressing diversity issues. In her role as associate provost, she has led minority recruitment
and retention efforts in the Provost’s Office. She presently chairs the Diversity Council. She has been the Principal Investigator for several projects focused on the success of underrepresented students and faculty.
Finally, we want to thank everyone for their efforts to ensure that our
university fulfills its mission to serve the educational needs of New
Mexico’s diverse population through comprehensive programs of education, research, extension education, and public service. With commencement around the corner, our dedication to our core mission remains strong so we can help our students achieve their goals.
— Freedom Cheteni Apr 17, 09:24 PM #
So, now EIEIO is in charge? Good grief, the first thing the administration should do is tell the Office of Institutional Equity to quit writing memos. They just make a bad situation even worse.
An internal task force? Conduct an investigation but have it done by an unbiased external source. From the findings, make any necessary changes and move on. This gong show needs to stop. Someone should also inform the associate provost that diversity certainly includes Hispanics and whites, but also includes a whole lot of other peoples as well.
— juno Apr 18, 11:03 PM #
The committee has some very good members, but the fact that it is chaired by a vice provost who has herself been involved in the affair does not bode well. Did anyone notice the rather extreme gender bias? Only one female voting member (besides the chair).
— Fidel Apr 19, 02:48 PM #
I’m getting my share of raw deals since enolling here. Granted its not anything like what happened to Dr. Moranos, but I’m feeling I need to get out of here. I had a 4.0 gpa last semester, now ill be lucky to get a 0.4.This is a hostile learning environment.
— adeucali Apr 20, 02:03 AM #
There are always at least two sides to every situation, and it is my firm belief that we are hearing only one side. As someone who knows and has worked with almost all of the parties involved – including Dr. Olsen AND Moraros and Bird – I know there is more to the current story than is meeting the public eye.
Moraros and Bird are friendly and come across as very “cool”; it does not surprise me that they are popular with students and supported by those who enjoy the luxury of an uninformed opinion. It does surprise me that they have gotten this far at NMSU because I believe that with some judgment and a little more delving on the part of those hiring, they would never have been given places on its health science faculty. I have witnessed John’s uninvited sexually oriented behaviors and comments in both classroom and workplace, and believe that his allegations against Dr. Olsen represent an egregious case of the pot calling the kettle black.
The accompanying allegations of racism are simply not to be believed. Anyone familiar at all with the NMSU environment, especially that within the College and Health Science department, knows that claims such as those made by Bird and Moraros can have no basis in fact. Additionally, the issue of the inappopriate travel reimbursements should be more seriously explored. Again, these two seem to be always on the receiving end of an almost naively generous benefit of the doubt , and it’s my opinion that that generosity should stop now.
As for Dr. Buckingham’s discussion of a hostile workplace and numerous instances of sexual harassment, I would again look closely at the source before taking those as fact. When I was an MPH student at NMSU, several of my female colleagues mentioned having felt uncomfortable in his presence, having been to his house and planning not to go again, and warning others not to go if invited; Dr. Buckingham’s bear skin rug was the subject of slightly queasy humor. Because it seems as though he is not pristine himself in this area, I think it’s foolish of anyone investigating the current situation to give much credence to his statements.
Anyone who was ever a student of Dr. Rao’s also likely feels, as I do, disturbed at the credibility she has. She should be given NONE.
I join the voices raised for a strong, authentic investigation of this matter. Let’s just ensure the focus stays where it belongs: on Moraros and Bird. This investigation should not be about Dr. Olsen or anyone else these two are attempting to destroy as a result of not receiving continued employment at NMSU.
I believe that, unconstrained by whatever legal/administrative boundaries they currently experience regarding this, informed faculty and administration would be providing an unequivocal record that would not only vindicate the non-renewal decision but might further implicate Moraros and Bird – not Dr. Olsen or anyone else. The actual facts should be heard. Remember that non-renewal without cause may not mean there really is no cause. It may just mean that those not being renewed are protected from having a cause show up in the record. Don’t be duped. Ask the questions you’re not currently asking.
— A no longer silent bystander Apr 21, 11:24 AM #
no longer a silent bystander – WHAT TOOK YOU SO VERY LONG to comment when you obviously know ALL of the answers to the woes we are facing? along with such intimate insight of those invloved- maybe the fact that you are part of a national PR firm recently hired to “cleanup” the public image of this university’s dirty image??????
to put up for discussion the idea that the students, parents and faculty that have suffered very similar experiences within the NMSU Administration in attempting to use systems in place for EVERYONE’S protection of Rights have been “duped” into supporting other’s issues along withour own is “crazy talk”.
your slanderous comments regarding the two outspoken and well respected faculty, Buckingham and Rao teeter on libel…. something a PR firm paid with my taxpayers dollar would be extremly good at…you may think this attempt at “damage control” will help the NMSU Administration… but reasonable & ethical people can make their own informed decisions based on facts, pattern and history.
— locked out by admin Apr 21, 09:49 PM #
One cannot be in higher education very long before you know the Provost’s Office is always intimately involved in this type of decision. Someone from the Provost’s Office should not be a member of the investigative task force and certainly not be the chair.
— comment Apr 21, 11:48 PM #
I can confirm so of No Longer Silents’ comments. There have been concerns and complaints about inappropriate faculty actions toward females for years. It has been taken to EEO but nothing happened. Interesting that the past offenders are now defenders.
— bo Apr 23, 11:03 PM #
in my experience, the AA, EEO or the now ubiquitous “Equity & Diversity” office are typically a collection of apologist flunkies who couldn’t get a job ANYWHERE else in the academy and so there they lay in administrative repose, counting beans and ordering mandatory diversity dialogues. In my experience I have even seen reps from these offices actually cry on stage about their oppression and then at the end of the day drive off in a 700-Series BMW. If NMSU is following their lead on this case, the only path is downward. This is just an embarrassment to the taxpayers, the decent faculty and staff that are stil there and the students who feed this monster with their tuition dollars. Apparently the “Governor” is too busy w(h)ining and dining politicians. What a clown. Just one big shameful scandal.
— Xavier Apr 24, 08:33 AM #
I am shocked by the cruelty displayed by so many. The amount of anger and hate that has been communicated is overwhelming. Makes one question “us” as human beings. So very disappointing.
— arnoldsteve38@yahoo.com Apr 25, 12:01 PM #
dear arnold, and what do you propose in response to a situation so gross, so wrong and so indefensible…should we lick lollipops and skip down the yellow brick road? you are right, many of the responses ARE angry, as well they SHOULD be in response to this disgraceful coverup of horrendous abuses. i think you might not be so righteous if YOU had been the target of these very real and very cruel abuses. now have a smiley face kind of day filled with puppies and kittens and stay out of the way of the rest of us who will call a spade a spade and fight wrongs where they are —- in our midsts.
— grace Apr 27, 09:22 AM #
Dr. Arnold,
As one of the MPH students with full knowledge on how you so deviously invited or rather shanghaied our MPHSO leaders on your “last minute, off-campus, free-pizza lunch” only a few weeks ago so that we maybe ambushed and intimidated into silence by an uninvited and unexpected guest Dr. Robinson, on his shameful and premeditated plan by which he and Dr. Olsen proudly disposed two of the best faculty members in our department, Drs. Bird and Moraros, you are in no position to pretend to play the role of moral compass for our department.
Dr. Arnold you are part of the problem and not the solution. Your agreement to play along with Drs. Robinson and Olsen in your role as the “good cop” at the expense of your integrity and the intelligence of your students only confirmed to many MPH students that you are calculating and sly opportunist and a key contributor to this mess.
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:49:47 -0700 From: “Stephen D. Arnold” <sarnold@nmsu.edu> Block Address
Subject: MPHSO Officer Meeting To: sharla@nmsu.edu, kat.perez@stanfordalumni.org, lml@nmsu.edu, emoralez@nmsu.edu, fcheteni@nmsu.edu, sarnold@nmsu.edu, hdawn@nmsu.edu, little11@nmsu.edu, katperez@nmsu.eduReply
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TO: MPHSO Officers
President: Leonor Lara
Vice President: Ernesto Moralez
Secretary: Heather Frankland
Treasurer: Derrick Little
Social Chair: Sharla Wicketts
Sergeant-at-arms: Katherine Perez-Lockett
Recruitment Coordinator: Freedom Cheteni
As your faculty advisor, i would like to call a last-minute meeting
of the MPHSO leadership for this Thursday 2/21 at 1:15 PM. If you
can meet me at Lorenzo’s (corner of Lohman and Roadrunner), lunch
will be on me. I will try to reserve a table in the upstairs dining
area.
If you need a ride, i will be leaving my office promptly at 1:00 PM,
and i have plenty of room for all.
I know many of you have to be back to NMSU for Dr. Olsen’s 2:35 PM
class, so we will plan to start promptly at 1:15.
Hope you can make it! Come hungry!! Lorenzo’s has awesome food.
Steve Arnold
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:09:08 -0700 From: “Robinson,James” <jrobins3@ad.nmsu.edu> Block Address
Subject: RE: David Connelly To: “Dr Stephen D. Arnold” <sarnold@nmsu.edu> Cc: “jrobins3@nmsu.edu” <jrobins3@nmsu.edu> Print CloseSteve, first let me thank you for helping with the visit yesterday. It
was obviously painful, but necessary. I appreciated your comments and
ability to play “good cop”. I hope that sometime down the road the
students get the “rest of the story”.
Regarding the issue with David Connelly, feel free to pass on the
following to the listserv:
For those of you who know Dr. David Connelly, college associate
professor of health science and chair of the SoAHEC Advisory Board, we
have some sad news to report. Dr. Connelly went to Las Vegas, NV for a
family reunion this past weekend. When he arrived, he became ill and
was admitted to the hospital there. We cannot report or speculate on
his condition or his illness, but we can say that he is showing
improvement. His son reported he will remain hospitalized for another
week or so. In your own way, keep Dr. Connelly and his family in your
thoughts and prayers.
Thanks, Jim
What a charade at the expense of first and foremost your own integrity, the unsuspecting students and the two good faculty members (Drs. Bird and Moraros) that to their credit still say good things about you. But then again that’s why they are loved and respected by the students because unlike you they are genuinely good people.
We used to look up to you and respect you in the Department as a good teacher and a good guy before you sold out for whatever dazzling beads Larry & Jim offered you. Now you have become a huge, running joke among us….you are known as “the free pizza guy.” You are right about one thing; it is very disappointing to have seen you stoop so low so fast.
Disappointed student
PS. Before you go after poor Freedom and retaliate against him, know that he had nothing to do with this posting. There are many of us MPH students, who are sick and tired of how our program has been run into the gutter by truly bad guys Jim and Larry and with everyone else including you Dr. Arnold purposely turning a blind eye. I for one can not wait to get out of here….and forget about this place as soon as I can.
— Disappointed student Apr 27, 01:54 PM #
Get your check book ready and fire the dude
— macke May 3, 11:43 AM #