DAILY LOBO new mexico
The tough stuff
tuesday
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The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
October 20, 2009
Symphony musicians: pay cuts sound wrong by Andrew Beale Daily Lobo
Zach Gould / Daily Lobo Cindy Legarda, left, Dorian Delgaldo, center, and Stephanie Ortiz prepare flu vaccinations in the SUB atrium Monday. Congressman Martin Heinrich stopped by campus yesterday to see how well UNM was prepared for a potential H1N1-virus outbreak.
Heinrich stumps for flu prevention by Kallie Red-Horse Daily Lobo
Congressman Martin Heinrich was on campus Monday to meet with UNM health officials, visit the flu vaccination clinic in the SUB and discuss UNM’s preparation for the H1N1 virus. “I wanted to see the clinic here and see how they are handling the coordination between UNM-H, UNM and the entire campus community,” Heinrich said. Heinrich said he was satisfied with UNM’s preventive measures, such as hand-sanitizer dispensers around campus and the flu-shot clinic. “I am really impressed with the level of coordination and the fact that they didn’t wait until flu season was on top of all of us to begin getting
ready for it,” he said. “This has been months in preparation, and I think that prevention and preparation are the key for this year’s flu season.” Heinrich said the flu is being addressed on a larger scale in the Washington, D.C., community. “On Capitol Hill right now, people like myself shake so many hands over the course of the day,” he said. “We actually have hand sanitizer all over Capitol Hill right now and in our office in Albuquerque, and I was pleased to see as I moved around the campus today that same sort of model.” Student Mark Silversmith said he was pleased with UNM’s preventive measures, especially the convenience of the free flu-shot clinic. “I was planning this weekend on going to the doctor and getting my
Flu immunizations SUB atrium Through Oct. 22 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. flu shot, but I was walking by and it was right there, so I figured, ‘Hey, why not?’” he said. Matt Swift, pharmacy director for the Student Health Center, said having the shot clinic in the SUB encouraged more students to get it. “We are in a place where we are able to get in contact with a lot of people,” he said. “We have had people that didn’t even intend to get flu shots today walk through, see us and come in to get one.” Heinrich said preventive measures for the flu in educational
see Flu page 3
Classical-music lovers may not see much of Popejoy Hall auditorium in the weekends ahead. The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra often performs at Popejoy, but since Aug. 31 , the 78 musicians in the orchestra have been in a pay dispute with the NMSO administration. As a result, the orchestra has stopped performing. Thirteen NMSO musicians are also faculty members at UNM. The proposed 2009 contract — which the players declined — outlined a 25 percent pay cut for musicians and a 10 percent to 14 percent pay cut for administrators. A 25 percent cut would put the musicians at $15,000 a year, less than they made in 1992, NMSO oboe player and UNM Associate Professor Kevin Vigneau said. Vigneau also said that NMSO administrators earn six-figure salaries. Terry Davis, public relations specialist for Popejoy, said the NMSO performances are postponed, not canceled, so he doesn’t expect Popejoy will lose revenue because of the dispute. But Richard White, NMSO tubist and UNM assistant professor, said he expects that some or all of the postponed concerts will be canceled. “They’re saying postponed. In my mind, postponed is cancelling, so that’s why I say they’re illegally locking us out,” he said. “It’s going to get to a point now where it’s going to be impossible to reschedule all the concerts.” White said the NMSO administration postponed the concerts to avoid paying the musicians the same salary they were given last year. The players’ contracts expired on Aug. 31, White said. The players have not played any shows since then, but
White said the players have not been forced to go on strike yet. “They have to force the contract, they have to say ‘We’re implementing this contract, so you have to play,’” he said. “If they implement, then we have to take a strike vote, and then we would be on strike.” NMSO President Eric Meyer said he doesn’t have a time frame for when the negotiations will end. He said the two parties are trying to find a solution that will work for both of them. “I’m an optimist, and I hope that we can come to sides, but we’re still negotiating,” he said. White said the musicians object to imbalances in the pay between musicians and administrators. He said the administration has taken pay cuts, but the pay cuts for musicians are larger. “From the musicians’ point of view, what we want is proper stewardship over the NMSO name, and we want sacrifice of equality,” he said. “I think if the staff took a 10 or 14 percent cut, that’s what the musicians should take. No more, no less.” The NMSO musicians would be willing to take the pay rate from last year’s contract while negotiating a new one, White said. “The musicians are willing and ready to play,” he said. “We’ve always been ready to play. It’s not our fault that we’re not on the stage.” Vigneau said the way NMSO is run is harmful to the musicians. He said the focus on money over art is detrimental to the community. “I personally worry about the application of sort of a corporate model to the arts, and that’s kind of what I feel is going on,” he said. “I’m not sure that is a successful model for the arts, and I hope we can stick together and see if it can change.” White said the players and the administration will meet again Oct. 26 to continue negotiations.
Ethnic centers protected from cuts by Pat Lohmann Daily Lobo
While the 2009 New Mexico Legislature special session has yet to bear budgetary fruit, one thing is pretty much guaranteed: University presidents will have discretion in making the cuts handed down to them from the state. For UNM, this means that the University’s ethnic centers — including El Centro de la Raza, African American Student Services and American Indian Student Services — are going to be protected from any budget cuts, according to a statement from President David Schmidly. “We’ve asked for flexibility in dealing with the proposed budget cuts so that we can do what’s best for the institution as a whole,” Schmidly said. “UNM’s ethnic centers are vital to the success of our students and it is always our
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 114
issue 40
priority to preserve the programs that deal directly with student success.” Before the special session, the Council of University Presidents wrote a letter to legislators requesting flexibility in implementing the cuts the Legislature recommended. “Institutions want to control their own budget decisions,” the letter stated. “The presidents request discretion within and across appropriated line items so that each institution can make timely, prudent budgetary decisions in a dynamic environment.” Marc Saavedra, director of government relations at UNM, said New Mexico’s state senators and representatives have responded positively to the presidents’ request. All bills proposed have clauses providing for university discretion. “I think they all have language
on flexibility,” Saavedra said. “The Legislature is completely on board with the universities having flexibility.” Saavedra said that after cuts to the instructional and general funds and special projects are outlined — either in the special session or in December’s regular session — Schmidly will confer with representatives from University departments. “There’ll be collaboration with the deans and people in those projects,” he said. “We’re required through the Higher Education Department to assess those projects and gather information, so there’ll be discussion on how to implement those cuts. … It’s not going to be done with one person deciding how they’re going to do this. There’s going to be a process that involves those who are overseeing
see Budget cuts page 3
The right moves
Web of fear
See page 2
See page 6
Associate Professor Kevin Vigneau, a musician in the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, plays Strauss’ Oboe Concerto in his office Monday. Vigneau is one of 13 UNM employees in the NMSO. The musicians are on strike because of a pay dispute. Junfu Han / Daily Lobo
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