DAILY LOBO new mexico
Season ends in loss see back page
monday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
November 30, 2009
Employee remains silent out of fear by Isaac Avilucea Daily Lobo
A former colleague of Shannon Garbiso is speaking out about what she says her friend feels she cannot. Maria Garcia, a former Human Resources consultant, attended the Nov. 10 Board of Regents meeting to advocate launching an independent investigation into the actions of UNM administrators regarding the Sept. 20 altercation between first-year head football coach Mike Locksley and former wide receivers coach J.B. Gerald.
What’s most disconcerting, Garcia said, is how the University has launched an internal smear campaign aimed at discrediting members of its own staff, specifically Garbiso — the Athletics representative who conducted the initial inquiry into the altercation and whose notes have been scrutinized by University officials. Garcia said she is defending Garbiso, a decade-long friend and UNM colleague of four years, who has been forced to “backpedal” on her side of the story. “I think it just rolls into a huge
snowball of collusion,” Garcia said. “They are consistently not giving information that is true.” Garcia said that Garbiso told her that she didn’t destroy the original copies of her notes, but instead turned the notes over to Helen Gonzales, vice president for Human Resources. A University spokesperson said Gonzales was not available for comment on Sunday. Garbiso did not respond to e-mails over the weekend, and she has not spoken publicly about the Locksley incident despite numerous
media requests. Garcia said she knows why: Garbiso fears for her job. “She’s been called by a lot of media entities,” Garcia said. “(Garbiso) said, ‘I’ve had plenty of opportunities, but if I did go in front of the media, I’d lose my job.’ Basically, what you’re told as an HR representative is that you’re not supposed to speak to the media at all. It would be insubordination if you went in front of the media. I think they’ve convinced her that what they’re doing is best for Athletics, best for the University. She was quite upset
when I spoke to her.” Citing four phone conversations she had with Garbiso — two on Nov. 9 and two on Nov. 10 — Garcia jotted down notes of what the two discussed. Those notes, which were provided to the Daily Lobo, along with Garcia’s first-hand account, indicate that Garbiso was “angry” with the way she was portrayed at a Nov. 3 news conference about the Locksley altercation. Chief among Garbiso’s concerns, Garcia said, was how Gonzales said
see Silence page 5
Threatened for speaking out against prejudice
Hopping down 42nd street
by Shaun Griswold Daily Lobo
Julie Jacobson / AP Photo The Kermit the Frog balloon makes a turn at the corner of 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday in New York City. The first Kermit the Frog balloon debuted in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1977. The balloon was 63 feet tall and 24 feet wide, and took four hours and 5,220 cubic feet of helium to reach its full size.
Vigil demonstrates urgent need for health reform by Tim Mousseau Daily Lobo
What starts as a candlelight vigil might become a public debate about health care. On Thursday, Democrats from the Albuquerque area are gathering at Nob Hill to honor Americans who have passed away because they didn’t have health care. The event will begin at 6 p.m. on the corner of Carlisle and Central Avenues. The event, hosted by Democrats for Change, will bring light to the issue of health care reform, said
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 114
issue 67
Arman Salehian, president of UNM College Democrats. “The goal of this event is to raise awareness for health care reform … but we are not taking sides on the debate,” he said. Salehian said the vigil will encourage thought about the health care issue instead of anger. However, Eric McInteer, College Republicans spokesman, said the vigil will likely spark an argument despite its amicable intentions. “Health care has become a political lightning rod in this country,” McInteer said. “I have been at
different rallies for various issues and they always get nasty, unfortunately.” McInteer said he acknowledged that Democrats for Change are hosting the vigil with noble purposes, but they are failing to address other issues at hand. “They should also give thought to the fact that what they are pushing could bankrupt this country,” he said. “It could also cause more harm than good.” Salehian said the event should remain peaceful, though it will draw scrutiny from the media and public.
Health Care Candlelight Vigil Hosted by Democrats for Change 5:30 p.m. Carlisle and Central Avenues “With health care there are such strong opinions on both sides of the aisle,” he said. “If there are arguments we will try to make sure it doesn’t misconstrue the meaning of the event.” Salehian said the event provides room for civil debate and that
Uncovering the moon
Missed opportunity
See page 2
See back page
see Reform page 5
Two armed security guards greeted UNM students as they walked into their Peace Studies class on Tuesday. Although the scene was unfamiliar to students, it has been all too familiar for the guest lecturer, Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. “We had two death threats before coming in,” Weinstein said. “But somebody has to stand up and do something. We cannot be a bystander.” According to the group’s Web site, the Foundation “is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom which they and all Americans are entitled by the First Amendment.” Weinstein, a Jewish Republican, is an Air Force Academy graduate, was a White House aid during the Reagan administration and was nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Weinstein told the Peace Studies class that every mandatory military formation has forced Christian undertones. “Whether it’s a staff meeting, a combat briefing, a promotion ceremony, a retirement ceremony — there is always a prayer, and it’s always in Jesus’ name,” he said. In an e-mail, the Peace Studies instructor Desi Brown said Weinstein received angry e-mails from the UNM Campus Crusade for Christ. “Mr. Weinstein has already received a number of threatening phone calls and e-mails from the on campus group ‘Campus Crusade for Christ’ and members of the
see Freedom page 5
Today’s weather
41° / 29°