Comments on: University of Maine lays off Dean Loredo

By: Niel

Niel — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:52:59 +0000

People should not be employed simply because they are a minority. It is my opinion that thinking like this has helped plunge the United States into next to last place among developed nations in so many different areas of life. People should be employed because they are good at what they do and needed, that is the only reason. Of course the world is not ideal.

I don’t see a need for any of the Deans of Students. The position is largely ceremonial and not nearly as important as a teacher or athletics.

Of all of the employed deans at the university, however, Dean Loredo is the only one I know of in my four years there who ever made a continuous effort to reach out to students and try to get them involved in managing their own university experience. I know of many students who were positively affected by Dean Loredo’s presence, both emotionally and financially, and I cannot say the same for Dean Dana or the others.

As much as people should not be hired for their race, they shouldn’t be terminated for that reason either. While I don’t value the deans as a whole, Dean Loredo is the last person I would have let go from that office.

If the university was truly focused on finances (and students) it would have let Dean Dana go and replaced him with Dean Loredo, who would have done twice the work at 3/4 the cost. You can be sure that something smart like that will never happen in Orono simply because the most important thing in life is, of course, who you know.

And after all, I’m sure the departing dean will be happier in a different location and as long as enrollment keeps climbing then no one will disturb the old white men raking in the cash on the second floor of the memorial union.

Everyone’s happy, right?

Good Luck Laredo!
I’m sure you will bounce back, hopefully in a warmer climate.

By: Robert Dickey

Robert Dickey — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:11:15 +0000

Is that a box of generic Crayola crayons? Must have been a pretty hi-tech position worth at least the $101,000. I hope he stayed within the lines.

By: Kelly Denoncour

Kelly Denoncour — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:15:07 +0000

It’s actually a bit revolting if you look into how many assistants, assistants to the assistants and other various pointless positions that are still a major theme of the administration offices of U Maine. Not only that, but has anyone ever taken a look at their schedules? Most of them come into work after 11 and you can bet they are outta there by 4:30 every day. Knowing this, and seeing the saddest looking dark room I have ever seen for an Art Dept at a University just makes me sick. I am pretty much throwing my money into the river with it all going to the unnecessarily top-heavy administration.

By: Mark Dupree

Mark Dupree — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:05:37 +0000

This action really makes me question UMaine’s commitment to diversity. Dean Loredo was probably the most seniored administrator of color at UMaine and that alone should have caused pause in the consideration of eliminating his position. You cannot put a price tag on what his presense on the UMaine campus must have meant for the institution, but in particular for students to have a senior administrator of color. You only need to look at the senior staff of the institution to see the lack of racial/ethnic diversity within the senior administration though the gender balance is not bad.

This makes no sense and will only set UMaine back.

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:10:21 +0000

How about cutting nearly all of athletics except for hockey and the “small” sports that are lifetime activities? The talk is that 25% of professors will be let go. A lot of majors would have to go, too. Teaching is more important than atheltics.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:34:50 +0000

Does there really need to be a Dean of Students, an Associate Dean of Students and a Senior Associate Dean of Students? What do these people actually DO for their generous benefits and pay package? Interesting that he was pictured at a coffee hour in the picture. Keep in mind that it is Adjunct Professors (who make a fraction of the pay of these positions) who are at the forefront of affordable education in the Maine system. They actually TEACH the students who attend the state’s Universities and colleges. They only get paid for time in the classroom and they get NO benefits.
I think that most educational organizations are WAY too top heavy and need to start making changes that will prevent them from becoming irrelevant in the new digital age.