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Students and faculty alike were shocked to hear that Ángel Loredo, associate dean of students, was laid off and his position was eliminated last week.
Loredo led many programs with high-visibility to students, including UMaine UVote, GLBT services and a popular course including a trip to Mexico. Because of his personality and his involvement with these programs, Loredo was better known throughout campus than many other administrators. While many deans are a name, Loredo was a face, and he will be missed.
Despite the melancholy cast over UMaine by Loredo’s layoff, it is important to remember the context of his departure.
The University of Maine System, of which UMaine is the biggest school, has a target of cutting $7.5 million over the next two years, according to Vice President for Administration and Finance Janet Waldron. That’s a lot of money.
In a perfect world, where cuts in appropriations aren’t handed down from the state, no cuts would be made. Unfortunately, they are.
Though no employee of the university — whether a dean, groundskeeper or cashier — can be lost without an effect on the university, there are two options in trying to find ways to save money.
One is to seek out cuts in high-value positions that may be redundant and aren’t key to the day-to-day operation of the university.
The other way is to seek out cuts in positions that would more directly affect students, such as professors (both adjunct and full-time), department secretaries or janitors. The loss of these employees would not save as much money and would be more detrimental to the university.
We feel the choice is obvious. We wish Dean Loredo the best of luck in the future.
Bangor Daily News