Letters to the Editor: Firing unfair
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 4/15/05 at 1:09 AM EST
Last update: 4/15/05 at 9:01 AM EST
Originally published: 4/15/05 at 1:09 AM EST
Last update: 4/15/05 at 9:01 AM EST
Editor:
If anyone hasn't noticed, The Triangle has been on a recruiting blitz and for good reason-left and right members are being discriminately fired or quitting on their own.
Recently, Triangle management fired Ed-op editor James Mack for allegedly "disrupting the atmosphere of The Triangle office." One would think that there was some incident or something James Mack did to deserve this, right? Nope, the management didn't dignify him with any specific complaints in relation to his termination.
It's nice to know that if The Triangle was a corporate entity, it would be facing serious lawsuits right now. In the real world, there are protective laws against discriminatory firing. Employers who wish to fire employees need extensive documentation to prove that they did their best to ensure that there employees were trained in all policies and that fair mediation was applied to deter termination.
So let's review: James Mack has no written record of reprimands or complaints against him and no specific evidence was provided that warranted the charge for firing him. One is led to conclude that The Triangle fired James because they didn't like him, and concocted a reason to do just that.
James Mack is just one of several members who were recently fired. Triangle management needs to consider how this precedent will affect the long-term integrity and morale of staffers. Let it be asked, what motivates people to volunteer and contribute to an organization that will stab its own members in the back for no reason?
Recently, The Triangle awarded me an achievement certificate for my various contributions to the Ed-op section. Because of the poor level of professionalism that I've witnessed recently, I'm ashamed for receiving such an award from this newspaper. Unless fair standards are implemented and James Mack and other staffers are reinstated to their previous positions, I will no longer contribute to this publication.
William Mulgrew
Editor's note: Mr. Mulgrew is not directly involved with the staff of The Triangle, and is hence unaware of internal issues, not made public for reasons stated below. We appreciate his comments and concerns, and will do our best to address them.
Editor:
I was informed over the weekend that James Mack Jr. was removed from his position as Ed-Op Editor by The Triangle leadership. This removal was also apparently for no plausible reasons, other than that James' views on administrative decisions were different from those of a few other high ranking staffers. Never mind that it is wrong to get rid of people who disagree with you, this move was most egregious. I would consider James Mack Jr. to be the best Ed-Op Editor the newspaper has ever had.
When I was Ed-Op Editor before James, I often felt that I was volunteering at the newspaper and was putting in hours for what was often a thankless job, other than the satisfaction resulting from seeing your work in print. I can honestly say that for every hour per week that I contributed, James has probably contributed two. Highlights of the section, Notable Quotables, Winners and Losers of the Week, and Blogger's Corner were all James' creations. While I often disagreed with the views they represented, I appreciated that they were there.
I cannot in good conscience continue to write for a newspaper that attaches more importance to its staffers' views on the paper's administrative matters rather than the quality of their work. Therefore, I express in this letter to the editor, my strongest condemnation of The Triangle management's actions as well as my resignation. I thank all who read my columns. Your comments, both positive and negative, were greatly appreciated.
Vivek Thuppil
Environmental Science '06
Editor's note: Mr. Thuppil submits as a regular columnist for The Triangle, but is not directly involved with the staff. There were a number of reasons for the decision, not made public to avoid public embarrasment to all parties involved. We appreciate his comments and contributions.
If anyone hasn't noticed, The Triangle has been on a recruiting blitz and for good reason-left and right members are being discriminately fired or quitting on their own.
Recently, Triangle management fired Ed-op editor James Mack for allegedly "disrupting the atmosphere of The Triangle office." One would think that there was some incident or something James Mack did to deserve this, right? Nope, the management didn't dignify him with any specific complaints in relation to his termination.
It's nice to know that if The Triangle was a corporate entity, it would be facing serious lawsuits right now. In the real world, there are protective laws against discriminatory firing. Employers who wish to fire employees need extensive documentation to prove that they did their best to ensure that there employees were trained in all policies and that fair mediation was applied to deter termination.
So let's review: James Mack has no written record of reprimands or complaints against him and no specific evidence was provided that warranted the charge for firing him. One is led to conclude that The Triangle fired James because they didn't like him, and concocted a reason to do just that.
James Mack is just one of several members who were recently fired. Triangle management needs to consider how this precedent will affect the long-term integrity and morale of staffers. Let it be asked, what motivates people to volunteer and contribute to an organization that will stab its own members in the back for no reason?
Recently, The Triangle awarded me an achievement certificate for my various contributions to the Ed-op section. Because of the poor level of professionalism that I've witnessed recently, I'm ashamed for receiving such an award from this newspaper. Unless fair standards are implemented and James Mack and other staffers are reinstated to their previous positions, I will no longer contribute to this publication.
William Mulgrew
Editor's note: Mr. Mulgrew is not directly involved with the staff of The Triangle, and is hence unaware of internal issues, not made public for reasons stated below. We appreciate his comments and concerns, and will do our best to address them.
Editor:
I was informed over the weekend that James Mack Jr. was removed from his position as Ed-Op Editor by The Triangle leadership. This removal was also apparently for no plausible reasons, other than that James' views on administrative decisions were different from those of a few other high ranking staffers. Never mind that it is wrong to get rid of people who disagree with you, this move was most egregious. I would consider James Mack Jr. to be the best Ed-Op Editor the newspaper has ever had.
When I was Ed-Op Editor before James, I often felt that I was volunteering at the newspaper and was putting in hours for what was often a thankless job, other than the satisfaction resulting from seeing your work in print. I can honestly say that for every hour per week that I contributed, James has probably contributed two. Highlights of the section, Notable Quotables, Winners and Losers of the Week, and Blogger's Corner were all James' creations. While I often disagreed with the views they represented, I appreciated that they were there.
I cannot in good conscience continue to write for a newspaper that attaches more importance to its staffers' views on the paper's administrative matters rather than the quality of their work. Therefore, I express in this letter to the editor, my strongest condemnation of The Triangle management's actions as well as my resignation. I thank all who read my columns. Your comments, both positive and negative, were greatly appreciated.
Vivek Thuppil
Environmental Science '06
Editor's note: Mr. Thuppil submits as a regular columnist for The Triangle, but is not directly involved with the staff. There were a number of reasons for the decision, not made public to avoid public embarrasment to all parties involved. We appreciate his comments and contributions.
