Editor,
This week, I received a flyer from the UNM office of Counseling, Assistance and Referral Services in my campus mailbox. Printed on bright blue paper, it was titled "Make a Haven," and was basically a list of what it considered normal reactions to the "recent tragic events."
It listed several categories of symptoms under the headings: Are you experiencing.?, Are you suffering.?, Are you feeling.? and Are you encountering.?
It looks like the list might be very helpful in at least putting a name to things.
Also included was a list with the heading "Suggestions for coping." Down near the end of the list was a suggestion, which was probably better suited in a list with the heading "Suggestions for helping other people cope."
It stated "People in trauma say and do things they will likely regret later. Try and cut them and yourself slack."
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Whoa! That one had a familiar ring to it. Does the name "Berthold" strike a chord?
It seems to me that there is a bit of an inconsistency here. On the one hand, the University is telling us to take it easy on others in this time of extreme stress because normal behavior is not the norm. But on the other hand, the University is cutting Rick Berthold no slack at all.
Could there perhaps be a third hand at work here, determined to punish Rick Berthold for not only one stupid and insensitive remark but for 30 years of annoyances?
Larry Waldman
A long-time member of the UNM community
