To the editor:

It's wonderful that Cornell employees will have a sense of job security in the midst of the economic downturn, but let's not forget that the university's hiring freeze will also cause devastation for Ithaca residents who are currently unemployed, or in my case, underemployed.

I started interviewing for positions with the university when I moved to Ithaca this August with my partner, a new Ph.D. student at Cornell. I was still on the job hunt when the university announced its hiring freeze. Needless to say, this was not good news for me, because without access to proper health benefits or a decent paycheck, I know that I won't be able to afford to stay in Ithaca with my partner.

So please, let's at least tip our hats to the individuals who won't be benefiting from Cornell's internal hiring program.

-- Amy Williams