A New Mexico State University associate dean has apologized in a memo for using his school account to e-mail pornography to a professor.

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Larry Olsen, associate dean of the College of Health and Social Services, apologized for e-mailing the photos, which he referred to as "a bad attempt at humor," to Dr. John Moraros, the Las Cruces (N.M.) Sun-News reported Friday.

"In my role as associate dean, I clearly erred in sending this material to Dr. Moraros using my NMSU account," Olsen wrote in the memo. "I regret this mistake and know it will never recur."

Olsen and College of Health and Social Services head James Robinson have temporarily stepped down from their positions while the university investigates allegations surrounding the dismissals of Moraros and his wife, Dr. Yelena Bird.

Moraros sand he and his wife were told by Robinson in January that their contracts would not be renewed because they were not a good "fit" with the college. However, Robert Buckingham, the college's most senior faculty member and a member of the promotion and tenure committee, said the body voted unanimously Jan. 31 to renew the contracts of both professors.