Professor Rau was correct in his letter “Excessive salaries at the top cost us.” What disturbs me the most about the proposed budget cuts is the elimination of student worker positions. While some are arguably unimportant, I’m always amused at how the University seems to look at punishing students first. Increasing student fees and eliminating scholarships isn’t a terrible surprise, but I find it irksome that the System jumps to that any time they need money, not just during this current budget crisis. Rau was right on when he brought up the fact that some faculty had warned of the dangers of increasing the salary of those in high office. The starting point for saving money should be to cut salaries of the University’s top officials. It was my impression that a university is supposed to be about academics. Apparently though, a university is supposed to be a business, and its sole purpose is to make a profit. What I think the LSU System, and unfortunately our elected officials, fail to realize is something obvious. Students are not exactly famous for having tons of excess cash to throw around, and if you lean on them too much you will absolutely begin to lose them, and a university is nothing without students.
I can’t fathom how this is overlooked so often by so many. There are other ways to cut corners and save money — starting with students is not the best idea. As a student worker, if I were to lose the income from this job I would have to quit school to take another as my situation wouldn’t allow me to work full time and go to school, and I know many who are in the same boat. I hold out hope that the legislature and the LSU System look for alternate means of saving money and look to the students as a last resort. The system needs to remember where its bread is buttered.John Smith English senior