RE “FOR university presidents, a pay cut is in order’’ (Editorial, Nov. 5): As a first-year college student who is beginning to come to terms with the reality of compiling student loans, I was intrigued by the argument criticizing the high salaries of university presidents.
There is no doubt that skyrocketing college tuition is a national problem. With a stronger emphasis on education and success, young adults these days are constantly pressured to attain at minimum a bachelor’s degree. But for many professional fields, people are expected to achieve advanced academic degrees, which come with strikingly high price tags.
In consideration of the numerous donors and students encountering financial crisis, it is imperative for university presidents to set an example by returning a portion of their own paychecks. Although it is true that they are subject to much pressure by being expected to serve various roles ranging from scholars to fund-raisers to policy makers, it is irrational for universities to suffer from financial debt while failing to address their internal stresses. After all, isn’t it the primary job of university presidents to think of the welfare of their schools and students before anything else?
Minyoung Song
Medford 
