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Staff Editorial: University administrators' benefits unfair to state's teachers

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Published: Sunday, July 12, 2009

Updated: Sunday, July 12, 2009

Two articles published in Sunday’s Lincoln Journal Star widely explain elementary, secondary and colligate funding in Nebraska. An Associated Press story about the growing concerns over Lincoln Public Schools’ funding and teacher’s salaries is contrasted with the incentives given to top University of Nebraska-Lincoln administrators in order to keep their salaries “competitive.”

A letter from Gov. Dave Heineman expressed his want for higher teacher salaries across the state, with the possibility of federal stimulus money used to fulfill this goal. Meanwhile, some Lincoln residents are outraged by the fact the University of Nebraska Foundation provides fringe benefits, such as cars or country club memberships, to top NU administrators, most notably President J.B. Milliken. Last year, UNL used $130 million from funds supplied by the foundation for these benefits.

The reason for this, as stated in the articles, is to try and keep top administrators in their jobs at the University, by paying them commensurate with posts at similar institutions or in the business world.

If this applied to us, a student could go to the best schools in the country and succeed in classes. When it comes time for them to graduate, they could take a high-paying job in their field, or, possibly be offered a teaching job with “competitive” pay. In other words, they could take a teaching job which would pay the same or higher than a job in their related field, plus benefits.

So why shouldn’t the state offer these benefits to the people whose main objective is to make sure students get to college in the first place? The satisfaction felt from teaching a student and helping them in their path to higher education and success is surely far more important than spending money to improve J.B. Milliken’s handicap on his golf game. 

If the state can offer at least some incentives to primary education teachers, then maybe schools won’t fear of losing staff to corporate America.  All Nebraska’s children can benefit, whether they go on to higher education or not.

OPINION@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

Comments

4 comments
Your name
Wed Jul 15 2009 21:05
Eleven Reasons to Fear For Your FreedomWhat would you say if I gave you 11 reasons why the elections in 2010 will be the most important in the history of the United States ?1. What if I had told you in October 2008, before the last presidential election, that before Barack Obamas first 100 days in office, the federal government would be in control of both the mortgage and the banking industries? That 19 of Americas largest banks would be forced to undergo stress tests by the federal government which would determine that they were insufficiently capitalized so they must be supervised by the government? Would you have said, Cmon, that will never happen in America ?" 2. What if I had told you that within Barack Obamas first 100 days in office the federal government would be the largest shareholder in two US automakers, GM, and Chrysler? That the government would kick out the CEOs of these companies and appoint hand-picked executives with zero experience in the auto industry and that executive compensation would be determined not by a Board of Directors but by the government? Would you have said, Cmon, that will never happen in America ? 3. What if I had told you that Barack Obama would appoint 21 Czars, without congressional approval, accountable only to him not to the voters who would have control over a wide range of US policy decisions? That there would be a Stimulus Accountability Czar, an Urban Czar, a Compensation Czar, an Iran Czar, an Auto Industry Czar, a Cyber Security Czar, an Energy Czar, a Bank Bailout Czar, and more than a dozen other government bureaucrats with unchecked regulatory powers over US domestic and foreign policy? Would you have said, Cmon, that will never happen in America ? 4. What if I had told you that the federal deficit would be $915 billion in the first six months of the Obama presidency - with a projected annual deficit of $1.75 trillion - triple the $454.8 billion in 2008, for which the previous administration was highly criticized by Obama and his fellow Democrats? That congress would pass Obamas $3.53 trillion federal budget for fiscal 2010? That the projected deficit over the next ten years would be greater than $10 trillion? Would you have said, Cmon, that will never happen in America ? 5. What if I had told you that the Obama Justice Department would order FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high-value detainees captured on the battlefield and held at US military detention facilities in Afghanistan ? That Obama would order the closing of the Guantanamo detention facility with no plan for the disposition of the 200-plus individuals held there? That several of the suspected terrorists at Guantanamo would be sent to live in freedom in Bermuda at the expense of the US government? That our US veterans would be labeled terrorists and put on a watch list. Would you have said, Cmon, that will never happen in America ? 6. What if I had told you that the federal government would seek powers to seize key companies whose failures could jeopardize the financial system? That a new regulatory agency would be proposed by Obama to control loans, credit cards, mortgage-backed securities, and other financial products offered to the public? Would you have said, Cmon, that will never happen in America ? 7. What if I had told you that Obama would travel to the Middle East , bow before the Saudi king, and repeatedly apologize for Americas past actions? That he would travel to Latin America where he would warmly greet Venezuelas strongman Hugo Chavez and sit passively in the audience while Nicaraguan Marxist thug Daniel Ortega charged America with terrorist aggression in Central America ?Would you have said,Cmon,that will never happen in America ? 8. Okay, now what if I were to tell you that Obama wants to dismantle conservative talk radio through the imposition of a new Fairness Doctrine? That he wants to curtail the First Amendment rights of those who may disagree with his policies via internet blogs, cable news networks, or advocacy ads? That most major network television and most newspapers will only sing his phrases like state run media in communist countries? Would you say, Cmon, that will never happen in America ? 9. What if I were to tell you that the Obama Justice Department is doing everything it can to limit your Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms? That the federal government wants to reinstate the so-called assault weapons ban which would prohibit the sale of any type of firearm that requires the shooter to pull the trigger every time a round is fired? That Obamas Attorney General wants to eliminate the sale of virtually all handguns and ammunition, which most citizens choose for self-defense? Would you say, Cmon, that will never happen in America ? 10. What if I were to tell you that the Obama plan is to eliminate states rights guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment and give the federal government sweeping new powers over policies currently under the province of...
Ann
Tue Jul 14 2009 20:14
What is with the terrible fact-checking going on? Since it seems systemic, is it just something that isn't being taught or is investigative journalism just no longer hip?
Your name
Mon Jul 13 2009 09:21
I agree with the first post. Also, the UNL Foundation is NOT STATE FUNDED. It is privately funded by donations. Even in an OP/ED, facts are needed to establish credibility for your opinion.
Your name
Mon Jul 13 2009 00:16
The logic of this editorial is preposterous. You might start by trying to get your facts straight at the very least -- you're supposed to be budding journalists, after all. The $130 million figure reported by the Journal Star is the total amount of money transferred to the University (four campuses) in FY2008 by the University of Nebraska Foundation to support building projects, academic programs, faculty support, student scholarships, and yes, some benefits for the university administrators. The latter is a small fraction of the total.