Editorial: Sacrifice must be made, but by whom?

Posted on Monday, February 2nd, 2009, 12:00 am

We are concerned about the direction the University of Maine System seems to be taking in response to recent funding cutbacks. The decisions being made by UMS point to potential layoffs of its employees.

We understand that belts must be tightened and sacrifices must be made. However, the belts should tighten on those who have more to part with. Sacrifice should come from those who can afford it.

Instead of handing out layoff notices to or forcing time off on some people who depend upon the university for their livelihood – which would only further the cycle of recession and unemployment – small sacrifices should be made by those at the top in order to prevent sacrificing those at the bottom. UMS should avoid hurting those most vulnerable to economic downturns in the name of fiscal expediency, particularly when those cuts will harm the institution in the long run.

Those who need the university are also needed by it. The custodians, maintenance crew and cooks who will surely be the first target of layoffs are essential to the well being of our university system, as well as attracting and keeping students in a time of shrinking enrollment. No one wants to attend a dirty, dilapidated campus.

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill recently proposed that recipients of federal bailout money cap the salaries of all employees at $400,000 a year – the same salary as President Obama.

While we aren’t advocating that the chancellor of UMS accept the salary of custodial staff, we agree with the sentiment of Sen. McCaskill’s proposal. Money can be saved without forcing people into unemployment. UMS should seek out those solutions.