We commend the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president for addressing the issue of salary inequities among faculty and staff; however, the problem extends beyond a mismanaged compensation system.

Administrative cuts to various parts of the university during the Pathways Plan have rendered Loyola with enrollment numbers substantially lower in proportion compared to other area universities – several of which sustained substantially higher damage during Hurricane Katrina.

Compounded with the lower enrollment numbers (less than 700 this year) is a working budget deficit of 5.4 million dollars; Loyola needs to prioritize on its spending choices. Meanwhile, Loyola has undertaken several multimillion dollar projects renovating campus facilities and has more building plans set for the future.

Loyola should focus first and foremost on what makes a university function properly: the faculty. Faculty members have no reason to remain at Loyola more than a few years when some annual raises barely account for the cost of living and inflation rates. Since Loyola is currently on the American Association of University Professors’ censure list for the second year in a row, Loyola needs no more reasons for qualified teachers to want to work here. We hope the administration fixes the short-term problems with salary inequities and ensures that the solutions prevent similar problems in the distant future.