LETTERS

To the editor:

Regarding the Southeast Missouri State University salaries that were published Aug. 18: Why this preoccupation with the salaries earned by employees of the university? Periodically through the years as the administrative personnel have been subject to public scrutiny via the Southeast Missourian, I have found the practice to be both displeasing and offensive. No reason for this latest release was given. It simply appeared.

Why not publish a list of the higher paid attorney indicating their individual incomes? Why not a similar list from the many physicians in Cape Girardeau? A rundown of Missouri utilities executives? And how bout a list of Southeast Missourian staff members? Or the top Realtors in town? The possibilities are endless.

Are university administrators and faculty to continue as hapless victims because they are paid by the state of Missouri? Should this make it more palatable? Do you know anyone who honestly enjoys having the entire community know his exact salary, regardless of the source, or how large or how small it may be? I sincerely doubt that you do.

There are those, always, who think that faculty members are overpaid. "They teach a few courses per week for nine months out of the year," is the prevailing viewpoint. Seemingly lost on the general public is the fact that most university faculty members return to school themselves (after a minimum eight years' education beyond high school) for post-doctoral work in order to remain abreast of current practices, trends and philosophies in their fields. They engage in research, mast material in new textbooks, prepare exams, grade exams, schedule times to meet with individual students, attend endless meetings, prepare and present recitals, programs and art exhibits and preside over and present papers for national meetings in their areas of expertise.

Many of the educators find time to interact with the community in numerous fund drives and church and volunteer activities. In fact, some have refused opportunities to teach elsewhere because they considered Cape Girardeau an excellent place to rear a family. A significant number on the list have served on the university faculty for 25 years or more. Your article seems to infer that college professors shouldn't be earning these salaries at the peak of their careers after all of their professional training and experience. Is it all right for physicians, lawyers and other professionals?

Certainly not all university employees pursue all of these activities (as is true in any milieu), but most of them never cease striving to increase their level of proficiency. And they would enjoy nothing more than to be left along to teach, do research, perform and continue to share their knowledge and talents, free of this tiresome delving into their monetary circumstances.

ANN SHELTON

Cape Girardeau

EDITOR'S NOTE: One reason for publishing the top salaries of university employees is because the public is paying those salaries through involuntary taxes, a fact that cannot be dismissed lightly. Only those salaries at or above $50,000 a year were published. All university salaries, including those below $50,000, are regularly published every two years in Missouri's "Official Manual." The Southeast Missourian makes no judgments in publishing the salaries, as the writer suggests. Indeed, this letter makes a strong case for the training, commitment and professional performance that are required to earn those salaries. In publishing the salaries of public employees, the Southeast Missourian hopes readers will draw their own conclusions and participate in the governmental process if they are so inclined.