I read with interest the article on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute president's pay raise that increased her salary to approximately $2.3 million ("A six-figure salary hike for Jackson," Oct. 16). The same day, a letter writer noted the $555,000 salary for the University at Albany's president ("Compare salaries of college chiefs," Oct. 16).
I do not undervalue the importance of our educators in sustaining America's lead in producing the best and the brightest, though we are falling behind other countries. However, with these exorbitant salaries and benefits, we are bankrupting our children and their parents with unbearable debt.
In fact, because of this debt burden, many of our best and brightest are not seeking education in professional schools (medicine, law, engineering, etc.) as the additional debt of this continued education is becoming staggering.
My goodness, the President of the United States earns a salary of $400,000. Do university presidents shoulder a similar weight of responsibility? Much as they are important, I don't believe so.
DR. WALTER RIVERA
Loudonville