University system salaries not out of line

To the editor:

In response to your Thursday editorial on university salaries:

You did identify a number of important issues that we face on the Board of Regents. However, I feel obligated to correct several misstatements of fact and misunderstandings with respect to salaries in the Nevada System of Higher Education.

First, as to the salaries of UNR President Milton Glick and UNLV President David Ashley, their base salaries are paid by state funds. President Glick's base salary is $246,423.84. President Ashley's base salary is the same. The amount by which those base salaries are supplemented is provided by the foundations for UNR and UNLV, respectively, and does not come from state funds.

Second, we have from time to time hired above our published salary range the past several years. There are two reasons. Our salary ranges are adjusted to reflect market rates only every two years and in many cases do not reflect the higher salaries that some disciplines command. Also, salaries for the positions we sought to fill have been escalating across the country. Certainly, the board's actions do not constitute any sort of spending spree. We believe that our efforts have been reasoned, thoughtful and directed toward specific objectives.

Third, and most important, our charge as members of the Board of Regents is to provide the best possible higher education for our students, while still meeting our obligation to be fiscally responsible. Our communities, both in Reno and Las Vegas, have called loudly and repeatedly for quality institutions. Quality institutions require quality people. Quality people require that we pay what the market demands. In fact, many of those hired, including our presidents, could go elsewhere for higher salaries. They stay because of their dedication to our institutions, our students and our state.

Would you run an editorial complimenting the board for hiring the cheapest mediocre faculty we could find? I doubt it.

I am confident that the Board of Regents will continue to do its best to attract the highest quality personnel and administrators that we can afford within the budget constraints that we now face.

Michael B. Wixom

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER CHAIRS THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

Swine flu

To the editor:

Perhaps after the swine flu sweeps across Mexico, then spreads across the United States, carried by infected Mexican immigrants illegally crossing the border, then liberals and politicians alike will finally understand yet another reason why we need secure borders. But then again, perhaps not.

Ron Moers

HENDERSON

Buckle up

To the editor:

Mega kudos to North Las Vegas Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson for his common-sense approach in listening to arguments and then burying any chance that Senate Bill 116 had of becoming law.

If adopted, SB116 would have elevated the "crime" of not wearing a seat belt to a primary moving violation, and thus allowed police officers to pull drivers over for no other reason. Had this passed, it would have given police a free hand to pull over drivers on the basis of racial profiling, ostensibly for not buckling up. Thank God we have legislators in Carson City with the savvy and down-to-earth common sense that Mr. Atkinson displayed.

Twelve of our 16 state senators voted yes on this piece of legislation, thus moving it to the Assembly. Those senators displayed no such level-headedness, as did Mr. Atkinson.

Dennis Sarfaty

HENDERSON

Unfit for the bench

To the editor:

With reference to your coverage of Jay S. Bybee (Saturday Review-Journal), I would state that I am in no way convinced that he is fit to sit in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or serve in any other judicial post. This man should be relieved of his position and disbarred for life from the practice of law.

By his willingness to sign the "Bybee Torture Memo," he has proved himself to be a man without honor or judgment. A man willing to do anything to advance his career.

He knew full well what he was doing when he signed this memo and, even though he knew this would inevitably eventually cause his country and his profession to be regarded with hatred, ridicule and contempt, he did it anyway.

I would tar Mr. Bybee and Saddam Hussein with the same brush when it comes to the issue of torture, except for one thing: Saddam also did a lot of good for his country, Iraq, whereas Mr. Bybee has done nothing for his except plunge it into infamy.

How can any litigant who appears before his court be assured of a fair decision when Mr. Bybee was willing to prostitute himself by colluding with others to violate U.S. law, international law and human rights for personal gain -- a lifetime appointment to the 9th Circuit?

I seriously doubt that this man has any remaining vestige of decency. But if he has, he should resign immediately.

Jane M. Donahoe

HENDERSON