Sacrifice, who has sacrificed in our recent budget crisis? It is the students, faculty and staff of Nicholls.

Everything at school is going up, like tuition, fees, books and food. Is this the price for a college degree or fleecing of the students?

The faculty and staff are overloaded and the morale is low. Where is the next pay-raise?

Does the politicians or University presidents have some accountability to the students and parents about the deficit we are facing? Where’s the money? Who has the money? Who has the power? Can the administration print the budget in The Nicholls Worth? Let’s be transparent to the students and parents.

The Louisiana GRAD Act gave Nicholls the right to raise tuition without meeting the goals of the act. Does that make any sense? Governor Jindal was acting out of desperation and took the easy way out.

Politicians and higher education officials have wasted our money and are enslaved to it!

Where is the equity? Ask University System ex-president Sally Clausen, who made $12,212 a month in retirement. Another state worker who is retired with the same number of years of service gets $700: $12,212 to $700. In one day, she retired and got rehired for $90,000. Is that stealing or do you belong to the club?

LSU’s president John Lombardi says he won’t take a pay cut during the budget crises. He only makes $600,000 a year and all of the free stuff. He can show his magnanimity and donate money to his favorite scholarship fund. He might start a trend for others to give. Sacrifice.

The state budget deficit for 2010-2011 is 1.6 billion dollars. Governor Jindal raised the spending cap 1.1 billion dollars when he came when he came into office in 2007. Also, he gave big salaries to all his people and hired 3500 state workers. He is responsible for the deficit and now he wants to put it on the backs of the students and parents! Leadership, what leadership?

P.S. In the end, we will all be equal and free!

Carl Jackson

Junior

Colfax, La.