I am an educated person. I watch C-SPAN. I have seen President Steven Leath speak in hearings regarding the cost of attendance for students. I have been impressed at his desire to see students leave school with less debt. However, I must say that something I read on KCCI.com has me frustrated. Leath is getting a 2 percent pay increase, after the Regents approved a 4 percent pay increase last year.

Granted, he only started in January, but his current pay rate of $448,000 is kind of ridiculous. While Iowa State tries to figure out how to maximize class sizes and reduce costs to the university, Leath is lapping up the riches while students are facing a decrease in the cost of attendance, as the cost of living overall increases.

Does this seem preposterous to anyone but me? Students are noticing this semester Financial Aid has adjusted the cost of attendance for all undergraduates — dependent and independent alike. This cost of attendance comes at a time when as a society we are facing inflated grocery and gas costs.

To me, it would seem that if Leath wanted to show his dedication to the university and ensuring that we are better able to provide to students the classes and curriculum they require to be successful, he would have suggested that the 2 percent be funneled into the cost of education.

Even if the 2 percent weren’t funneled into actual equipment or the cost of hiring new lecturers, it could have been utilized to create extra grants for students who are going to suffer because of the decrease in cost of attendance. Maybe I am off-point.

However, I think when the Board of Regents approves a salary that is more than the president of the United States makes, then perhaps it is time to look at exactly how well our schools are performing, and if perhaps some of those increases in tuition should be put into the education of students and not put into the pockets of the upper echelon of administration.