Incoming University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler is set to make an average of $610,000 per year, a significant increase from departing President Bob Bruininks and well over the Big Ten average presidential salary of $350,000.

Given the financial strains the University is under, itâÄôs rather surprising that the Board of Regents elected to significantly increase the presidentâÄôs pay rather than cut it, or at the very least keep it the same. If Kaler is serious about demonstrating leadership and financial discipline, he should voluntarily take a pay cut.

The University will come to the Legislature seeking more funding, spelling out a doomsday scenario of soaring tuition and cuts if the funding is not granted. This will be a difficult story to believe when the man making the appeal is earning almost 2 1/2 times as much as the president of the U.S. Kaler, cut your own salary, trim the administrative budget and show the Legislature youâÄôre serious about responsible spending at the University.