After much discussion, Eastern’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois voted to accept a pay deferral plan that would have them defer a percentage of their salary on a graduated system.

President David Glassman agreed to accept this proposal later that day, saying while he did have some concerns with the timing and conditions of repayment in the proposal, these concerns do not outweigh the benefits.

According to an article in The Daily Eastern News, Glassman said “the proposal accomplished what the UPI intended by assisting the university in aiding our cash flow while protecting the contracted compensation level of its members.”

Although there were some concerns Glassman had, it is still a good thing he approved this proposal, as waiting longer to make a decision on both sides and come to a proposal agreement that worked could have consequences for the university.

During spring break, it was announced that a previous proposal put forth by the administration0 asking for a 5.6 percent salary reduction to be paid back if and when the university receives an fiscal year 16 appropriation was rejected by the UPI.

The UPI worked to clear up some concerns faculty had with this proposal, and it is commendable that their executive board tried to take these concerns into account along with what they had been told the administration wanted.

The new proposal, put forth by the UPI,  takes steps to help protect more financially vulnerable faculty members more so than the one made by the administration.

Having a graduated system makes sure that those making less than a certain amount will not have to give as much as those who might be able to give more.

According to The News, Bargaining unit members with a yearly base salary of $50,000 or less will defer 2.5 percent of the annual base contract salary and those with a salary of $51,000 to $75,000 would defer 5 percent.

If bargaining unit members make $75,000 to $100,000, they will defer 6.5 percent of their annual salary, and those who make more than $100,000 will defer 7.5 percent.

Many faculty members have various events happening in their lives that add an extra expense to their financial situation. As said in various articles, many are paying back student loans or have family to take care of, some of whom may be sick and need additional medical care. This all adds an extra burden, especially when one adds in a potential salary reduction that may not get paid back, such as in the administration’s proposal.

This new proposal, by stating that the faculty members would get paid back if there is a fiscal year 2017 appropriation, or any money given by the state for Monetary Award Program grants, takes into account that some faculty may need to get their money back from these deferrals and cannot necessarily take the reduction without the promise of being paid back.

Everyone on campus has had to make sacrifices in the wake of this budget crisis Illinois is currently facing.

Nobody knows that more than those who have been laid off and the people who used to work with them who now have to do more work.

With this new salary deferral being approved, it has now come to the point that everyone on campus has made changes and adjustments they should not have had to. Unfortunately, this seems like a trend for universities all over Illinois as they continue to function, or try to function, without any funding.

The daily editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of The Daily Eastern News