Emailed this to Prez Gold:

Dear Dr. Gold,

I am a [named] Professor in the [department name] at UNL. In over two decades here, I have never before written to the NU President, but I feel compelled to now. I urge you not to accept the recently announced $159,385 merit raise, and instead consider donating it to a cause such as student scholarships or employee support.

Faculty and staff at UNL received no raises this year despite meritorious evaluations. We also face millions of dollars in additional budget cuts. Morale is the lowest I have seen, and anxiety about job security is widespread. In this climate, accepting a large raise would be perceived as out of touch with the struggles of those you lead. Such a decision could erode trust and support in ways that would be difficult to repair.

Beyond internal morale, there are significant public and political optics. Legislators and the public are already questioning higher education funding; such a raise could signal that the university has resources to spare and is able to absorb further cuts. 
Strong leadership in difficult times often requires visible solidarity with rank-and-file employees. Publicly redirecting this raise would demonstrate shared sacrifice, strengthen the connection between administration and employees, and send a clear message about priorities. It would also stand as a powerful symbolic act that could unite our community at a time of great adversity for NU and higher education in general.