Taxpayers are being gang raped by a $100,000 pay raise



The Ivory Tower of California State University, San Diego.  Home of
the $400,000 university president.



A study commissioned by the government claims that Cal State's campus presidents are "underpaid".


Educators high in their Ivory Towers have heard that some people in a few places just might be in some economic pain.  They are not sure.  The story could have been on TV.  But it does not matter because their paychecks keep coming no matter what happens out in the real world.

So their professional lives really come down to feathering their own nests with as much tax money as possible.

California State University is proposing to pay the new president of its San Diego campus $100,000 more annually than his predecessor, for a total of $400,000 a year.   A move that is raising hackles as the university grapples with another round of student tuition hikes amid deep state funding cuts says the Los Angeles Times.

If the plan is approved Tuesday by the Board of Trustees, San Diego State President Elliot Hirshman would receive annual compensation of $400,000 — $350,000 from the state and an annual supplement of $50,000 from the campus' nonprofit foundation.

The compensation package includes a $1,000-per-month vehicle allowance.


THE $400,000 MAN
San Diego State President Elliot Hirshman would receive
$100,000 more than his predecessor for a total of $400,000.

 The annual salary of former President Stephen L. Weber was $299,435, according to university records. Hirshman's proposed salary is only a little shy of that of Cal State Chancellor Charles B. Reed, who receives $421,500 in salary, as well as $30,000 toward his retirement from the Cal State University Foundation.

Some lawmakers, students and faculty were incredulous at the salary recommendation and its timing, coming after the Legislature and governor approved a spending plan last week that cuts $650 million from Cal State, with additional reductions possible.

On the same agenda Tuesday, the university's governing board will consider a recommendation to increase annual tuition by 12% — or an additional $294 a semester for fall 2011. That would be on top of a previously approved increase of 10%.

Over the last decade tuition has tripled, to $4,884 a year for undergraduates in the university system.

Many faculty are also concerned that the proposed compensation sends the wrong message, said Lillian Taiz, the California Faculty Assn. president.

"It is complete arrogance and tone deafness to be doing something like this while students are being knocked sideways by pretty staggering fee increases year after year," said Taiz, a history professor at Cal State L.A.

Also earning more than $300,000 are San Jose State President Mohammad Qayoumi at $353,200, Cal State L.A. President James Rosser at $325,000 and Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander at $320,329.

Several Cal State presidents also receive $50,000 or $60,000 housing allowances.

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