Ripped by two unflattering reports documenting exorbitant personnel and salary increases in its top administrative offices, Clemson University announced yesterday that it was considering reducing the salaries of its Administrative Council members by 10%.
“The impact of your good reporting,” one Clemson watchdog e-mailed us, although FITS merely published the reports, we did not prepare them.
Anyway, here’s the reaction from Clemson courtesy of the Anderson Independent-Mail:
Administrative Council members represent some of the highest-paid officials with the university, and a 10 percent cut would be significant. Administrative Council members include, for example, the provost and the executive director of governmental affairs.
Obviously, “considering” a cut is not the same thing as actually cutting, and the University has yet to officially confirm any of this.
Additionally, there are numerous upper administrative positions that would not be affected by the proposed cut.
Still, it’s a pretty amazing development when you consider the typical tone-deafness of the leadership at Clemson.
It’s also an excellent example of the pressure that can be brought to bear by a few committed watchdogs.
Oh, and one incredibly credit-hungry blogger (who insisted on that headline, btw).
By Wes Wolfe February 25, 2009 at 9:43 am
With all due respect, I do not think a large university in the Upstate would take drastic steps because of a blogger in Columbia. People try to butter me up, too, but I consider that just as much bullshit as the people that are attacking.
By Silence the Noise February 25, 2009 at 9:47 am
we in the general assembly will hand them the cut that they will not give to themselves. their talk of cuts is just that…..talk.
By fitsnews February 25, 2009 at 9:53 am
Wes,
Geez, dude … did we not just get through saying all this?
They’re not “drastic steps” and they haven’t even been taken yet.
And assuming they are taken, credit goes (as we just said) entirely to the Clemson watchdogs who prepared the reports that brought this information to light.
But go on and diminish it.
Combined, our three Clemson administrative posts have received 16,000 views these last week … which as you know included lawmakers, lobbyists, higher ed officials, etc.
That’s a lot of traffic, and a lot of light on the issue.
Oh, and the only people trying to butter you up are the wait staff at Garibaldi’s.
-FITS
By StupidShouldHurtMore (SSHM) February 25, 2009 at 10:08 am
FITS,
Hope you didn’t mind the free coverage over there at the Independent-Mail. I did cite the source. =)
- SSHM
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' February 25, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Good job, FITS. Those hicks have hoarded and wasted too much State cash for too long.
By Jackson February 25, 2009 at 2:03 pm
“one Clemson watchdog emailed us”
There sure are a lot of anonymous Clemson sources/documents you speak of on this website…
By stop the subsidies February 25, 2009 at 2:41 pm
You know a wise man once said if you subsidize something you get more of it.
If we keep giving money to this school , lo and behold it’s expenses grow and grow and grow.
Stop subsidizing the school – they got free land and don’t pay taxes. Let these highly paid people who think so highly of themselves figure out how to run their school on their own without taxpayer help.
By James the Foot Soldier February 25, 2009 at 4:46 pm
OH PLEASE – a “cut” of 10% after receiving ginormous salary increases simply means the morons have received obscene salary increases.
My freakin’ salary’s been cut 3 of the last 4 years – so Silence – put your money where your “conservative” TALK is and propose a cut that reaches bone for once in your legislative life.
By Wes Wolfe February 25, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Delude yourself if you want, but there probably are not 16,000 people in Clemson that can read, much less have Internet access.
By CLEMSONisBETTER February 26, 2009 at 1:43 am
Wes,
Brilliant post.
There’s always haters when you’re on top…