OU’s recent “millionaire” pay increases for administrators show that college is big business. And of course, the faculty wants lucrative raises too. As reported in a local paper Sept. 27, these undeserved raises show why college costs for students are skyrocketing and throwing them into lifelong debt. We need the whole picture. The Post needs an investigative follow-up.
Show faculty salaries and associated income from generous health care, “perks” and retirement pay. Last I knew, the latter is an annual 70 percent of professors’ highest pay years. What, just for doing their jobs for 20 or 30 years? In retirement, faculty can also get more than $17,000 for teaching one course each semester. Other than workers on Wall Street, big banks and government, who else gets such plush salaries and retirements?
So, what are faculty salaries and perks? Instructors in the College of Communication reportedly are lowest paid. Next up are arts instructors. Highest paid are (who else!) business instructors at more than $90,000 annually. And do faculty have free housing, house maintenance, transportation, airfare, catering, gardening and bonuses like McDavis gets?
Many are asking the question, “Is college worth the cost to students, their parents and taxpayers?” Because U.S. industry has moved their businesses overseas, throwing their workers out of work, there is no guarantee that college graduates today can find jobs. Many have to return to live with their parents.
Recent reports champion instruction in the trades like construction, cooking, electricity and other work that runs our country. One can also join the military. New enlistees reportedly are given $10,000 and re-enlistees are given $25,000. Course, body- and brain-damaged after discharge, veterans who live might not be able to work at all.
And still, given the U.S. debt of $13 trillion in I.O.U.s worldwide, Washington still gives away an annual $6 billion-plus in armament to Israel. And billions of taxpayers’ money the feds give away to tribal leaders and other countries to make them “like” us. Plus, high costs of the CIA and our military bases in 130 countries worldwide, our trips to Mars and forever maintenance of our reported 7,200 nuclear missiles at home. Why? Will they ever be used? Just how rich or poor is America anyway?
John Spofforth is an OU alumnus and a veteran living in Athens.
