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Thursday, August 25, 2005
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UPDATE, PRESIDENT LADNER [for earlier post, go here] “But there has always been this underlying feeling [that] he makes a lot of money, and I think that makes most people skeptical." This American University student’s reaction to the news that the president of the university, under investigation for financial wrongdoing, has now been suspended, points to the problem with overcompensated university administrators. Like quite a number of university presidents, Ladner both earns a fortune (edging up toward $700,000 a year) and enjoys goodies freebies and perks on top of that, including a great house on campus. Ladner also owns a house in nearby Maryland (AU’s in Northwest DC), and is accused of using university money for its maintenance. Plus he’s accused of having “charged the university for [his] son's engagement party, presents for [his] children, a personal chef, vacations in Europe …and wine that cost as much as $100 a bottle.” If AU’s president had a salary people felt was appropriate to a member of a university community, there wouldn’t be an underlying skepticism about his character. Now that he’s in trouble, people are inclined to assume the worst. |