Some students are grumbling about Chancellor Randy Woodson’s new $63,000 raise (and one-time retention bonus of $112,630 paid by N.C. State University, and $50,000 per year retirement plan). But Chancellor Woodson is an honorable man, and so, I’m untroubled.
Last Monday, Technician published an editorial urging Chancellor Woodson to voluntarily give 10 percent of his salary to financial assistance for students. As of that editorial being written, Woodson’s annual salary was just $432,000. 10 percent of that would have been $43,200, enough to pay in-state tuition for 15 undergraduates. But 10 percent of his new salary, $495,000, will be $49,500, enough to pay in-state tuition for 17 undergraduates.
Without the $49,500, Woodson’s new salary would be $445,500, still $13,000 more than his original salary -— a 3 percent increase. Compare that to the recurring 1.2 percent raise that all state employees and teachers will receive. Of course, there’s no reason to assume that the Chancellor should be held to the same standard as ordinary state employees, but still, if he thinks he should be, perhaps he should consider forgoing even more, now that he has more. How about giving 15 percent of his salary to student financial aid? If he did that, he’d be able to pay in-state undergraduate tuition for 25 undergraduates! Imagine that. Twenty-five people just like you and me and Woodson going to college who wouldn’t be able to otherwise. And if he did that, Woodson’s annual salary would be $420,750, still $31,950 more than he would have been left with, were he to have given up 10 percent of his salary before the raise.
Of course, one might come up with the irreverent argument that no chancellor is as important as the 39 potential disadvantaged undergraduates who could have their in-state tuition paid with the $112,630 “retention payment” we’re giving him. But the University of Florida is reportedly out to get him as its new president, and we need him to stay. Otherwise, he’d go away to Florida, without being able to get $50,000 every year in retirement benefits that would make it easier for him to go to Florida after retiring. And what would we do with that $50,000 every year? Help out people with their education? Are we a university that just gives hand-outs to people?
The UNC Board of Governors has for once pleased me beyond measure. By bestowing Chancellor Woodson with bonuses and goodies not in the cards for other university employees, it has done the students a great service. Now, we’ll be able to see our chancellor give 15 percent of his annual salary, amounting to $74,250, for the good of students. It’s not like they would have used the money that’s gone to Woodson for something as hideously socialist as financial aid, anyway. But by giving it to Woodson, who no doubt deserves a 14.6 percent pay raise of $63,000 more than faculty and staff do, with their abundant annual salaries which could actually be as high as the raise he got, the Governors are promoting the good doctrine of trickle-down economics.
Sreason he won’t only a selfish person wouldn’t. Some may call me ambitious, but Chancellor Woodson is an honorable man.
