Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
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Ross’ transition report was released by CMU; find out its contents under News
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Administrators say salaries rise to stay competitive '(3 7+
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Comparing pay ‘not apples to apples,’ Burdette says By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
Despite recent media attention for administrative pay increases, CMU administrators say they are just staying competitive in the job market. While administrative pay has seen an increase since 2005 at CMU, comparing the salary of former University President Michael Rao to University President George Ross is not fair, said David Burdette, vice president of Finance and
Administrative Services. “It’s not apples to apples,” he said. Reportedly, Rao’s base salary was $232,760 in 2005. Ross’ base salary as president in 2010 was $350,000 — a 50percent increase. Rao’s salary when he left CMU in 2009 was $302,557. When Ross was previously employed in 2005 by the university in Burdette’s position, he made $159,529, as previ-
ously reported. In 2009, Burdette earned $209,090 — a 31 percent increase, according to the 2009 faculty salary list. Thomas Storch, previous university provost, had a base salary of $164,430, according to previous reports. As interim provost, Gary Shapiro, earned $177,391, according to the faculty salary list. When he was promoted to provost in 2010, his salary became $253,000 — a 43 percent increase, as reported by CM Life. With turnover, Burdette said the initial offer to a new employee needs to remain competitive, and the requirements for the position may A in-depth | 2A
Faculty pay jumps with bargaining agreements
partment chairman, earned $162,213 in 2005. In 2009, Kintzele’s salary increased 23.5 percent to $200,317, according to the 2009 faculty salary list. Kintzele was among the university’s top five earners in 2005. Kintzele said professor merit salary adjustments are worked into faculty contracts. Professor merit salary adjustments are comparable to being repromoted, he said, without getting a new title. Faculty members receiving the merit adjustments may earn up to $7,000. “When you see any professor, when anybody has gone up more than about 12 percent or 13 percent it was because they got that professor merit
By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
Though much has been made of rising administrative pay in Michigan public universities, faculty in high-demand areas have also seen growing pay checks. Faculty salaries increase with annual bargaining agreements, said Robert Martin, associate vice provost of Faculty and Personnel Services. For example, Philip Kintzele, professor and accounting de-
increase,” Kintzele said. Other high-earning faculty members in 2009 included accounting professors Thomas Weirich, who earned $200,537 and William Hood, who earned $198,249; and market and hospitality services professors J. Holton Wilson, who earned $183,370; and Robert Miller who earned $180,572. Martin said CMU looks for the best possible faculty or staff members it can attract. “We’re ... looking at national data (from the College and University Personnel Association) ... and the combination of salary plus the benefit package compensation is going to be as
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R a l ly T o d ay
CMU, adjunct union reaches tentative agreement By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
make this dream a reality.” Presutti said for her trip to be possible, she needs to travel with two people for physical assistance. In addition, she had to do a lot of extra research about where she would live and how she was going to get there. “While most students are concerned about the language, food and other cultural differences, those were the least of my worries,” she said. “My main priority
CMU has reached a tentative agreement with the Union of Teaching Faculty Tuesday after months of protests and demonstrations. UTF represents 340 adjunct faculty members. The tentative agreement, if ratified, will be good for four years. Jim Eikrem, assistant communication and dramatic arts professor and interim president of UTF, said the next step in negotiations is for UTF members to ratify the agreement. “We can expect it to ratify,” he said. Steve Smith, director of public relations, declined further comment on the issue. Dan Kukuk, campaign coordinator for the American Federation of Teachers Michigan, said the agreement provides more job security and gives wage increases to UTF members. “It puts more money in the pockets of those who are making the least amount,” he said. “Those who are making the least will see the highest percentage increase.” “Lecturers,” which adjunct faculty will be referred to in the future according to the tentative contracts, are eligible for multi-year appointments following four years on campus and a performance review. Lecturers on campus for five or more years will see multiyear contracts as well, Kukuk said. “It does not solve everything,” he said. “We did not get everything we wanted, there’s a lot of room for improvements ... it’s a very good deal, something all of our members can be proud of. It’s a step in the right direction. It’s the starting line, not the finish line.” The group will meet next Thursday at 2 p.m. to discuss the provisions of the contract. The UTF will release more information at a scheduled rally Wednesday at Warriner Mall. Eikrem said the agreement was reached Monday evening by the university and UTF. He said he feels good about the “big step forward” the group has taken, but would have liked to see a bigger increase
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paige calamari/staff photographer
Milford freshman Lauren Presutti, who is the first CMU student in a wheelchair to study abroad, will be traveling to Perth, Australia this summer. “It’s something I never expected to be able to do,” Presutti said. “I can inspire others to reach their goals as well.”
able for adventure By Jessica Fecteau Staff Reporter
After countless hours of preparation to become the first CMU student in a powered wheelchair to study abroad, Lauren Presutti is ready for lift off. When the Milford freshman first moved two hours from her home and started life on her own in Mount Pleasant, she said living independently was a huge change because of the physical challenges and difficult situations that arose.
But now, Presutti is moving across the world to Australia for the summer as part of her study abroad experience. “In early October ... Honors (Program) Director Phame Camarena, devoted an entire two-hour class period to the importance of studying abroad,” Presutti said. “For me, it was personally one of the worst feelings I had that semester because I knew that pursuing an opportunity like this would be a very long, challenging process and I didn’t know if I was ready to
take that on.” Presutti said it was Camarena who encouraged her enough to pursue the study abroad adventure. “The University Honors Program is committed to promoting global citizenship for all of our students to plan for some kind of study abroad experience during their years at CMU,” Camarena said. “While other students find excuses for why they cannot study abroad, Lauren had to work through very real and practical challenges to
Former con famous from film reflects on life Frank Abagnale thankful crimes not glorified By Mike Nichols Senior Reporter
Frank Abagnale became a con man at 16 years old, and told his life story to about 400 CMU students on Monday night. Abagnale’s adventures began when he stole $2.5 million before the age of 21 making his name a criminal legend. He received worldwide fame in 2002 when
Steven Spielberg turned Abagnale’s autobiography, “Catch Me If You Can,” into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. But when he addressed students in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium, the reformed convict said he was thankful Spielberg did not glorify his crimes. Instead, Abagnale told the story of the guilt of his past he has carried with him. “Though I know people are fascinated by what I did as a teenage boy, I look back on what I did as immoral, illegal, unethical and a burden I live with every day of my life and will until
my death,” he said. “I was very fortunate to have been born in a country where everyone is given a second chance.” As lecture chairman of Program Board, Lincoln Park senior Paul Sullivan was responsible for bringing Abagnale to CMU. He hoped it would be an event students would care about due to the popularity of the movie. “‘Catch Me If You Can’ just catches your eye,” Sullivan said. “I wanted to bring him because it’s such an interesting story.” Abagnale said his actions began as a reaction to his parents’
For more ... An in-depth interview with Abagnale at youtube.com/cmlifevideo divorce. When he was asked to choose which parent he would go with, Abagnale ran away from home. From 1964 to 1969 Abagnale survived by impersonating an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer among other professions as a way to cash expertly forged checks. Eventually he was caught and A abagnale | 5A
perry fish/staff photographer
Infamous con artist Frank Abagnale speaks about his life and the importance of family to a full crowd Monday evening in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. Abagnale’s criminal record and acts of forgery were the inspiration for the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” “The law sometimes sleeps, but the law never dies,” Abagnale said.
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