Special Edition USA v. Troy “The battle of I-65”
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THE
VOL. 51, NO. 9
“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”
SEPT. 24, 2012
INSIDE
Troy rivalry built on more than sports By STUART SOX CASSIE FAMBRO |EDITOR
sgsox@att.net
Next game: Troy ►Guns on campus? See the point counterpoint on this hotly-debated issue. See Opinion, page 19.
Moulton fifth on salary list, celebrates 46 years at USA
► DeLuna Fest happened
this weekend and we had a reporter on the ground. See what the hype is about. See Life, page 23
By JAYSON CURRY jayson-curry@hotmail.com
► Joel Erdmann has something to say about the Troy rivalry, too, and it’s important to him. See Left of Center, page 8
SouthPaw statue: Keep an eye on alumni circle this weekend
Fambro | EIC
I
n May of this year, the Chronicle of Higher Education came out with an article featuring the salaries of public university presidents. One of the presidents towards the top of the list was South Alabama’s Gordon Moulton. The Chronicle ranked the presidents on multiple levels but when it came to the final ranking of salary ratio of presidents to professors, Moulton was 5th in the country behind only Ohio State, Kentucky, Penn State and Auburn. Moulton was reported to have made $570,027 in total compensation from USA when professors averaged $112,800 at a ratio of 5:1. “Salary data for University presidents nationwide is gathered by the College and University Professionals Association for Human Resources. The CUPA-HR reports thats the average salary for presidents with similar sized budget to USA is $400,000. Moulton’s comparable salary at the time of the last survey was $470,000 which doesn’t
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include housing and car allowances,” University of South Alabama Director of Public Relations Keith Ayers said. According to Ayers, Moulton’s current salary is $481,778 which reflects the 2.5 percent increase given Oct.1, 2011 to University employees covered by the Retirement System of Alabama. Moulton’s salary is set after the Board of Trustees has a presidential review which happens once every five years. “The salary is based on competitive salaries at peer institutions, performance in the position, years of service, availability of funds and other factors,” Ayers added. “The board recently finished one and submitted it. Quite frankly, they’re probably kinder and more generous than I probably deserve. The process, no, it’s not nervewracking. It’s very positive. In some ways, the evaluation of a president is more like an evaluation of an institution. They look so much at direction, what’s happening and what’s changed or hasn’t changed in an institution and in turn, that gets reflected on the president,” Moulton said.
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Another interesting factor of Moulton’s salary is his length of employment at USA. Moulton was actually hired at USA before the first class graduated from the University. Moulton admits he has never missed a graduation ceremony at South Alabama since the first ceremony in 1967. “To me, twice a year at commencement, to see the looks on the kids and on families faces – still a lot of first generation kids – that’s the most satisfying thing. Lots of other things. Also to see great employees come here and do a super job and be successful. That’s the thing that makes me want to come back,” Moulton said. That means Moulton has been an employee at South Alabama for 46 years, 14 of which he has been president. Under the current pension program in the state of Alabama, an employee makes just over two percent of their salary, giving Moulton roughly 92 percent of his current salary if he were to retire this year. Based on the math, Moulton could actually make more money if he were to retire rather than con-
See MOULTON Page 4
A
s the University of South Alabama has grown in size and prominence as a result of success in athletics, rivalries with other schools have naturally increased. USA has a significant rivalry with neighboring Sunbelt school Troy University, the Jaguar’s opponent at this weekend’s game at Ladd Stadium. USA’s rivalry with the Trojans stems primarily from the schools’ proximity and that fact that they are two of the most competitive universities in the Sunbelt Conference. The rivalry began with basketball and baseball but has flourished with the formation of South Alabama’s football team. This contention has been magnified even more in light of recent events. Most, if not all, students are aware of Troy’s head football coach Larry Blakeney’s colorful choice of words when asked earlier this summer what he thought of South Alabama’s recruiting methods. “I think it’s bullcrap myself,” Blakeney commented according to an article by Adam Sparks of The Tennessean. Blakeney’s words have added an extra sense of anticipation to Saturday’s game. “I think Coach Blakeney’s words will definitely add more tension to Saturday’s game,” said James Coley, a sophomore and Pre-Med Psychology major. “This will be a great chance for See RIVALRY, Page 6
In this Issue: Life, Page 21 Sports, Page 9 Opinion, Page 18