"Brandeis alumni, students angry over ex-president’s pay" by Todd Wallack | Globe Staff, November 22, 2013
More than 1,000 Brandeis University students, alumni, and others with ties to the school signed a petition this week expressing outrage after learning Jehuda Reinharz received at least $1.2 million for part-time work since stepping down as president at the end of 2010.
The whole pen is honking, 'ey?
Former students and faculty said the payments were particularly irksome because they came at a time when the university was forced to make painful spending cuts because of tight finances, while continuing to raise tuition faster than inflation.
I've already stated it many times, but that is the problem with AmeriKan ejewkhazion these days. It's been taken over at the top and is being run by by money-junkie thieves -- the same problem that is endemic across every AmeriKan institution.
“It’s just a slap in the face,” said Sahar Massachi, 24, who earned two degrees in computer science from Brandeis and started the petition with other alumni. “I have friends who had to drop out of Brandeis because the tuition was so high and professors who were forced to leave Brandeis because of budget cuts.”
And what's worse, it was borrowed money that can't be erased through bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, faculty leaders vowed to register their own concerns to Reinharz and the board of trustees over Reinharz’s pay, perhaps as a letter or series of meetings.
“The faculty is dismayed and frustrated by the size of the payments,” said Eric Chasalow, a music professor and chair of the Faculty Senate, noting that the faculty have been squeezed by budget cuts.
Yeah, yeah. You got tenure? Go somewhere else if you ain't happy, right?
Hasn't it become clear by now that no one listens to teachers?
Reinharz, who was speaking at a school event in New York Wednesday, was not available for comment, but previously said he deserved the money because of his past achievements as president.
Since when do you deserve money for past achievements simply for doing your job? That never happened when I labored at work. I'm not getting any checks sent my way after quitting.
And even if it were true, no consideration for the students, the school, and the greater good? Just you gettin' what youse gots cummin' to yas, huh? I expect that from bankers and pharmaceutical executives and the like, but the school guys? The "educators?"
I'm not saying they should be poor, but.... no good example?
The Waltham college, meanwhile, issued a statement defending the deal, citing Reinharz’s “unparalleled fund-raising record and strong relationships with people and organizations closely tied to Brandeis.” The school said Reinharz has a lengthy list of duties, including helping raise money for the school and advise the new president, Frederick Lawrence.
Oh, $o it always comes down to that, huh? I hope you kids learn that le$$on and get your cut whenever you can.
As the Globe reported Sunday, Reinharz earned more than $622,474 in salary and benefits from Brandeis in 2011, even though he doesn’t teach any classes or run any departments, in addition to $800,000 he earned that year as president of the Mandel Foundation, a longtime Brandeis benefactor.
A little bit of an ince$tuous relationship there, no?
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“It makes me sick to my stomach that students graduated from Brandeis in debt . . . while some of the money they will be paying off over their lifetimes will enrich a former president,” said Ari Rabin-Havt, a Brandeis alum and host of a liberal talk show on SiriusXM RadioProgress 127, who signed the petition.
Don't think all thi$ is not lo$t on the kids, as ignorant and as uniformed as they may be.
In addition, the school now faces a $6.5 million deficit, according to the student newspaper, The Justice.
It's called taking the money and running, kids.
Similarly, just months before signing the deal with Reinharz in 2009, the school said it was facing such dire financial circumstances that it had to temporarily suspend retirement contributions for employees, lay off dozens of staffers, and consider selling some of the art in its campus museum — an idea it later abandoned after a lawsuit and protests.
They got to keep the art, thank God, and Jehuda still got paid!
What are they complaining about?
Despite the bad timing, the faculty senate chief noted that Reinharz also made a huge contribution to the school by raising $1.2 billion during his 16 years as president before stepping down — boosting the endowment and renovating or adding more than two dozen buildings during his tenure.
Then why are they in deficit after service and staff cuts?
Sylvia Barack Fishman, chair of the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department, noted that Reinharz has been a valuable mentor to faculty and students, despite his lack of teaching duties.
Do I even gotta type it anymore?
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The Globe also raised questions about the Mandel Foundation’s federal filings, but the IRS has jurisdiction over errors on federal tax forms. An IRS spokeswoman declined comment.
IRS protecting Mandel?
However, both Massachusetts and the federal government have been increasingly scrutinizing executive compensation at nonprofits.
Yeah, sure.
The IRS found many colleges based executive pay on studies of compensation at other institutions that were not truly similar. In the case of Reinharz, Brandeis trustees relied on a list of what ex-presidents received at 10 other schools, including Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania, both of which are larger and wealthier than Brandeis. The Brandeis list also excluded schools that did not pay their former presidents.
The Massachusetts attorney general, meanwhile, expects to release her own report on pay practices at nonprofits, including colleges, soon.
Related: Martha Coakley sues Framingham career training school
“Large compensation packages do and should raise questions about whether they are truly necessary in order for these organizations to attract and retain the best executive talent,” said Brad Puffer, a spokesman for the attorney general.
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