Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — This article has been modified from its original publication. Larry Hincker did, in fact, return calls for comment.
Politicians’ “bread and circuses” patronage was criticized as a technique of control by the Roman poet Juvenal. On Oct. 12, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger continued to put this adage into practice.
The invitation read: “The Student Government Association is teaming up with President Steger for an amazing opportunity to interact with the President himself. If you are one of the 475 lucky students selected, you will be watching “No Impact Man” and eating free popcorn, courtesy of the President. At the movie’s conclusion, there will be a 15-30 minute Q & A session related to anything Virginia Tech! President Steger really wants to get to know students on a personal level, because he genuinely cares about you and your experience at Virginia Tech!”
After the mediocre documentary had dulled our minds, he answered tepid questions from a few pre-selected students. The first asked, “Do you have office hours to meet with students?” Steger replied, “I am very busy and my handlers usually don’t give me that much time. I am gone about half the time. Each month I have two luncheons, one with undergraduate and one with graduate students.” (I could not write down the exact wording but am paraphrasing accurately.) The student rephrased the question. “Will you consider having office hours?” “I will consider it,” he responded.
Another student asked about sustainability on campus. He replied that there are three initiatives: switching to carbon fluorescent light bulbs, installing energy monitors throughout in campus grid and lawn restoration, where mowed areas are replaced with meadows. The earlier significant greenhouse gas cuts, proposed and supported by an active student and faculty environmental movement, are off the table.
After he generously donated seven minutes of his time to us, no questions were allowed from the floor. It is rather difficult to “get to know students on a personal level” during “a 15-30 minute Q & A session” that lasts less than 10.
So, I approached him afterwards. “The budget is going to be cut by 15 percent next year —”
“That is one of the options being considered,” he interrupted.
“— according to university spokesperson Larry Hincker. By what percent are you going to cut your salary?”
“The Board of Visitors sets my salary,” he said. “There are no plans to cut it.”
“How many times have you flown on a university private plane this semester?” I asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
Leave a comment 10 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
When he lobbies, you do know he is doing that to get more funding from the state so that your tuition is not as high?
Reply to this Top
intrepid pseduojournalism burke. truly inspirational. glad to hear someone like you is on the case.
Reply to this Top
Your disdain for the American system, is equal to that of mine for the human race. Bravo Burke.
Reply to this Top
So somebody showed up to the Q&A session to ask him if he will have some sort of prearranged session where he'll answer student questions? Unreal.
Reply to this Top
Burke had a great idea. Hold a fundraiser to gather money for scholarships and such. Now if he can turn his sarcasm and cynicism into actual actions, he might actually be do something worthwhile.
Reply to this Top
AND so he can keep his extremely high salary. Let's not forget that.
Reply to this Top
and this is why older generations think us so ungrateful...we get a beautiful new seating area outside of squires and this guy has the gall to scoff at it. well done.
Reply to this Top
If at some point the author wishes to be credible, I recommend he comment on facts, not personal conjecture. A 15% budget cut is never equal to an across-the-board 15% workforce salary cut, you do realize a budget funds more than salaries, right?
A second helpful hint would be to limit the use of hyperbole, since I no longer believed the author could present even the most basic fact correctly by the end of the article, much less make a valid point about it.
However, if the author hopes to be the equivalent of Nancy Grace in the field of print journalism, this is a modest, but encouraging, start.
Reply to this Top
Let me ask a question, in any business anywhere who is the first to get their salary cut? Always the lowest duh! Saying CEO's or Presidents should take equal cuts is like saying everyone should draw straws if one person needs to be fired. Well its only fair if the President has an equal chance of getting laid off as the valet attendent isn't it? If one day you own your own business or school or whatever and you have to reduce salary spendature by 15% and you cut your own salary you let me know and i'll pay you the yearly difference of what you cut.
Reply to this Top
Is there really such a thing as a "carbon fluorescent light bulb"? Maybe the author means "compact fluorescent light bulbs," although I doubt that compact flourescents would have a large impact on campus; most rooms probably use more traditional long flourescents.
Reply to this Top