Sincerely “Reaching Out”?
I was appalled by the fact that a column addressing “reaching and recruiting under represented students” was authored by CSU Chancellor Charles Reed and appeared as the “Last Word.” Some of Chancellor Reed’s actions make one question the “real” commitment to reaching out to and recruiting underrepresented minorities. It has been documented recently that a number of high-ranking officials in the Chancellor’s office have received “golden parachute” payments in excess of $100,000, for at least one year after leaving their positions, despite taking high-paying jobs elsewhere.
Additionally, recent raises have been granted to CSU administrators and presidents that have far exceeded those granted to faculty and staff. Although similar occurrences have been reported in other systems, these actions have occurred at a time when the tuition for the students in CSU has risen 75 percent over the past three years! It has been documented that the cost of education is one of the most significant barriers facing students, particularly those from underserved and underprivileged groups. So how sincere is this “reaching out”?
— Dr. Thomas Landefeld
Professor of Biology
California State University-Dominguez Hills
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