I am fully aware that all the people I mentioned are not necessarily the people getting raises. I was simply mentioning the names of just a few people I thought to be doing a remarkable job. 

I am fully aware that I am not the only professor who "loves his kids" and was not trying to say so. My intent was to point out that, like many of you, I could be doing something else. Obviously, the difference is, I am always on the market, both academically and commercially and know what my income could be in any situation. For instance… had I gone back to teaching public school in Georgia I would be making fully twice my present salary. In Illinois or Colorado I would make %75 more. In Texas I would be well in to the 6 figures. In publishing (publishers row in Chicago) I would have been in the high six figures. So What? It is not what I love to do. I have a choice; I choose to do this.

What I do not get from you folks is why the complaining only comes in force when you find out someone else is getting paid more. Why does this comparison cause you to suffer? Are you saying that if you were paid more than the others yet your salary were the same you would be happy? This is a thin nail on which to hang your happiness. Comparison leads to suffering (people always have more) and the worse part is that what you think people have is merely illusion. You have no idea what they really do or how their earnings affect their lives. If it matters so much then work to change it all the time instead of alienating the new folks by complaining seasonally. Work to fix it until it is fixed but stop the mass whining. Have a meeting or something, select a rep and approach the powers that be. Just don’t speak for me and quit mentioning that we are underpaid. I know my market value and while I could be making more, UTC and Chattanooga offers intangibles that make us (me and my family) want to stay. Don’t speak for me because no one shackled me to my desk and I have the ability to walk out the door. Perhaps you do not. Perhaps your situation is such that you have little choice. Too bad, why is that UTC’s problem?

I dislike working with many administrators and staff. Not because they can not do their jobs, but because they are so overworked they have little time to devote themselves to my projects. I have no idea how effective they could be if they did not have to wear so many hats. Many of these people are underpaid, I know because I work with them enough to know what they face. These people are here (just like you) all hours of the night. And unlike most of you they actually have to attend university functions (like graduation, pep rallies, Homecoming ceremonies athletic events etc.). Yet you have the audacity to claim you work harder. Maybe you do, maybe you just think you do, but my question is… How do you truly know? 

Short staffed? Who in the public knows? My department has been so short staffed it actually hurts recruiting. We go to high schools trying to recruit students and the first thing we get asked is if our positions have been filled. How many of you know every teacher of your subject in the surrounding 100 miles? How many of them know you? How many know you are understaffed? How many care? They all know and care in our field yet we work to find ways to bring the students in anyway. By the way, how many of you have to go out and find your students or do you just rely on the university to do it for you? If you rely on the university then you, above all others, should be thankful we are investing in leadership.

Sound, creative administration and leadership will solve our major problems a lot faster than hiring an extra professor in each department. When our major problems get resolved the end result will be better than we could have had otherwise. Good professors whither under poor leadership, bad professors do not even notice. Good leaders make good hires and good policies making departments stronger and the university a better place. 

I understand your complaints, and I feel your pain, but I stand with what I said earlier
Too bad.

stuart