I feel compelled to add my voice to this discussion, something I have not
done before.
         I find it appalling that in these difficult time anyone in
considering a salary increase as justifiable. If there is such loose cash
available, it should be used, as Ms. Bell and others have argued, to
support the academic programs, which have suffered such severe cuts. If any
salaries are to be raised it should be that of the academic staff, who
sustain the purpose of this University, and have carried the burden of
sacrifice for so long.
         I am confused as to why sacrifice has been so selectively imposed.
Why are there no cuts in Athletics, for example? They are a past-time, not
a professional skill or academic discipline. Why are some of the coaches
paid so exorbitant a salary?  The salary of just one of these coaches would
go far to solve the fiscal problems of the library. Why are the athletic
teams afforded more economic support than any course on campus? The
football team is a constant drain of finances, and far too expensive for
the number of students it actually serves, and of far too little interest
to anyone else. Why is it not scrapped, and it's budget spread across
campus in a manner that would serve far more students, and better support
our academic purpose? and Why should we stop this discussion with football?
         I am also upset, as are many before me today, that a mere
"Administrative Assistant", is deemed worthy of so extravagant a salary.
How will her work contribute to the mission of the University? How many
students will she serve? How many life skills or professional skills  will
she pass on? and Why was she, and so many others in the upper
administration rewarded so handsomely for taking up employment here, when
so many who sustain the life of this University are denied consideration
for market parity?
         So many in this University have been called upon to soldier on in
a spirit of self-sacrifice and dedication to the profession and to our
students. Very personally, I find it difficult to respect those who so
obviously come for more mercenary reasons, and whose work does not
contribute to or support that fundamentally important mission.
         Administration and non-academic programs are the first place to
look to make cuts in a fiscal crisis, so as to protect our educational
mission, but it seems that here those are the only places deemed inviolate.
It is a sad commentary that our administration is so deliberately
self-serving at the same time that the University community is exhorted to
sacrifice. We can ill-afford such selfishness.

Katheryn A. Thompson, PhD
Assistant Professor of Spanish
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Foreign Languages & Literatures
Brock 208D
615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 425-4147




At 11:25 AM 8/29/2003 -0400, Debbie Bell wrote:
>For the first time ever, I'm posting something to RAVEN.  People who know
>me (and they are many because I've been here for 28 years), will know I
>don't take to this public forum lightly, especially with a negative
>tone.  I'm generally optimistic, loyal to my leaders, and believe people
>at the top have the information they need and have earned the right to
>make decisions on our behalf.  And I've trusted them to make good
>ones.  But, even the eternal optimistic in me can't continue with this
>blind acceptance.  The administration in fact makes many bad decisions,
>decisions that affect other people and programs, and they do so without
>consulting with those who can provide useful information.  But, this is
>only one aspect of administrative decision-making that continues to cause
>a free-fall in moral here at UTC.
>
>I was appalled a couple of weeks ago to read about Missy Crutchfield's
>salary.   Though I certainly don't work here for the money and I have no
>delusions that my job is just as "important" as Ms. Crutchfield's, it's
>nevertheless a sharp slap in the face to know I would need a 21% raise to
>make even HALF her salary.  While I'm certain Ms. Crutchfield's duties
>will be extensive and require a great deal of tact and diplomacy, I find
>it difficult to justify a salary that is so far out of line with salaries
>of other exempt staff and find it unconscionable that we think it's
>acceptable to pay $83,900 to one who occupies a "servant role" to the
>Chancellor.
>
>So now the gross inequity of salaries at UTC is brought home again.   In
>our current financial crisis (I remember a top administrator telling us
>we're "on food stamps" and need to "tighten our belts"), it seems we can
>offer raises to administrators because they are making less than "market
>value."  Why should the administration be concerned with market value for
>a few non-academic people because we "load more people up with more
>responsibilities," according to Richard Brown?  Why are we not instead
>looking at our large class sizes and failure to meet our obligations to
>our students by not offering the classes they need and are paying the
>University to provide? And, by the way, let's look at the faculty who are
>loaded up with more responsibilities because of those larger class sizes
>and at how far below market value most of their salaries are.
>
>Unfortunately, this is indicative of the climate here at UTC.  I am
>concerned not so much with my own salary, but that the administration
>continues to send the message that academics takes a back seat to their
>special projects, community agendas and bigger salaries for
>administrators.  I am concerned about the extremely low morale among
>faculty and staff at our University and what seem to be skewed priorities
>of the administration. We have weathered bad times before and these are
>among the worst.  But never has morale been so low.  Somehow our
>obligation to provide a quality, affordable undergraduate education has
>been lost.  I embrace change, "fresh blood," and "new ideas"  (the
>Provost's current buzz words), but only if it makes us better.  But we're
>not better, only struggling to stay afloat.  I'm also all for people
>making more money, but not at the expense of academics; after all, the
>education of our students in our charge and that's where any extra dollars
>we have are most needed.
>
>Debbie Bell
>Assistant Director
>University Honors Program
>University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
>615 McCallie Avenue
>Chattanooga, TN  37403
>(423) 425-4130
>Fax: (423) 425-2128