Presidential compensation

Editorial: Weather or not

It snowed a lot this past week, particularly on Wednesday. That day, the College declared a weather emergency—not a snow day—and staff deemed "essential" were asked to report to work, keeping students from being left out in the cold. In the midst of the storm, countless facilities staff were out clearing sidewalks and driveways in order to ensure that students could get to and from their classes. Without their efforts, the College would have come to a halt and many would have been stranded in their rooms.

Editorial: Making room

With the housing lottery quickly approaching, students have begun eyeing their favorite housing options for the next academic year, and most of those who plan to live off-campus have already signed leases. Bowdoin has, comparably, some of the best student housing around. Tour guides tout our cushy facilities all the time—but how long until a tour guide has to open the door to a first year quint? Slowly, more and more of our spacious rooms seem to be getting a little crowded.

Editorial

This piece represents the opinion of The Bowdoin Orient editorial board.

February 4, 2011

When every day seemingly brings headlines of record compensation for the top executives of America's nonprofits and companies, it is refreshing to see President Barry Mills exercise restraint. With a record as impressive as his, there is little question he could be among the highest-compensated liberal arts college presidents in the country if he so wished. Yet year after year, Mills has made it clear to the Board of Trustees that money is not his prerogative, turning away hundreds of thousands of dollars.

There are numerous college presidents who, despite being independently wealthy, are motivated by reasons of prestige and politics to claim salaries at the top of the market .By accepting a relatively low compensation package, Mills has shown he keeps Bowdoin's best interests at heart. Over the past several years much has been said about our tenuous financial situation, but Mills' actions have lightened the burden on the College's finances.

On top of all this, being paid less actually improves Mills' ability to do his job. An alumnus considering a donation is far more likely to give if he can be assured his hard-earned pay is not falling into the lap of an already-wealthy executive.

Most leaders in higher education seem to have forgotten that their institutions are endowed for the public good, and that they are rendering a public service. We do not expect the presidents of other NESCAC schools to display quite the same strength of character, but following Mills' example would lend much-needed credibility to their institutions, which have frequently been criticized for being inaccessible to low-income and middle class families.

The collegiate, nonprofit atmosphere should not be one for egos. The example Mills has set is bold and profound.

The editorial represents the majority view of the Bowdoin Orient's editorial board, which comprises Nick Daniels, Piper Grosswendt, Linda Kinstler and Seth Walder.

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