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PrintAs a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, I was, to say the least, shocked at the financial data recently released on the university's Internal Revenue Service Form 990. Under the state's right-to-know law, Pennsylvania's four state-related universities must release to the state and post on the universities' Web site this form and a list of its 25 highest-salaried employees. Among other things, Pitt's form reveals that the annual compensation for the men's basketball coach was $937,600.
I don't take issue with this, but I do strongly object to the fact that our wonderful and talented and successful women's basketball coach, Agnus Berenato, is paid one-third of the amount paid to men's coach Jamie Dixon. This is intolerable and should be addressed as soon as possible!
Other expenditures that rankle me are the compensation paid to Pitt attorneys and investment advisers. It is not the amount -- the attorneys were paid $5,031,302 and two investment advisers were paid a total of $1,967,601 -- but the attorneys' home office is in Philadelphia and the investment firms are based in Boston, Mass., and London, England. It is difficult for me to understand why Pitt could not support local firms to handle these assignments. We certainly have an abundance of well-qualified firms in Pittsburgh.
JOHN T. BRADY
Oakmont
Quiet the choppers
I realize there are a lot more important things in need of fixing, but purposely loud motorcycles are particularly annoying.
I was told in an auto inspection that I needed a muffler, and I had to replace it even though it didn't even have a hole in it. But "choppers" have no mufflers, only what racers call "header pipes." They are much louder than most motorcycles.
I asked a policeman about this, and he said: "Motorcycles don't need mufflers." What?
I asked the state police and was told they didn't have decibel meters to enforce noise limits. What?
Are there no noise ordinances that apply to choppers? I have written my legislators with little satisfaction.
Why do we citizens have to put up with excessive noise from this annoying group? I know one justification involves making a lot of noise so other drivers notice them, but then why are Japanese, German, Italian and stock Harley bikes so quiet?
There are noise laws. Someone should start enforcing them.
LARRY OSWALD
Sewickley
No more tests
Gov. Ed Rendell blames teachers for his failure to convince the state Senate to spend money on keystone exams ("Pa. Senate Approves Legislation to Prohibit High School Exit Exams," June 11). Despite a 48-1 bipartisan vote, he referred to "rough tough Republicans" caving in to the "unions." Perhaps it is Mr. Rendell who is making a "mockery" of Pennsylvania's professional teachers who dedicate themselves to doing what's best for students.
"Ensuring that all young people graduate with a diploma that signals readiness for college and a changing workforce," as state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak says, is a complex social endeavor that would only be made more difficult by wasting money and time on more tests. Fortunately, the state said yesterday it would stop development of the exams.
What is needed is "personalized rigor" (including remedial coursework) for all students K-12. Let's acknowledge the specific learning needs for each student and utilize the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment data to actually do something about annual yearly progress as early as third grade.
Colleges and businesses might help by partnering with individual school districts to advise on curriculum through mentoring programs that help students explore their unique interests and overcome achievement obstacles. This is best done through relationships with people, not tests!
Local control is the best way to accomplish this, and classroom teachers are our best resource. Perhaps this is an approach that will ensure that teachers teach, students learn and taxpayer money gets spent wisely!
THERESE DAWSON
Pine
The writer is a member of the Pine-Richland School Board and its legislative liaison to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
Truly 'universal'?
I won't buy into universal health care for two reasons.
One: the "buy it tonight or else" attitude of the Obama administration -- sounds like the pitch of a not-so-honest door-to-door salesman.
Two: "universal"? Will it really be universal? Bill Clinton liked to expertly parse words. I would agree with him if he asked this question now. What is the definition of universal in this case? Does it mean all and/or everyone who is a legal resident of the United States?
If the government is to take over health care, shouldn't the president, Congress, etc. get the same care as me (no better/no worse)? Shouldn't they also share the good and the bad, without exception, and not be out of the universal system because of their individual wealth and status?
Dad or Mom are as important to the family unit as any of our elected officials are to this country.
GEORGE E. BISKUP
Irwin
Chained to Obama
Not until listening to the recent national spelling bee did it finally dawn on me: It wasn't "change" that community organizer Barack Obama promised, it was "chains."
He's giving us the chains of unpayable national deficits (see pork and graft) in the name of "stimulus and reconciliation." The chains of intrusive government intervention into private lives and businesses. The chains of nationalized private industry resulting in forced bailouts and White House control of board rooms. The chains of rewarded failure and expanded entitlements producing millions of sympathetic, dependent Democratic voters.
The chains of "empathy"-directed justice and the transfer of bankruptcy proceedings from the courtroom to the White House staff. The chains of stifling energy taxes and automobile standards. The chains of restricted access to American energy. The chains of socialized medicine in the name of health-care reform.
Mr. Obama and the Congress are keeping their promises to give us the chains of socialism/communism. While I don't sense much hope, at least it's clear that Mr. Obama wasn't just blowing smoke when he promised chains -- he just misspelled it.
I should have asked him to use it in a sentence.
JOHN W. NEWHOUSE
Shaler
Leave Palin alone
I've been seeing the coverage of the David Letterman "joke" about Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter. The fact that Mr. Letterman intended it to be directed toward the older daughter doesn't make it any more acceptable. The simple fact is that neither Mrs. Palin's children nor any public figure's children should be the target of his jokes. She is the individual who sought a public role, not her children.
Politics and political humor are callous enough when adults are the targets; we don't need to subject their children to it as well. And by the way, the 2008 presidential election is over. Somebody needs to tell all of the pundits, talk-show hosts and Post-Gazette columnists that Mrs. Palin is old news. Get some new material, for crying out loud.
EITHNE O'MALLEY
Brookline
The rich can buy their way out of jail
For those who don't know, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth recently pleaded guilty to manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to 30 days in jail for the car crash that killed a pedestrian in Miami Beach. He'll likely be able to play football in spite of being under house arrest (which permits one to "work") for the next two years. Part of his arrangement included a "confidential civil settlement" with the family of the 58-year-old dead man!
There is a young man in my family who is serving a minimum of four years in prison after being convicted of the DUI death of a friend. This also involved an accident, and this young man's recorded blood-alcohol level was actually lower than that of Mr. Stallworth.
What are we doing?! Why do we continue to be satisfied with this lopsided criminal justice system?
It is no surprise to anyone, I'm sure, that the rich guy will do 30 days in jail for causing a death. Michael Vick served more time for dog fights. Isn't it just as illegal to kill someone while driving under the influence?!
Think of all the poor young men and women who are serving time for basically being drug addicts! This is just disgusting!
JANIS MCDONALD
Herminie
