This story about the winners of a $162MM lottery jackpot neatly illustrates why karma cannot possibly exist.

No, let me be clear: I also think CUNY is a pretty lousy school. I wasn't sure how lousy, but then I looked up the graduation rates just now. Could I be reading this wrong, or is the total graduation rate across the schools only about 25% of cohort after 6 years? http://owl.cuny.edu:7778/portal/page/portal/oira/CURRENT_CUNY_DATA_BOOK_RET_GRAD_INSTITU

With stats like that, I'm glad we're paying for the best administrator we can get! God only knows what'd happen if we had someone worse.

Why didn't you click on REPLY like we hoi polloi do?

Alas, due to it's "politically correct" open admissions policy, grad statistics are bad across the board. But the well-regarded programs (which do have admissions requirements) have numbers on par with any good school.

Really? Where is the link which proves your point?

You can take it like this: I think it's unconscionable that any public officials make this much money, especially given the fiscal situation the state is facing. And you can bet that CUNY students will be the ones paying for this— either in higher fees or in worse services.

Sure, you can try and argue that this is what all school presidents make— but that's only true because the private schools rip off their students even more than the public schools do. Are you telling me we can't find a perfectly qualified administrator to do this job for $200K (that's the mayor's official salary)?

When you hire a college president, all you're paying those hundreds of thousands of dollars for is for them to go to fancy resort conferences where they compare compensation packages with their peers and for them to clog fax machines with their resumes when they get home...oh, and there's always the fundraising coctail parties and dinners. Every school in america is nothing but a gilded trough for these pigs.

If you object to Chancellor Goldstein's salary and that of other administrators, say so. But don't denigrate the education that CUNY provides in the process of objecting. Prior comment unchanged: you've insulted CUNY students, faculty and staff.

I disagree. Granted because its subsidized via our taxes, CUNY is a great value for the money..... While that may the most important thing in a college, the rest of CUNY could be improved alot. I went to CUNY schools for over a decade. The administration nearly drove me to suicide. the tenured professors were spoiled brats The adjuncts which were everywhere were little more than students themselves. I'm getting palpatations just remembering it now.

Goldstein shouldnt make 500K. Just because corporate america has become corrupt is no reason cuny should follow suit. its a bs salary. What are his skills? he hob nobs with rich people. give a speech here and there and surfs the internet, like the rest of us. these sky high salaries are a scam amonst the elities, as they share in the profits of shipping jobs overseas and raising taxes. its bullshit.

Agreed. CUNY is an amazing school, and that salary is peanuts compared to private universities' presidents. In addition to being a "administrator" he is responsible for fundraising and attracting world-class scholarly talent. Your sarcasm is poorly written, and your ingnorance of the subject matter is unacceptable.

Might I suggest some coursework in one of CUNY's fine remedial ed programs?

From the 11/09/09 Harvard Crimson:

"Overall, presidents of major private research universities made a median salary of $627,750, according to a survey released last week by the Chronicle of Higher Education...During the 2008 fiscal year, [Drew]Faust (President of Harvard) received $693,739 in cash and benefits."

It's almost laughable that you "suggest some coursework in one of CUNY's fine remedial ed programs." In reality, very few colleges need remedial programs for their incoming students. Unfortunately that is not the case with CUNY which requires remedial programs because so many of their students arrive ill-prepared to perform at a college level.

(SUNY is an entirely different matter because a very good education can be acquired in the SUNY system.)

Jake:

Re: CUNY President's salary

You wrote: "It's justified because CUNY is such a great school!"

I'm not sure how to read your remark. If it is sarcastic, you owe an apology to 200,000+ CUNY students, faculty, staff and administrators at more than 20 different CUNY colleges, universities, graduate schools, professional schools and institutes. CUNY provides a world-class education to people from all walks of life, including low-income individuals, immigrants from around the world, veterans and older, returning students.

Your remark is simply out of line.

"Things you shouldn't flush down the toilet in Williamsburg: mops, cloths, pampers, clothing, *whips*..."

I believe that should read wipes, not whips. But it's interesting that "whips" was what you thought you saw. Is there a special reason as to why whips are on your mind?

The actual sign (photo on New York Shitty) says "WHIPES"

Ever try to pull a whip out of the plumbing? I learned after my third time.

I feel your pain.

Good luck to Jason Alexander as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. He's following in the footsteps of Monica and Kirstie. I hope he has better luck.

The head of CUNY will now be paid $580,000 per year. It's justified because CUNY is such a great school!