Spanier Continues To Justify Moves

President Spanier released a video and message explaining the cost-cutting moves. (This type of obsessive reaction seems to be based on a genuine fear of the backlash this is generating.)

There seems to be some good news for Penn State staff:

• No job cuts, per se. (For the time being.)



• No cut in retirement funding.



• No hike in parking fees. (The current costs are unfair already.)



• No hike in health care costs. (Nationwide, the costs are moderating.)
  

How long will these last? As long as we are cut off from these discussions, as long as staff continue to make themselves subservient to leadership whims, these could be cut at any time.

Here's the video. I'd like to hear some comments.

The Parking Prediction

Penn State employees pay to park.
And it's not for convenience.
In the University's push to create a pedestrian campus, they forgot to create the necessary spaces on the edges of campus that would make the walk to work more convenient. So, most parking is slapped at the edge--the very hinterland--of campus, near the Bryce Jordan Center. Or, workers can brave the suicidal traffic in one of the parking decks.
For this, staff members pay over $400 a year. Recently, when Penn State raised salaries a paltry 2 percent, they yanked up parking fees over 10 percent.
There's no employer in the region that forces their employees to pay these types of exorbitant rates.
Parking has become a source of revenue for the University.
There are already rumors that parking fees will go up and some lots that were free will now require permits.
Why should we be surprised?

Happy Holidays From Penn State

I'm glad the administration has some spare money to produce a video Holiday greeting card.



Next year, maybe they can raise our parking fees and produce a full-length video greetings.
I wish I could get paid for every time I hear bumbling inanities in the office. "Make an Impact." "Throw a Fish." "Do more."