Maturi salary too high

Last week Joel Maturi, the University of Minnesota’s athletics director, announced his departure from the athletics department come June 30, ending continued speculation on the matter.

While Maturi’s retirement was widely expected, his newly formed role as special assistant to University President Eric Kaler was not. This new role comes complete with a “golden parachute” of sorts as Maturi retains his compensation package of a $345,000 salary for another year plus additional retirement benefits.

Regardless of one’s opinion of Maturi’s tenure as the University’s athletics director, this newly formed position and compensation package is a slap in the face to every student struggling to pay increasing tuition and every department stretched thin by continued budget cutting.

Though the University claims that Maturi’s ongoing compensation package comes from endowment funds and not tax-payer dollars, this money could be spent better on scholarships and other priorities.

With golden parachutes often thought to be the exclusive domain of the corporate world, the departure of Maturi demonstrates the need for reform of administration in the public sector as well.

From buyouts of the likes of former Gopher football coach Tim Brewster to ongoing lawsuits involving personnel, the University has lost sight of what matters most: providing an affordable, quality education in service to the state of Minnesota.

Maturi’s compensation package demonstrates a lack of fiscal discipline and raises doubts concerning the University’s commitment to the success of its students. As such, students, alumni and legislators alike are correct to take notice.