A Disgraceful University President

Some enterprising California State University students apparently got hold of the contract that the University Foundation struck with Sarah Palin. The contract reveals Palin's penchant for jets, luxury hotels and the like. What is absolutely disgraceful is the behavior of the University President, who wants to investigate the possibility that some students might have stolen the documents. A University should be open and transparent, and should make public what it offers guests for speaking or for other engagements. The President claimed that the foundation would raise a lot of money by getting Sarah Palin. While that may be correct, the University should practice ethics before teaching it, and raising money by any means possible is dishonest. The University could also raise a lot of money through other shady means. What message does the President intend to send to students by first inviting Ms. Palin, who is unread, and then making her offers that he does not make public- especially when the Institution is publicly funded?

Stanislaus University Palin Contract Stolen, Says School President: "A California university president said Wednesday a portion of a contract between a school foundation and Sarah Palin for an upcoming speech was stolen from a campus administrator's office last week.

California State University, Stanislaus president Hamid Shirvani said the five-page document was taken from a recycling bin inside the office of Susana Gajic-Bruyea, vice president for university advancement."