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* This is just ridiculous…

After drawing fire in 2003 for using chartered airplanes to travel to and from meetings, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees has curbed private flights and cut back on travel expenses.

But some trustees have taken up the expensive habit of being chauffeured to and from university-related events.

* The News Gazette looked at chauffeured limo costs for a few different meetings. Here’s just one of them, from March 13 of this year…

The university paid Premier Limo $3,767 to chauffeur four separate trustees in four separate cars from the Chicago area to Urbana, where the meeting was held in the Illini Union, and back again. Trustee Robert Sperling’s bill: $1,002. Trustee Niranjan Shah’s bill: $942. Trustee James Montgomery’s bill: $940. Trustee Frances Carroll’s bill: $882.

Another $3,200 or so was spent on driving the trustees around campus, including to and from the Illini Union to the President’s House on Florida Avenue. That amount was paid to the Urbana campus’ motor pool for the use of the cars and the drivers’ time.

* All told, the trustees have racked up over $14,000 in limo expenses this year alone. Here’s the university’s response…

“There is no big spending or excessive spending by the board of trustees when it comes to travel,” UI spokesman Tom Hardy said. “What you have is a handful of trustees who for personal or professional reasons a car service represents a safe, efficient mode of transportation to carry out their volunteer, uncompensated role as trustees, as policymakers and stewards of the University of Illinois.”

Trustees are not being driven around in limos, Shah said. They’re four-door sedans, such as Lincoln Town Cars.

LOL. These guys are something else.

Go read the whole thing. It’s even worse than this post suggests.

…Adding… From the story…

[Board secretary Michele Thompson] said she has ridden Amtrak between Chicago and Champaign, but the trains are not always on time. Trains also do not leave Chicago early enough to deliver trustees to meetings in Urbana that start at about 9 a.m.

Try Greyhound, Ms. Thompson. They have a bus leaving every morning at 6:15, arriving at 9:10. Perhaps the board of trustees can push back the meeting starts by a few minutes.

…Adding more… From Premier Limo’s website…

We adhere to the strictest attention to privacy, promptness, quality, courtesy and above all luxury.

[Emphasis added]

And how does the company describe what the university claims are just “four-door sedans”?

Luxury Sedans

Photos from the site…

…And another addition… Gov. Blagojevich made a big deal out of the chartered flights when he first took office…

He also cited several examples of “wasteful spending” that showed “an utter lack of accountability,” such as… a trustee’s chartered flight from Chicago to Urbana that could pay a full year’s tuition at the University of Illinois.

The chauffered limos are now on his watch. We’ll have to wait and see how he justifies this.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 11:57 am

Comments

Who do they think they are, Blago? Perhaps they should be trustees at Governor’s State

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 11:59 am
I’m glad Chief Illiniwek didn’t live to see this.

– SCAM

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:01 pm
Is this surprising?

The majority of them were appointed by Blago with divine approval from Jones.

Comment by uiucleader Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:10 pm
Heh. Ms. Thompson is probably too good for Greyhound. Probably don’t want to be seen as one of those bus people. Greyhound is a step down or at least that’s how most people with money sees it.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:10 pm
We should be “proud” to have such Royalty in Illinois. Where are the paparazzi? Higher Education where waste has its own definition - not the one most of us know.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:18 pm
1.3 miles from Illini Union to Presidents’ house on Florida, shorter if you walk across the grass. Surprised that the Illinois State Police isn’t used to fetch these people and drive them around campus… oh wait, they’re busy guarding and flying the Governor around until they get laid off. Silly me.

Comment by North of I-80 Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:20 pm
As an alumnus, I am willing to let this slide, so long as the football team continues to improve.

Comment by Fire Ron Guenther Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:27 pm
That’s going to make it hard to cry poor in the next budget hearing.

Comment by Truth Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:27 pm
the 4 trustees mentioned above are all Blago appointees. No coincidence there!

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:28 pm
Take the train at night and stay at a hotel…it would still be substantially more affordable.

Comment by the wonderboy Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:29 pm
Good grief, those Trustees are acting as though they were state employees — you know, the ones who have to have their cars parked (at taxpayer expense)near the Thompson Center in order to drive to Springfield or meetings of any sort or else have to fly to Springfield. I’d love to see a government-wide policy that all state employees have to use Amtrak between Chicago and Springfield (and Champaign). No more mileage reimbursements, no more state planes or commercial flights. And a captive audience of fellow riders so elected officials can work the crowd.

Comment by jaundiced eye Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:35 pm
Do they not have to follow the State Travel Rules? It is a Board.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:36 pm
They could take the train down the night before (50), stay in the Drury Inn for (70) and still make a 9 am meeting for less then 150 bucks.

This is absurd that these guys claim the lack of pay as justification. This is a presitious appointment that they are milking. There is no shortage of folks who would be willing to serve as trustees for U of I and drive themselves or take the train. ALSO I notice there are no Springfield, Decatur, or Peoria trustees? The vast Majority are from the Chicago Area, not from the communities in the central part of the State which are nearby the University? That is also ridiculous.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:46 pm
This really bothers me. I am a UIS alum, a taxpayer, a soon-to-be-father who will cry when my first born goes to school (out of the cost, not sadness) and a guy whose younger brother currently goes to UIS. Tuition has gone through the roof at most state schools and there is no end in sight. Yet these goofballs thumb their collective noses at the taxpayers, current state school students and alumni as they ride in their Junior Soprano Lincolns and fly private jets.

Now is the time for the GA to take real action on abuses that occur in Illinois’ public university system. I know they won’t do that, but if this is to ever stop, real (read: meaningful) legislation must be enacted.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:47 pm
As a graduate student at the Univ. of Ill. at Springfield, this behavior sickens me. These trustees vote to raise our tuition and, thus, seriously leave the next generation in debt, but then they bill us again for their luxury rides. Toss the pompous bums out!

Comment by Mike Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 12:54 pm
Okay, let’s look at the positive.

According to the News-Gazette, the following trustees either claimed nothing (and, hence, PERSONALLY paid their expenses) or claimed out of pocket only: Trustee Devon Bruce, Chicago: None;
Trustee David Dorris, LeRoy: None; Board Chairman Lawrence Eppley, Palatine: None; Trustee Kenneth Schmidt, Riverwoods: None; Trustee Robert Vickrey, LaSalle/Peru: $127.36; student trustee Sarah Doyle: $51.80.

Give all these folks some sort of “Weekly Kudos” award. I, for one, salute them. No unpaid public official anywhere — ANYWHERE — should have to eat their expenses.

And as for the limo crowd, well — shame, shame, shame.

I take Amtrak to both Springfield and Urbana. Nooooooo problems. Fare as cheap as seventeen bucks if one reserves far enough ahead. (And yes, Rich, you’re right: start the meetings later.)

And I’ve used the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District buses — by far the best little transit system in the country. Full retail price: buck a ride. Hey, trustees, ride the buses your students use. Just for grins.

In summary — denigrate the limo crowd. Yessir. Spot on.

But also raise up as exemplary the devoted public service of volunteers who won’t even so much as put in for mileage.

Comment by Dooley Dudright Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:00 pm
A Lincoln Town Car is a limo. Dolt!

Comment by m Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:10 pm
Just another coinky-dink: How many of these Limo rides were to/from the meeting where the Chief vote took place?

Comment by sine die Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:10 pm
On the one hand, it is annoying to see such profligacy in public servants. On the other hand, this is pretty small potatoes in total money wasted.
And, as has been pointed out, some of the trustees have chosen not to put in expense reports and to eat their costs.

As for tuition rising, etc. It’s rising everywhere in every state. Because, until recently, due to the old Mayor Daley, Chicago didn’t have a decent state college, I’ve never really cared much about the state college system one way or the other.

Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:20 pm
Those guys are really dumb. After the scandal several years ago, did they think that the press would never check again? I’m a trustee at another public university in Illinois. We don’t take planes. We don’t take limos. Most of us don’t even request the mileage allowance for driving ourselves. Plagerizing what I said above…gosh, are those guys dumb.

Comment by Trustee at another University Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:28 pm
They could rent a car for $50 roundtrip. The issue here isn’t the cost, however, it’s the profound disregard for tax dollars. Maybe they could donate the cost of the “sedan” (yeah, and my SUV is now a “crossover”) for mammograms and the Governor would understand their compassion.

Does the state ethics tests apply to university trustees? Maybe they could claim that they were simply following the accepted practice of travel from 1984 and that they will correct their travel plans to be more in line with current practices. That logic seemed to work well at SIU.

Comment by DC Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:31 pm
I wonder if these charges involved a real limo service or did say a friend or family member drive them and they submitted this expense to be reimbursed. It is a joke that this happens when tuition is going through the roof but these are Blago appointees so it is not surprising that wasteful spending is so rampant.

Comment by FED UP Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:43 pm
FU, did you not read any of the linked story?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:46 pm
Pols only do the cost containment stuff during the campaign and for a few months after they are elected. Then they start living it up on the taxpayer dime.

Of course, in Illinois, we’re helping this along.
Since there are hardly any viable Republicans to call them on it, the Dems are likely going to be
pigging out on fancy perks for years, even decades to come. And Illinois’ sheeplike taxpayers will barely take notice.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 1:49 pm
This morning I did a round-trip on CTA and Pace from State and Lake to the Old Orchard Courthouse and back. Grand total: $4.00. (I obviously used a pass for transfers.) Granted, it took 90 minutes each way, but how much less time would I have spent on the Edens with the current construction happening?

And the trip was not completely unpleasant.

My point is, the Trustees know exactly when these meetings are. They can rent any car they want and still be reimbursed. I see no reason for a driver whatsoever unless some disabilty prevents them from driving.

I am all for the comfort of the executive, but there have to be reasonable limits.

No unpaid official wants to be p*mped on every incidental expense like telephone calls from the hotel, or per diem (some agencies do when they want to sandbag you) but U of I trustees being chauffered in a Lincoln Town Car from Chicago is absurd.

What’s next? A motorcade down I-57?

Comment by Unbelievable Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:01 pm
Heh, the governor could critique everybody else but FAIL to look at himself.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:03 pm
U of I gets the lions share of state money, more than all of the other schools combined and this is how they waste taxpayer money. It’s sad to think that some of the money came from the pocket of a parent earning a moderate income or a kid who had to take out a loan to pay the increase in college costs. Shame on who let this happen!

Comment by Good Citizens Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:04 pm
===What’s next? A motorcade down I-57?===

Don’t give them any ideas, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:05 pm
Semi-related: People might not remember that one of the selling points of the Ford Galaxie LTD limousine (65-66)
was the fact that governmental bodies could have a decent, relatively luxurious car for their VIPs without spending twice as much for a Lincoln.

I believe Gov. Kerner had a state Mercury. Gov. Edgar had a Lincoln Town Car. But he was the Governor, not a U of I Trustee.

Comment by So Unbelievable Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:05 pm
Simple solution:

280 miles round trip from Chicago * 42.5 cents/mile = $119 per trip. They can travel however they like, but the limit for reimbursement for those coming down from Chi-town is $119. If they want a limo, they can pay the rest.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:11 pm
Alternative solution:

Pick up a pool car at UICC.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:13 pm
It just occurred to me that there are two versions of the Town Car. One is the basic sedan, the other is the “L” version, which I’ve ridden in before. It’s a longer version. L stands for Limousine. Not sure which one they have, but I’d bet it’s the L.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:18 pm
they could have the DHS Driver take them in the luxury DHS mobile they have.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:20 pm
Set the trustee meeting times to match the AMTRAK times plus one hour, for goodness sake.

BTW, do you mean they could not at least shared a Limo?

Comment by Truthful James Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:33 pm
It’s all explained in the story.

Tom Hardy said that the Higher Ed Travel Rules “don’t prohibit” these plush rides. You know it’s bad when that’s the best a guy like Tom can come up with.

After this, those rules will probably get a do-over.

As far as driving them around campus, the MTD is a fine idea. If they don’t like the bus, one or two of the 15-20 First Principal Senior Associate Deputy Vice Chancellors that fill up the room whenever they have a Board Meeting could shuttle them around.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:34 pm
Now that young Jordan is a walk-on on the basketball team ,maybe Dad could help out the big U and spring for the Limos.

Comment by sine die Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:36 pm
bah your all wrong. We need to bring back transport by cannon. Place some fluffy pillows in champaign and chicago, then just fire the trustees out of a cannon at their destination. Cheap, and can double as an anti terroism tool.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:41 pm
So, sometimes the “inexpensive’ cars turn out to be penny wise, pound foolish. Dan Walker made a big deal out of auctioning off Ogilvie’s Cadillac limo and buying a Chevrolet Caprice- well, they bought the biggest, 454-engined gas hog that was made and bought a fresh one every year. The last one, a ‘76, got 10 mpg on a good day.

The Lincoln Town Cars that Thompson, Edgar, and Ryan (rarely) rode in were part of a Ford-subsidized lease program made available to each State Governor as a courtesy/marketing deal.

Rich, good point on the current Town Cars. The “L” version has about a 12″ stretch in the back seat and is usually sold only to the limo/fleet markets.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:44 pm
Silly actions, but let’s not make too much of it, Every administration has some appointees who do silly things. Let’s see what changes they make before we make too much ado about too little.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:44 pm
Steve, considering the university’s reaction, it’s no longer just the trustees at fault. It’s a mindset.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:45 pm
You’re right Rich. It is the mindset at that place. Arrogance and entitlement.

Comment by Trustee at another University Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:53 pm
Completely and utterly ridiculous. For those who can’t drive themselves, whatever happened to car pooling/ride-sharing?

Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:55 pm
Pot: Nowadays, the agencies/constitutional officers are touchy about pool cars.

For the most part, they require that you spend the out-of-pocket expense of renting a car or using your family vehicle, then submit a voucher for reimbursement.

Which is great, because, as we all know, BP, Mobil, Shell and the others accept vouchers for fuel payments.

And its even better when some lifetime hack who has an axe to grind, fails to submit said voucher to the Comptroller before the annual fiscal year due date, requiring YOU to sue the state in the Court of Claims on a Lapsed Appropriation.

Pool cars are for the “parade people” and other PR flacks.

Milorad, for example, got rid of DOC Legal’s pool cars with as much ease as he got rid of the captains. Notwithstanding the fact that DOC is 30% of all litigation, and necessitates travel between dozens of facilities and courts statewide on a regular basis.

Illinois: Where State Employees have been financing the state’s business (and litigation) since 1818.

Comment by Still So Unbelievable Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:55 pm
What’s the big deal when you pay a guy $1,500,000 to coach football what’s $14,000 for limo’s. Glad there is a budget crisis

Comment by howdy Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:56 pm
University spokesperson Hardy is just another “out to lunch” bureaucrat who has spent too much time outside the real world. If Amtrak doesn’t work for them then maybe the three Chicago Trustees who ride alone could all ride together. Even better, have Hardy or someone else already on the payroll, use one of the many University cars to pick up and deliver the Trustees at very little new cost to the taxpayer. It is true that these costs are but a very small fraction of the University budget but as Everett Dirksen once said, “a million here and a million there and all of the sudden you have a billion”.

Comment by wallace Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 2:58 pm
Rich, I don’t know most of the Trustees, but I have know Vickery and Eppley for some time, and neither of them are is all arrogant. They would make good members of any university’s board. Perhaps some of the others are still on the learrning curve. That’s why I say let’s wait and see what happens next.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:00 pm
Rich no I did not read the link before commenting. I was wrong to just assume that because they are blago appointees that it might be a scam to cheat the state out of more taxpayer money. It is almost as sad that this is just the state way of doing buisness as usual

Comment by FED UP Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:11 pm
Ghost, that was hilarious. You made my day.

It is patently offensive. While the U of I system is telling its students to buck up and take on massive tuition, room, board and fee hikes, its trustees get to ride around in a limo.

The problem, of course, is that it will be tough for the school to be taken seriously the next time it screams for more money. Perhaps someone like a Bill Black will remind them that limo rides aren’t cheap.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:11 pm
“It’s research”, says Ms. Nix. “These sedans are running on a experimental fuel that when made public will be offered free to every driver at no cost to the tax payers.”

Comment by The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:17 pm
Steve Schnorf comes across as an apologist for everything that’s rotten in government.

Comment by chief Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:17 pm
The officials at Chicago State should get together with U of I and have a big ol honkin party.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:18 pm
Re Mr. Schnorf’s last post: if you read the full News-Gazette story, you will notice that Vickrey claimed only about $125 in travel expenses for the March 13 meeting (that jibes pretty well with the IRS rate times round trip mileage from La Salle-Peru to Champaign) and that Eppley didn’t claim anything.

Comment by Lainer Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:27 pm
Actually, the quote was “a million here, a million there and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.”

Hardy is in an unenviable situation. He’s a sharp PR guy who, if I’m not mistaken, was a Deputy Press Secretary for Edgar and Edgar didn’t hire too many mopes unlike the current embarassment.

Rich is right; this is about a culture of entitlement operating within an administration that pledged 5 years ago to end business as usual. Steve Schnorf is also correct, that a Governor cannot know everything an employee does but true leadership and respect comes in how you respond to the situation (or not).

Comment by DC Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:27 pm
And yes, maybe $14,000 is just a drop in the bucket in the ocean of government waste… but it would be enough to pay almost an entire year’s worth of tuition, fees, and housing for one current UIS student.

Comment by Lainer Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:31 pm
Perhaps they should put these Trustee jobs out for competitive bid. Award those with the least cost who meet requirements. Might need to develop requirements other than warm and breathing, and oh yes, campaign contributor.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:47 pm
Rich, maybe you know this, but I thought the U of I trustees used to be elected statewide and, under some higher education governance changes in the mid 90’s, it was changed to be an appointment by the Governor rather than being an elected position.

Comment by DC Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:52 pm
Why not use a conference call and not go to C/U at all?

Comment by Shelbyville Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:52 pm
DC, that was changed under Edgar. A very long time ago.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:53 pm
C’mon Rich — that Champaign bus depot is far from luxurious!

(/snark)

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 3:58 pm
It was changed by Edgar during the two year window when the Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. A raw power grab, given that typically the electorate elected a slight Democratic majority on the Board of Trustees.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:02 pm
That’s what I thought — I did some work for Kustra for about a year or so and vaguely remembered that governance change. Thanks! It does illustrate that the change puts a tremendous responsibility on the Governor to appoint people of integrity to boards and commissions. I guess we should be somewhat happy that at least the U of I Board isn’t in the same shape as other boards and they have the luxury of actually being able to fulfill their charter responsibilities.

Comment by DC Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:04 pm
Perhaps the slight democratic majority was because no one with half a brain knew any of the “chosen” candidates to guide the flagship university. Frankly, I think every board and commission should be appointed by the Governor 0R every one of them should be up for election. It makes sense that a Governor has that right, regardless of whether its a democrat or republican governor.

Comment by DC Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:07 pm
excuse the off topic, but since there is lots here I thought somebody might know. In the linked news story on the left ‘ Funding bill for Governor’s Parkway Stalls’ there is brief mention of the House hearings on the Capitol Plan/ Gaming expansion being tomorrow and Thursday. Anyone have any details for the Springfield Oct 18th one (place, time, open to public?)

Comment by Princeville Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:13 pm
Ahhhh ! We’re really big deals aren’t we ???? Geezzzz!! When does this jazz end ?? Who the hell do these people “think” they are anyway ?

Comment by annon Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:16 pm
As a current grad student and former undergrad at UI, the worse part about this story is that it will result in an even bigger hit to the the university’s perception problems, which in the end will result in less state support and, most importantly, money.

As a student, I can testify that UI needs the money (and much, much more) that the state gives. Lincoln Hall is practically condemned. We are loosing faculty left and right to our competitive peers (primarily the elite privates and a select few publics, Wisconsin, Michigan, Berkeley, UVA among them).

And yet, because of the blatant mismanagement of the public trust by these Blago cronies, the university (and students most importantly) will suffer.

Though its fair game to blame the UI BoT, remember that the students and the real stake-holders in UIUC, UIC, and UIS have nothing to do with this. The blame should fall upon the BoT, and the people who put them there, Blago and Jones.

Comment by uiucleader Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:17 pm
Pinceville, check the GA’s website. It’s there.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:18 pm
How can Blagojevich possibly citicize them for their travel habits with a straight face? His abuse of the state plane would not allow him to pass the snicker test.

Comment by one of the 35 Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:24 pm
When the GOP was still relatively competitive at the top of the ticket, an almost foolproof way of telling how Democratic or Republican your nebulous, “non-political” suburban area was by looking at the totals for U of I Trustee in your precinct/township.

Many, former-city “cultural” Democrats who could not stand to vote for a Dan Walker, Mike Bakalis, Adlai Stevenson III or a Dawn Clark Netsch would always, without fail, punch the holes (or pull the levers) for the Democratic U of I Trustees.

Now they just vote Democratic across the ballot in those areas.

And that is another topic for another post on another day. Go, Illini, though, regardless.

Comment by Judith Reese's Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:26 pm
Excellent and spot-on Dylan reference.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:31 pm
I did not remember that Governor Jet Fuel had led the rally cry against the U Of I travel expenditures. WOW! What an unparalleled display of hypocricy.
Why can’t they just get the IRS mileage rate and drive it?

Comment by Jake From Elwood Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:32 pm
Shout-out to Shelbyville’s query:

Right. That’ll happen. Come on.

Some (not all) people have their own agendas for traveling and being away from their families than being stalwart stewards of the state’s school surplus.

Comment by Carroll Shelby Cobra Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 4:35 pm
You don’t take a Limo to Mc Donalds, can you imagine what their restaurant and booze bill was? Such arrogance and pomposity is rarely understated or limited. Roger, The Hog, Stanley would be proud!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 5:15 pm
…”peers (primarily the elite privates and a select few publics, Wisconsin, Michigan, Berkeley, UVA among them).”

Peers??? In your dreams dude!
To the limos:
This must be what the governor was referring to as ‘bureaucratic bloat” when he slashed the higher ed budget a few year ago. I don’t think he knew that they were his bureaucrats, though.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 5:28 pm
Right now the Undertaker is spinning in his grave.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 5:30 pm
I think it’s a good example of how we need to expand Amtrak service between Chicago and Champaign. There should be 6 trains a day and for people who have business in Champaign, you should be able to catch a reliable train out of Chicago at 7:00 or 7:30 am and make it to Champaign by 9. That’s something we can do in the next three or four years for less than the cost of repaving 20 miles of an interstate highway.

Comment by Dan Johnson-Weinberger Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 5:40 pm
Not to condone this, but is everyone really getting bent out of shape about $14k?

Hats off to the Trustees who pay their own way, but all of them are bringing their time, talents and resources to the U. My bet - That’s worth a lot more than $14k.

And Greyhound?! That’s extreme. Are we going to ask them to hitchhike to meetings next?!

Comment by Left Leaner Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 5:45 pm
- Dan Johnson-Weinberger -
Amtrak will, upon request, add one of those really luxurious old refurbished Pullman’s for the Royal Trustees. I’d volunteer to be the Porter just for the tips. And there bloody well be Good Tips!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 5:50 pm
Before the Illinois Central became the whatever it is now RR, they had one of those Pullman cars beautifully maintained in vintage IC colors that would get pulled down (I think by Amtrak) from Chicago on Illini football Saturdays. They uncoupled and parked it adjacent to the Stadium.

Just what they need. Then Amtrak could rename the train the “Chief Illiniwek Express.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 6:51 pm
These posts haven’t really touched on the real issue. The state has dramatically reduced higher ed funding the last few years. As a result, tuitions have risen dramatically, student debt is rising, parents are having to work harder to help out their kids and faculty salaries at most Illinois higher ed institutions are below the median. Sure a few thousand dollars for limos isn’t going the break the university but Trustees shouldn’t ride around in limos with all of the above going on. It’s insensitive at best and really stupid at worst.

If someone offered to pay for a limo for a member of the legislature from southern Illinois, would that legislator take the limo to the VFW to give a stump speech to a low wage audience? Of course not. But that’s what these guys are doing.

It’s not that the U of I trustees are stupid. They’re not. It’s that their arrogance and sense of entitlement out weighs the “right thing” to do. Thats the midset of the whole institution.

Comment by Trustee at another University Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 6:54 pm
to bill:
clearly you aren’t a grad…maybe you didn’t get in and are bitter….I would say the U of I system is not only a peer to those schools…but better! There has to be a reason that we are getting grants from organization like BP and students by the thousands are having to be turned away from the 3 schools in the system because classes are full! Sounds like sour grapes to me!

Comment by kj Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 7:35 pm
I’m probably in the dark on this, but why do the trustees have to physically attend their meetings? Perhaps the University that wants to have the ‘Global Campus’ could come up with some futuristic, cutting-edge-never-before-seen technology like a video link? Oh, that’s right, they don’t have the money…

Comment by cogenerator Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 8:07 pm
The fiasco of the trustees with the limos is a solid reason why the Higher Ed budgets should all be cut - severely cut! The overinflated egos constantly beating the drum for more money and little to no accountability is the “accepted” norm. I for one am tired of it and want to see it come to a halt. The primadonnas have run the asylum for far too long. Get some conservative management in there and clean house of the non productive airheads.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 8:56 pm
Dan Johnson-Weinberger wrote:

“That’s something we can do in the next three or four years for less than the cost of repaving 20 miles of an interstate highway.”

I Call.

Please provide your numbers, I think you are stretching things…

Comment by Highway Man Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 9:05 pm
Lainer 3:31 — Sorry but you are a little off. That would just cover tuition. From the U of I site for freshman, year 2007-2008:

TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS $23,150 - 26,942*

Comment by Fed Up State Employee Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 9:12 pm
Thompson sold the limo and rode in a Checker for the additional backseat leg room. Ryan rode in a brown conversion van - not a mini van but the bigger one.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 9:24 pm
kj- Are you seriously implying that U of I is in the same league as U of M? Please, not even close.

Comment by Leigh Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 9:26 pm
I guess so. I was going by the total cost of attendance quoted in the financial aid report for my husband, who enrolled full-time in 2005.

Comment by Lainer Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 10:11 pm
Lainer - The tuition has been going up at double digit rates for several years. And they are adding fees for everything which raises the tab even farther. I don’t have proof, but I understand a lot of it is because of reduced state funding since our great benefactor was elected. I’ve been watching closely as I have a daughter that will be moving on to college in two years. Fortunately I purchased a College Illinois contract for her about 7 years ago. Cost for 4 years was $20,000. Think I made the right decision. Glad I have college behind me!

Comment by Fed Up State Employee Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 10:18 pm
kj - you’re in a fantasy world. The U of I is a good school but certainly not a great one. Check the U.S. News and World Reports ranking. You’re attitude is the same as those of the trustees, legends solely in your own minds.

Comment by Trustee at another University Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 10:41 pm
- Trustee at another University -
Well maybe, but you must admit they are very expensive.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 11:01 pm
How about the student trustees? Most of which have more than a full class load, jobs, and still perform the duties of a trustee representing the actual constituents.

Comment by Frank Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 11:47 pm
I believe there’s only one student trustee at a time, representing the entire UI system. The current trustee happens to be from UIS (the first ever).

Comment by Lainer Wednesday, Oct 17, 07 @ 6:10 am
They are trustees’s for god sakes. The Uof I is an OK instituion but not one of great stature & certainly not one that justifies this type expense or ceremony to what are basically “part-time” employees. What next people dropping rose pedals ahead of them as they walk. And Blago with his “wasteful spending talk”….maybe they can “co-op” the state plane & all ride together.

Comment by annon Wednesday, Oct 17, 07 @ 6:22 am
- Trustee at another University - Tuesday, Oct 16, 07 @ 6:54 pm:

These posts haven’t really touched on the real issue. The state has dramatically reduced higher ed funding the last few years. As a result, tuitions have risen dramatically, student debt is rising, parents are having to work harder to help out their kids and faculty salaries at most Illinois higher ed institutions are below the median.
————————————————-
This is the real issue. Under the current administration, state support for higher education has literally regressed. Without funding, our universities have a difficult time encouraging the best minds to teach, and all institutions, universities and community colleges alike, put more burden on the student.

We make the state unattractive for business through taxes and fees. We make it unattractive because we don’t use our resources to promote an educated workforce, and people wonder why Illinois has lagged during the latest economic boom.

Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Oct 17, 07 @ 8:23 am
There are three Trustees (one from each campus), but only one has a binding vote. The other two have advisory votes. The governor chooses the voting Student Trustee.

During this incident (last spring), the UIS Trustee had the official vote.

Comment by uiucleader Wednesday, Oct 17, 07 @ 8:34 am
Bill -

Who are the UI’s peers then? Check your facts, dude!

The UI certainly doesnt compete with most of the Big Ten (as Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan are quite a jump up from the other B10 universities, save Northwestern which is private).

The UI receives more in research funding from the NSF than any school in the country. They just received two very competitive grants from BP ($100 million) to fund genomic research and NSF (+$200 million) to fund the fastest computer in the world. The Accounting, Psych, Engineering (all of them), Physics, Chemistry, etc. are top 5 in the nation.

UI is certainly not Harvard, but you cannot deny that it is one of the elite public schools. Check any rankings, regardless of the criteria, and UI is near the top.

Comment by uiucleader Wednesday, Oct 17, 07 @ 8:46 am