Home  News Local News House Speaker Rubio amidst controversy
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House Speaker Rubio amidst controversy |
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Written by Dr. Garth A. Rose
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Saturday, 02 August 2008 |
Several Florida International University students, faculty members and other staffers who were affected by last month’s decision by the college to cut is budget, and reduce courses and staff members are extremely upset by news that the college has offered former Florida House Speaker, Marco Rubio a part-time job estimated at $69,000 annually.
When FIU announced the cuts its president, Modesto Maidoque said they were the result of the “most serious budget crisis” in the university’s history. That’s why Mertha Matlock, a Sweetwater resident whose application to attend the college was denied because her course of study in botany was cut, exclaimed, “This is madness! How could the university find all this money to pay a politician with no academic experience, when it has denied so many students access?”
In fact, reports are that half of Rubio’s salary will be paid with private donation to FIU’s Metropolitan Center. Rubio has been recruited as a visiting distinguished service professor to co-teach a class in politics, bring in guest speakers and develop plans for local government to build affordable housing.
The offer to Rubio, who received a salary of $44,280 as mayor, is not sitting well with a lecturer in the department of education at the university who requested anonymity. She said, “This College has suffered over recent months from serious financial cutbacks, and faculty members have had to make serious sacrifices. I have no objection to Mr. Rubio joining the faculty, but why is he being paid so much? Accepting that some $35,000 is coming from outside sources, how is the college is able to afford the other $35,000 when it so strapped for cash?”
However, a director of the college’s Metropolitan Center believes, according to reports, Rubio’s employment is “a coup” based upon his political stature in the community, and he is hopeful that Rubio will attract enough private donations and grants to cover his entire salary. President Maidque said Rubio’s presence at the school will boost its profile. He said that Rubio’s job offer is a very attractive proposition, and the offer should be of ‘zero cost’ to the university.
Still, these arguments have not appeased students like, Greta Vasquez, who felt that Rubio who has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a law degree from the University of Miami, is not qualified enough for the high salary being paid to him. “In my opinion much more qualified lecturers and faculty members have been laid off, plus the evidence of the (budgetary) cuts are everywhere on campus, including having to pay higher tuition fees. I cannot see any justification for this appointment.”
Last month the university increased tuition fees by 15 percent, cut 23 degree programs, and 200 jobs, including 38 faculty members and staff.
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