Penn State Rubs Salt Into Local Wounds

[Seadog]

Penn State president gets massive pay raise despite campus closures

 

So, for a job well done in closing commonwealth campuses, including Dubois, Penn State, in their infinite wisdom, gave Penn State President Benapudi a 47% pay raise. Doesn't smell right to me. Poor mouth it on one hand, throw cash out on the other. It's a good gig for her, though our local folks still have no clue what happens leading up and after the closure.

The package bumps the President’s base salary from $950,000 to $1.4 million annually, and Bendapudi will receive an automatic 3.5% increase each year until 2032. Her completion and retention payment will increase to $525,000 a year for fiscal year 25 through 2032. Also included is an annual performance bonus of up to 15% of the president’s base pay as long as she meets approved goals.

[Ignatius]

Optics are horrible!  Look at the consolidated financial statement for PSU to understand their profitability!  To me, closing of WPSU and the branch campuses is simply terrible.  

[Polo]

This news floored me and many others, I am sure.  I am outraged.  And I am sure many in our state government are, too!  I hope people make a lot of noise about this.  No one deserves that much of a pay raise.  And I don't believe she deserves it either.  I don't care who you are.  I do believe folks should get raises.  At least a cost of living raise every year as well.  However, this is way too much.  When campuses are closing, it looks pretty lousy to see her getting a raise.  I can't believe the board approved it.  A lot of jobs and educational opportunities have been taken away, and she has the nerve to take a raise.  Shame on you, ma'am!

[fedup]

54 minutes ago, Polo said:

This news floored me and many others, I am sure.  I am outraged.  And I am sure many in our state government are, too!  I hope people make a lot of noise about this.  No one deserves that much of a pay raise.  And I don't believe she deserves it either.  I don't care who you are.  I do believe folks should get raises.  At least a cost of living raise every year as well.  However, this is way too much.  When campuses are closing, it looks pretty lousy to see her getting a raise.  I can't believe the board approved it.  A lot of jobs and educational opportunities have been taken away, and she has the nerve to take a raise.  Shame on you, ma'am!

"Ma'am"

Could that be a major underlying factor on what's wrong in America?

Too many Ma'am and how they got these positions of power 

[Petee]

Penn State has never, for even a day, lacked for money.  They simply choose to use it for more glamorous things than the kids attending there.  The kids out here in the country were just dumped.  Some of them cannot afford to move to the main campus.  I'm sure getting them into the larger, "more free" area will give the college the chance to introduce/influence them in more worldly ways.  

They don't like to admit or advertise this, but it started as a school for farmers so they could manage their farms better. Farming is a Godly occupation, and this was support and growth for exactly that reason, growing the earth as God intended.  

I'm not sure if God is even permitted to be on the campus anymore.  His presence would annoy them mightily.

[Polo]

3 hours ago, fedup said:

"Ma'am"

Could that be a major underlying factor on what's wrong in America?

Too many Ma'am and how they got these positions of power 

I don't know.  Are you talking about women in power or certain races?  I don't have a problem with men or women or anyone in any race being in the top positions of power.  Someone has to lead. But they need to be qualified, not by gender or race, but by being able to do the job effectively.   And do it right and do it graciously.  And make sure you get down in the trenches and work alongside of your people so they know you are in it with them.  Don't just lord it over them and make them feel like they don't count.  

[fedup]

1 hour ago, Polo said:

I don't know.  Are you talking about women in power or certain races?  I don't have a problem with men or women or anyone in any race being in the top positions of power.  Someone has to lead. But they need to be qualified, not by gender or race, but by being able to do the job effectively.   And do it right and do it graciously.  And make sure you get down in the trenches and work alongside of your people so they know you are in it with them.  Don't just lord it over them and make them feel like they don't count.  

I just threw this out there to see if anyone else is seeing the trend I have been seeing 

[Seadog]

I definitely see the same trend that you do. Anyone who wants can take issue with me, however, that is my opinion, I can back it with fact, and most importantly it's Biblical. Besides, that trend didn't work out real well for Penn State Dubois, did it?

[fedup]

3 hours ago, Seadog said:

I definitely see the same trend that you do. Anyone who wants can take issue with me, however, that is my opinion, I can back it with fact, and most importantly it's Biblical. Besides, that trend didn't work out real well for Penn State Dubois, did it?

There is a awful amount of losers in positions they ain't qualified for 

[Ignatius]

Simplify the problem!  Envision where we're at as a country:  it is like an inverted pyramid, with the point on the shoulders of the producing/taxpaying citizens and the base comprised of elected officials and their patronage lackeys.  

DuBois is a microcosm of the US:  we want, we want and when it comes time to pay to piper, where does the money come from?  Did we need the project at the end of the Boulevard?  Did we need all the stoplight upgrades?  Did we need the monster planters scattered through the downtown?  When cost to take care or maintain these endeavors, is the cash picked off that magical tree in Harrisburg or DC?

Now to Fed's posts on AI:  I need to use my premium version of Chat GPT to uncover why we need all these monster data centers popping up through the country.  Are these just the 2025 version of all of the EV car factories built and now shuttered?  I suppose the guv'mint largesse had to go somewhere.  Otherwise, how would all the pollies justify their existence.

[disgruntled]

On 9/15/2025 at 10:34 AM, fedup said:

"Ma'am"

Could that be a major underlying factor on what's wrong in America?

Too many Ma'am and how they got these positions of power 

As long as the Ma'ams are qualified for the job, there is nothing wrong with it.  There are lots of capable ma'ams in positions of power.  Some of them are much more intelligent than the sirs.  

[fedup]

43 minutes ago, disgruntled said:

As long as the Ma'ams are qualified for the job, there is nothing wrong with it.  There are lots of capable ma'ams in positions of power.  Some of them are much more intelligent than the sirs.  

But but but, are they really qualified?

[Seadog]

My take on Penn State is that if they find it fiscally responsible to close satellite campuses, including Dubois, then turn around and give Ms. Bendapudi a 47% pay increase, along with all the other perks (And dang-Those are great perks!) They don't deserve or need one thin dime of taxpayer money. Yes, Penn State gets taxpayer money, lots of it-even with high tuition that leaves some stuck with crippling student debt for their degree. Are you sick of all this garbage? Locally, nationally? You work, you're responsible, you pay your way, you pay your outrages taxes (payroll, income, property, sales tax, inheritance, etc.) and yet you see it wasted. That kind of pay raise and those perks are just outrageous. I will not support Penn State in any way, shape, or form. 

[disgruntled]

On 9/17/2025 at 12:41 PM, fedup said:

But but but, are they really qualified?

Many of them are.  Depends on the job, the candidate, the qualifications.

This isn't the 50's.  Women go to school. women get degrees. 

Some women have 35+ years of experience in their line of work and have worked to obtain the certifications and degrees needed to have the positions they have.    Some of those women are even respected by male colleagues because those women weren't  afraid to do the actual work and put in the time to get the promotions.  

 

[fedup]

1 hour ago, disgruntled said:

Many of them are.  Depends on the job, the candidate, the qualifications.

This isn't the 50's.  Women go to school. women get degrees. 

Some women have 35+ years of experience in their line of work and have worked to obtain the certifications and degrees needed to have the positions they have.    Some of those women are even respected by male colleagues because those women weren't  afraid to do the actual work and put in the time to get the promotions.  

 

Many may be. But it only takes one to cause a major failure. 

If you want me to start naming them here is #1

Harris 

That woman couldn't paint the inside of a bucket if she was standing in it with written instructions.

[Constitutionalist]

Unfortunately what fed says is true. Especially nowadays with the attention brought by it. 
 

disgruntled is also right. And speaks the truth. Many woman are way more than qualified to do jobs. And excel at those jobs. But due to quotas.. if that woman is white, and the company needs minorities, she’s getting passed over even if she’s the best.. 

so back to feds comment.. how exactly are we supposed to know?

gone are the days of you couldn’t do your job you lost it. 
 

here now are days if you don’t do you job, claim racism if you’re fired and win a big lawsuit.
 

it’s all 🤬🤬🤬🤬 ed

just remember folks. History repeats itself, always has, always will. And nature corrects itself.
 

Lord help us all. Amen

[disgruntled]

On 9/22/2025 at 7:01 PM, fedup said:

Many may be. But it only takes one to cause a major failure. 

If you want me to start naming them here is #1

Harris 

That woman couldn't paint the inside of a bucket if she was standing in it with written instructions.

Biden is a man.  He was an epic failure as well.  Obama, also an epic failure.  Both men.  

I firmly believe that race and gender should be removed from all aspect of hiring.  It should be 1000% based on merit and qualifications.  

I believe that Charlie Kirk was right when he said that many people would be nervous if they saw a black female pilot and assume that she is a DEI hire, and therefore likely not the most highly qualified.  However, we cannot discredit any female or black hire and assume they aren't qualified based simply on their appearance.  

I am in a position where I have white and black employees and they are a mix of male and female employees.  Each of them have their own strengths.  I hired based strictly on qualifications.   

My two best employees are a white male and a black female.  Each of their resumes are impeccable and they are both an asset to our employer and a blessing to me, their boss.  

[fedup]

10 minutes ago, disgruntled said:

Biden is a man.  He was an epic failure as well.  Obama, also an epic failure.  Both men.  

I firmly believe that race and gender should be removed from all aspect of hiring.  It should be 1000% based on merit and qualifications.  

I believe that Charlie Kirk was right when he said that many people would be nervous if they saw a black female pilot and assume that she is a DEI hire, and therefore likely not the most highly qualified.  However, we cannot discredit any female or black hire and assume they aren't qualified based simply on their appearance.  

I am in a position where I have white and black employees and they are a mix of male and female employees.  Each of them have their own strengths.  I hired based strictly on qualifications.   

My two best employees are a white male and a black female.  Each of their resumes are impeccable and they are both an asset to our employer and a blessing to me, their boss.  

Yep, men can be stupid also but this conversation is about women.

I ain't talking about Davy Crockett, I am talking about the dumb female Crockett 

[disgruntled]

20 hours ago, fedup said:

Yep, men can be stupid also but this conversation is about women.

I ain't talking about Davy Crockett, I am talking about the dumb female Crockett 

Actually, this conversation is about Penn State....  we all got off track.