Summer is a time for fun, friends and vacations – and, apparently, chugging beer with your college’s president. Well, that last one doesn’t apply for most of us, because San Diego State President Stephen Weber probably wouldn’t be holding the spout of a mini-keg open for a beer-chugging contest – or, if he did, he would have the sense not to let someone take a picture of him doing it. And then send it to the local paper. But for a group of students from Iowa Central Community College, this was exactly what happened.
The photo of ICCC President Robert Paxton surfaced in late August, and appeared to show him pouring beer from a keg into a girl’s mouth on West Okoboji Lake. Sent anonymously to the local paper, The Des Moines Register, the picture also features Paxton’s 19-year-old son, as well as another girl, chugging a bottle of vodka. When the picture surfaced, Paxton claimed that the activity was a part of “his private life” and therefore should not concern the college.
But there is no separating wall between private and public life for high-profile jobs. In today’s world of Google, Facebook and electronic archiving, seemingly innocuous photos or comments can now easily be turned against you in the future.
Some college students dream of such a president, but the college’s board of trustees did not view the incident as favorably. Proclaiming that the photo “reflected poorly” on the school, the board accepted Paxton’s resignation Aug. 28th – and then proceeded to approve a $400,000 severance package for Paxton.
Talk about sending mixed messages.
Let’s review: Paxton was caught not only drinking with young adults who were probably underage while serving as a college president, but also appearing to encourage serious binging behavior. And yet he still was able to walk away 400 grand richer. I don’t know about you, but my career goals just changed.
Despite his direct participation in actions that were clearly against the interests of his employer – and obviously potentially fatal to his career – Paxton was still paid for two of the three years in his contract, and will continue to get health benefits for a period of time even though he will no longer be employed.
College costs are skyrocketing out of control, state budget deficits abound and the economy is turbulent. The taxpayers of Iowa are certainly not being served by their school system.
The realities of Paxton’s former position dictate that he must demonstrate an example to the student body he served. His presence on that boat explicitly condones underage drinking and dangerous binging behavior, further highlighted by his own son’s presence. For the record, his son was arrested the next day on suspicion of drunken driving, which doesn’t help Paxton’s precariously balanced reputation. The implied encouragement of his son’s drinking will certainly not inspire confidence in potential parents considering sending their sons and daughters to ICCC, even after he’s gone. Why should the student body bother to follow the rules if the college president himself was out on the lake holding the keg tap open?
And now Paxton walks away with $400,000. He’s certainly been taught a lesson.
Paxton’s hypocrisy will probably smother the legitimacy of any future alcohol-crackdown operations. Perhaps Paxton predicted this incident would never come to light, but if he was serious about the reputation of his college and the health and welfare of the students he was responsible for, he should have spent this boat trip ashore.
-Tucker Wincele is a political science and economics junior.
-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your full name, major and year in school.
