American University Ousts President - with a $4m payoff?

Ok this is pure crap. Are we Americans just plain stupid or has our bloodlust for cash penetrated so deep in the collective pysche of society that nowadays anything goes, no matter how lamebrained, wrong or just plan silly? I mean - heeeeelllo you're canning the University President b/c he was basically spending university money on himself like one-hit-wonder-musicians/rappers/actors/actresses/athletes do once they get a newly minted contract!?! I mean this guy was on his way to the $6K shower curtain level. Has Dennis Kozlowski started a fan club or something?

If I were an alum I would be SCREAMING at the Board of Trustees for offering this idiot more cash - even if to get rid of him. Come on now - how many trustees have been paid off to even come up with such a ludicrous idea? But this is the era of the golden parachute, get fired-get millions attitude. Hell are they worried about a big lawsuit!? Well it doesn't take a dummy to guess that even a long drawn out suit will be LESS than $4million in legal fees and time spent. At least it would set an example and discourage future BS. Otherwise this Board is saying "Please come work here, spend like a drunken sailor, screwover the students (esp. those on financial aid or selling their souls to SallieMae to go to college) and if you get caught - we'll pay you even more?!"

I don't know how the Board and this jerk can sleep at night... I feel so bad for the students at AU right now - they are the ones who stand to lose (and already are doing so) the most... I hope somebody does something about this - for their sake!