Readers react to an article about WSU President Kirk Schulz’s and other officials’ trip to to the Samoan Islands in August. Officials took the trip iin response to claims that administrators were out of touch with Samoan students. Schulz alone accrued espenses that totaled over $6,500. The WSU Foundation provided the money for the trip, which covered hotel, travel, food and drink.

Read the full article here.

Alex Song: “Former government finance person here. This is not bad for a week-long trip. If you think this is extravagant, you guys should ask about the travel expenses of your local officials — elected and non-elected. The dollar amount is a non-story. The purpose and outcome of the trip — maybe.”

Clara Oliver: “It isn’t the specific cost that is a problem, it’s that they went at all. They’re making every department cut costs, then flying first class to American Samoa … I find it reprehensible that in the midst of a situation where grad student stipends are being cut, he decides he needs to fly first class. Any extra expense by the administration is fair game for critique.”

Amelia Jordan: “A $6,500 bill for a week-long international business trip isn’t all that much. It’s pretty in line with transportation and food costs. Schulz has also got a point about using first class to do work. You can do business in economy, but you constantly have people walking by and looking over your shoulder. I don’t see any part of this trip as unreasonable.”

Daniel Stuart Hoffman: “Regardless of costs, Schulz taking a trip to Samoa for the reasons he was taking a trip to Samoa are wrong, even if he got a good deal on plane tickets to do it.”

Beth Blanks Hindman: “Even if this is a ‘typical’ cost for this distance and time, I’d like to see the president comment on why they went, other than the vague ‘building relationships’ answer we’ve heard so far.”

Hannah Fleming: “Yeah $6,500 isn’t extravagant for a trip to Samoa but there was no good reason for going. His business there could have been handled in Pullman by reaching out to students, but instead he took a $6,500 trip.”