LESS MONEY.

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Author: A.R.

PLEASE: It's not unusual for college trustees to haggle with a new president over his salary. But at Nebraska Wesleyan University, it is the president who was low-balling.

Joseph Gow, the university's new interim president, turned down a salary offer of $165,000 and instead asked for $127,000, his current salary as the university's provost. The Board of Directors and Mr. Gow, 45, eventually agreed to $137,000, but Mr. Gow said he will donate the $10,000 difference back to the university.

The odd salary negotiations came after a heated situation surrounding the retirement of the current president, Jeanie L. Watson. Some students and faculty members have said Ms. Watson's $723,585 retirement package is excessive, and they have expressed concern over where the money will come from. By turning down the higher salary, Mr. Gow said he hoped to show them he was listening to their concerns.

Rather than hire someone to fill in as provost during the yearlong presidential search, the university will shuffle responsibilities among administrators. "When you look at it that way, if I'm not taking a raise and we don't need to hire someone to replace me, we're going to save about $165,000," said Mr. Gow. "That's really a way I'm saying to students, 'I hear you, and we're going to make sure we're very careful stewards of our resources.'"

He will not apply for the permanent job of president, and instead plans to return to his role as provost, which he has held for two years.

PHOTO (COLOR): Joseph Gow

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By A.R.