To Save Money, Skorton Rides Bus

If you've ever taken the bus from Ithaca to New York City, or anywhere else, you know it's not a fun experience. For this reason, President Skorton's decision to start taking the bus on some trips to New York is probably the most serious commitment to save money I've seen from him yet:

Skorton, who lives in a Cornell-owned home in Ithaca, New York, and uses an apartment rented by the school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side near the medical school, volunteered a 10 percent cut in his compensation beginning in January.

Bus for Jet

In December, Skorton started riding a Cornell bus that shuttles students and faculty between the school’s Ithaca and New York campuses instead of flying, as his schedule permits, Moss said. The coach takes five hours and costs $150 round trip. Flying costs as much as $600 and takes an hour.

Of course, Skorton is taking the Campus to Campus Bus, which is a much nicer experience than riding the Short Line. C2C buses have wireless internet and food available, and travel directly from Ithaca to the Cornell Club in NYC. Still, his willingness to sacrifice the time and comfort of flying shows how seriously the administration is taking Cornell's budget issues.

(Bloomberg)