The pledges have slowed down, but the offer from 127 students, faculty, staff and alumni… The pledges have slowed down, but the offer from 127 students, faculty, staff and alumni still stands: If Chancellor Mark Nordenberg will return his recent 14 percent raise — still keeping his $75,000 bonus — to Pitt Program Council’s Endowed Book Fund, the pledge money will be collected.

Those 127 pledges total nearly $13,200. They were made by people who respect the impressive work that Chancellor Nordenberg has done for the University. But those who have pledged money feel that, in a time of double-digit tuition hikes and below-average staff and faculty raises, a $122,500 raise at the top is out of line.

This pledge drive began Jan. 17, 2003. In the 25 days since that time, Chancellor Nordenberg has not officially responded to any media outlet’s inquiries about whether he’ll accept the challenge.

If he takes a stance against this troubling nationwide trend where students are overcharged and staff members are under compensated, he will become a hero to the Pitt community, and an exemplar to the global community. And if he takes the challenge, more than $60,000 will be directed toward a fund that provides textbooks for students here at Pitt.