UMC PRESIDENT IS LEARNING THAT WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR WORD, YOU REALLY SHOULD DO WHAT YOU SAY

When the University of Missouri system embarked on an early-retirement program, president Manuel Pacheco said those taking the offer would not be rehired. What he meant to say, apparently, is they wouldn't be rehired at their old jobs and their old salaries.

A lot of attention has been given to two top administrators at the St. Louis campus who were rehired, drawing substantial pensions as well as 75 percent of their former salaries. Now we know that 30 of the 68 faculty and staff members at UMSL have been rehired. UMSL says it will still save $2.3 million with the buyout program. But that's before replacements are hired for the retiree part-timers and doesn't include pension costs.

In the private sector, rehiring retired workers can have some benefits, including no need for training or job familiarization. But in this case, the university president gave his word. And apparently he didn't keep it. In such matters, it's better to do what you say rather than explain later.