What's this? UT President Shumaker forced out of his presidency by a shopping spree lifestyle? Spent more than $160,000 of UT's money? Travelgate?

Yes, it seems so.

The second highest-paid public university president in the nation has been caught stealing. He used UT credit cards for his personal purchases. He used UT's cash to finance home entertainment centers, world travel, and spent nearly 22 thousand dollars of UT's money on liquor. He went on an 18 month shopping spree.

Let’s see: Shumaker was an employee of the University of Tennessee's, he spent over $160,000 of university cash, money that he did not need (nor was supposed) to spend, and has been forced from his job. We know what that would be called in court. Embezzlement. That's when you steal money from the people who entrust you with it.

Embezzlement can be a felony and is punishable by a prison term. You know what Shumaker got? Retirement and a $365,000 severance package. Not bad, when you deserve to go to jail.

This isn't even the first time Shumaker has done something that sounds illegal.

In the mid-1990's he received a $10,000 gift from Hyundai after rewarding them with a $110,000 training contract from Central Connecticut State University, where he was president at the time.

That sounds a lot like a bribe. Why isn't Connecticut investigating? The statute of limitations is up.

It isn't enough that he was paid $733,550 a year and used over $160,000 more. We are giving him money to leave!

The tuition that has been rising at UT schools goes to pay the UT president. His pay is coming out of an education budget that is taking regular cuts.

When a state spends a phenomenal amount of money on an embezzler, all while woefully undercutting their budget, you should start to ask, "What the hell is going on?"

The answer? Who knows?

We have given up.

If this sleazy university president can go off to party, buy plane tickets and Persian rugs, all on our dime, and then get away with a bundle of cash, who is to say that it isn't the American way?

Isn't he showing other educators and future leaders how easy it is to do whatever you want?

Hasn’t UT shown us that if you plead ignorance, you can get away with embezzlement?

Companies all over the country are being caught stealing from their shareholders. Why should education be any different?

Sounds like he got a pretty good deal. Get paid three quarters of a millions dollars, fly around in a free jet, book free vacations, upgrade your hotel rooms and buy as much liquor as you want.

We’re sure that there won't be a problem filling the position. Everyone will be applying. Who can blame them?