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According to a recent report addressing university spending, Edmure Grogoch, the reclusive hunchback of the bell tower, is still the highest paid university employee.
Grogoch, Keeper of the Bells at Carrie Tower, has an annual income of nearly $3 million. The recluse, who has maintained his post as operator of the campus’ signature clock tower for nearly 80 years, accounts for the single largest stipend among school employees, an amount that some employees find unreasonable.
“[Grogoch] is inarguably an important member of the Brown community, but his seven-figure salary is excessive,” said Professor of Engineering Anthony Martino. “Though all universities need a sneaky, reclusive, hunchbacked man to operate their bell towers and deal with bell tower maintenance, he spends most of his time shrouded in shadow and away from students.”
“Plus, he lives in the bell tower for free and only eats rabbits he catches so his expenses can’t be that high,” Martino added.
Grogoch, whose other seasonal duties include lighting the candles in University Hall and filling the cold night air with somber wails, is much beloved by the students of Brown, many of whom consider his consistent bellwork an essential part of their daily routine and well worth the budget allocation.
“Edmure is one of the reasons I love Brown so much,” said Katie Nieves ‘16. "Having a world-class bell tower hermit is expensive, but he’s worth it."
“Students love Grogoch’s sullen charm, but he is a symptom of a problem endemic to universities across the nation,” said English Professor Frank Meener. “Academic faculty get the short shrift and bell tower operators are paid millions and millions of dollars to bang on metal. I understand that bell tower operators bring in millions for this university, but so do professors, staff, and other employees. Grogoch simply makes too much.”
Grogoch declined to be interviewed regarding his yearly earnings, but he did lower a bucket containing some socks he had knit himself to reporters.
