Silber made $1.3m as official at BU in 2004, filings show
Says he did not get severance in 2003
Recent public filings indicate that John Silber, president emeritus of Boston University, earned $1.3 million in fiscal year 2004.
But Silber, who was one of the best-paid US college presidents, said that all the payments were the result of agreements made more than 20 years ago, and said that he did not receive any severance when he stepped down as chancellor in 2003. Silber agreed to step down as chancellor of BU at the request of the incoming president, Daniel S. Goldin. But Goldin's job offer was revoked, and he received $1.8 million in severance.
Silber, whose influence on the presidential search sparked controversy, stepped down from the board of trustees at the same time as Goldin's departure in fall 2003.
''The trustees didn't pay me a nickel in order to leave," Silber said yesterday. ''This is no golden parachute."
According to Silber's explanation for the payments appearing on BU's tax filing, he earned $183,333 for his last four months as chancellor, and $513,333 in a payment in lieu of sabbaticals he was not able to take during his long presidency. The form listed $222,445 as a contribution to his employee benefit plan, but Silber said he believed it was deferred compensation.
The rest is $334,241 in taxable income from an insurance policy. Silber said he has not actually taken the insurance income payment.
''The transformation of Boston University from a very mediocre place to a very substantial place with four Nobel Prize winners, a superb faculty, [and] great research. . . . I think that amounts to a great and positive story," he said. ''If somebody asked me [do I think I] earned my salary -- sure I do."
Incoming president Robert A. Brown will receive a salary of $650,000, not including other benefits, according to a university official who spoke anonymously.
Marcella Bombardieri can be reached at bombardieri@globe.com. 
