An anonymous group, believed to be composed of lower-level administrators and staff, is rallying to end the university’s practice of promoting people based on their talents, merits and achievements. An email sent out to the entire student body over the weekend called for the eradication of meritocracy at UMB, and outlined the group’s agenda, which includes pay raises to non-faculty members. “How is it possible that in 2010, in America, we still promote people based on almost nothing but their abilities?” the email read. “We live in a society where the lucky few who are intelligent or hardworking enough get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, and more, while the rest of us are left in the dust. We seek to repair this injustice. Skill level and experience should not dictate wages.” Campus Police are investigating whether the group is connected to an incident of vandalism over the weekend, where the side entrance to the Campus Center was sprayed painted with the words, “Only skill will pay your bill.” There was no official response from the university, though an administrator speaking under conditions of anonymity said that the group might have some support within the top layers of the administration. Meritocracy, which is the social system in which power goes to those with superior intellects, is practiced at most institutes of higher education across the country. In recent years there has been increasing outrage in the grassroots level at what some deem “the glass ceiling of meritocracy.” Professor Paul Avidar, of the University of South Carolina (USC), published a book about the issue in 2008, titled When the Smarties Take Over. He is spearheading the movement to standardize promotion and equalize pay across the board at USC. “Meritocracy might seem like a good idea,” Avidar said in a phone interview. “But the problem is that some people can just never get ahead. Either they are too lazy, or maybe just not intelligent enough, and if they can’t get top positions in our society, who’s going to look after their interests? We shouldn’t forget that 25 percent of the population has an IQ lower than average.” Kevin McNeal, who works as a secretary at the front desk of the fourth floor of Campus Center, said he does not approve of the group’s tactics but he can identify with their message. “I’ve been told my whole life that I have issues with reading comprehension and that I have a short fuse with people. I diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder in myself years ago, and I am addicted to drugs,” he said. “Just because I can’t do my job as well as someone else, does that mean that I don’t get promoted?” Administrators and faculty members did not reply to countless emails seeking comment.