The Daily Progress reports (in spite of constant lawn protests and other citizen/alumni outcries):
Robert D. Sweeney, the university’s chief fundraiser, to be assigned to Pavilion VI, which was designed by Thomas Jefferson and built in 1824...As senior vice president for development and academic affairs, Sweeney is responsible for overseeing UVa’s $3 billion capital campaign. Under his leadership, UVa’s philanthropic cash flow jumped from $50 million in 1990 to $200 million in 2000.
UVA waited until the summer (i.e. students not on campus) for this announcement. Smart decision, but given all the negativity surrounding this issue, don’t you think that students will find time to protest in the fall? Also, if I give $ 1 billion to the University, can I buy the Rotunda? Get ready for some nasty stuff this fall!
Also, what are your opinions on the ethics of a decision like this?
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Tagged as: College, Government, Gripes, The Lawn, University of Virginia, UVA
Thor, I am literally scowling at you through my computer screen. I can’t believe you posted this… are you trying to upset me?
My opinion is well represented by this opinion piece by Josh Levy, printed in the Cavalier Daily on April 18: http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVarticle.asp?ID=30208&pid=1583
The protesting was about the fact that Sweeney is not a professor, accented with the point that Lawn faculty open their homes to Lawn residents for intellectual discussions and community bonding. That happens, but not always. Some pavilion residents, over time, have been really disengaged. I mean, really disengaged. Read: rude to students. If Sweeney is such a strong leader, and clearly a sociable man given his field, I agree with Levy that he has a lot of experience to offer and would probably actually offer it. As for the protesters, who I don’t believe even had the courtesy to try to meet Sweeney but instead enjoyed the empty arrogance of having a Cause, they should remember who’s getting their scholarship money and paying their top faculty for them. Just a thought.
1820 Dec. 27. “This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” (to William Roscoe, L&B.15.303)
I think he was referring to cVillain.com
Yeah, it stinks, but it’s the reality of higher ed these days. Besides, won’t some of those high-achieving Lawnies end up being on non-profit boards after they make their millions? This is just a taste of the future for them!
UVA gets something like 8% of its operating budget from the Commonwealth. UMD gets 27% from the state according to its alumni magazine (aside- the things you’ll read while waiting in a doctor’s office!). So keeping UVA near the top of the ratings takes some financial doings that aren’t all about jacking up tuition and room & board even higher than they already are.
Lilith, I just read the piece by Adam Levy, and I totally agree with you (and Levy).
I went to UVA and I don’t think I ever entered a Pavilion for any reason. I hardly think having one more Pavilion populated by a non-teaching staff member is going to cause the rest of the system to fall into ruin. If the stated aim is to foster an open community of learning, I don’t think it was working that well to begin with. And I think Mr. Sweeney is just as likely as anyone else to contribute positively to the community.
Also — Sweeney didn’t personally donate the funds in order to boost his chance of living in a Pavilion… it’s not like donating to the Clinton campaign (I miss Bill!) and being rewarded with an overnight stay in the Lincoln bedroom. While his ability to foster a sense of community may remain to be seen, his contributions to making the University a better place are undeniable.
Unless of course, students *want* to see a 200% hike in tuition rates to pay for all the capital projects.