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March 28, 2007
Attack of the Fundraisers - on Jefferson's Lawn?
Now this is a sign of the long-term change in the University in the West from self-perpetuating educational institution to self-perpetuating fund-raising instrument if nothing else is. One of the Lawn Pavilions at the University of Virginia is about to open up and a non-academic administrator wants it.
A controversy has erupted at the University of Virginia over whether UVa’s top fundraising officer will be allowed to live in one of the Lawn Pavilions, prestigious residences typically reserved for UVa’s best and brightest professors.“The Lawn is not supposed to be a sales gimmick,” said fourth-year student Allison Murphy, who lives in one of the rooms along the Lawn. “It’s supposed to represent the educational foundation of the university community.”
The controversy stems from the desire of Robert D. Sweeney, UVa’s senior vice president for development and public affairs, to live on the Lawn when Pavilion VI opens up this summer. Because of a little-noticed policy change instituted by UVa’s Board of Visitors last month, President John T. Casteen III has the power to nominate any UVa vice president for a Pavilion slot.
“I think Mr. Sweeney is a good person. But I just don’t see him being around at all to interact with the Lawn community,” Murphy said. “And even if he was, I’m not sure the students would really gain much from that interaction.”
One Pavilion is already filled by a UVa vice president. Patricia Lampkin, vice president and chief student affairs officer, lives in Pavilion III. Murphy said she found that acceptable because Lampkin has a strong link to the student body.
Mike Slaven, another student living on the Lawn, said he thought it would be “inappropriate” for Sweeney to move into a Pavilion.
“I think it’s not just the fact that he’s never taught classes, but the fact that he’s a fundraiser that’s upsetting people,” Slaven said. “As the university relies more heavily on private gifts, some people are uncomfortable with the extent to which the university relies on fundraising and the compromises it is making to get there.”
Of course, it would help the case of the anti-fund-raisers if the occupants really were "UVa’s best and brightest professors" rather than (mainly - see the list at the end of the article) deans of schools, but still - I understand the point.
Here's a nice photo tour of UVA with pleasant pics of the Lawn.
Here's a more interesting panoramic photo.
Posted by CrankyProfessor at March 28, 2007 6:32 AM