I guess we're going to have this discussion/argument again.
Let's look at it this way. Assume a situation where Valpo had $10M in cash and had two options for using that money: 1. buy the three pieces of art, 2. invest in capital improvements for the dorms or some other important infrastructure project. Which would you recommend choosing? Option 2 is tied to the university's mission and business need to attract students, while Option 1 is simply an investment with some educational value to a very small number of students.
There has to be better ways of accomplishing the needed dorm remodeling? I am sure that the university would welcome your $10M for that or any ideas you might have. To summarize the prior discussions, the people against the sale of the art: a. do not have any ideas for raising even a small portion of that level of money, b. found one or two students who said the dorm quality was not that important (a woefully unacceptable sample), and c. implied that they must approve any other methods for raising such large funds (else they will go to the media to harm the University because the administration had not gained their approval in advance). Additionally, there are other major capital projects that are needed - nursing, business are two priorities. Even if you found an alternative for funding the dorm improvements, keeping the art would deprioritize those other critical needs.
A few comments on the financial issues. First, if one argues that the art should not be sold because it increases in value and argues that the art can never be sold, the increase in value is immaterial (because you could never gain the proceeds). Second, are you arguing that the University should not prioritize spending on capital projects because they depreciate? It would be hard to run a University with that philosophy, given that students live, learn and work in the results of those capital projects.
nothing insulting was directed at Brauer.
The administration suggests in its public petition to the court that Brauer knowingly acted illegally by violating restrictions on the purchase of paintings for "conservative" art. The same university that for half a century has praised, honored, and boasted about Brauer's art purchases, especially of an O'Keeffe, one of America's most important and iconic artists—promoting them as parts of what "elucidate our distinctive character, our unique traditions, and the remarkable people who have and continue to shape our ethos"—now publicly accuses Brauer of illegal activity, even though Brauer's activities also have been praised by the Sloan family responsible for the trust, and you see "nothing insulting was directed at Brauer"?
Well-spoken 84. The fact of the matter is that the school is dying. We all don't want to admit it, but the writing is on the wall. NO matter how strong the nursing school is, or engineering school is, the fact of the matter is that enrollment is continuing to decline year after year. Granted you could argue this is a Midwest problem over a Valpo problem, but being a tuition-driven institution, this really hurts the pocket books. Even on the athletics side. This was the worst year in recorded VU history for overall athletic performance. I believe PO mentioned something along the lines of 37% win rate for overall athletics. If something drastic is not done to remedy the situation, you could see the closure of the entire school. Then all of those precious art pieces will be lost in a "going out of business sale" like VULB mentioned.
I commend Padilla for seeking methods to attract students, such as the online medical degrees in addition to the Ivy Tech and UIC partnerships, but those do little to lure non-commuter students to your campus. At all non-satellite institutions, the percentage of non-commuter students is a very real, and considerable percentage that needs to be catered to. When you are forcing students to stay in dorms that aren't equipped with basic necessities such as AC and central heating, that deters students from attending your institution entirely. I know I researched accommodations, as well as a large portion of my peers, during my college search. I know all of you parents out there probably did the same for your students. Accommodations are a very real factor to consider in a college search, and being a private institution, VU is not granted very much public money to support its needs. A school wish such a high price tag is going to warrant extra research. Students are going to want to get their money's worth.
You could have the absolute best university in the country, but if your student accommodations are severely outdated, you arent going to get many students outside of your commuter radius. Especially at an institution with as high of tuition as Valparaiso.
I once again ask staff members, and skeptical donors, what methods you propose as to how to solve the problem of facilities falling apart.? You can blame old admins all you want for kicking the rock further down the road, but the current admin is trying to polish that rock back into a diamond. They need to buy the tools to do so.
A healthy, vibrant Valparaiso University is critical to our city. I’m grateful that the university is pulling out all stops to increase enrollment. BTW I just took a leisurely drive through campus, my first time this spring. It looks beautiful!
@whvalpo I'm family friends with someone on the grounds crew. They sure do a good job
It also jeopardizes the basic sustainability of the museum.
Not sure how selling three pieces, albeit famous ones, would jeopardize the museum. The larger point is, what will happen to those pieces in the sustainability of the entire University is at risk?
You and I were on campus during the same period. In 1969, when you started at Valpo, Wehrenberg Hall was 10 years old. Brandt was 7 years old and Alumni? It was 3 years old. Sounded and looked pretty good for a new freshman. Now however, Wehrenberg is 65 years old!
If you were a basketball fan or football fan, you certainly remember the heated rivalry between Valpo and St. Joes, a college founded in 1889. It closed normal operations in 2017. There are many beautiful buildings remaining on what was their campus. If Valpo closes because we couldn't attract students because of deteriorating dorms, how will you feel about your contributions then?
Valparaiso University is not dying. Unlike other private universities that have failed (e.g., St. Joseph's), Valpo has over $250M in endowment (the universities that failed never got anywhere near that level). That said, Valpo needs to make changes to be sustainable and grow....otherwise there is a danger of getting in the death spiral.
Valparaiso University is not dying. Unlike other private universities that have failed (e.g., St. Joseph's), Valpo has over $250M in endowment (the universities that failed never got anywhere near that level). That said, Valpo needs to make changes to be sustainable and grow....otherwise there is a danger of getting in the death spiral.
I am moreso on the thought process of a 50 years in the future plan, as opposed to a 10 years in the future plan. Will the school die in the next 10 years, no. But the future for the next 50 years still remains concerning.
I want to find the record of a Valparaiso rep directly ripping Brauer. The court said the paintings can be sold, so the illegal statement is off. Build away.
Valpo has over $250M in endowment
Actually 327M at the end of 2022. Nonetheless, Valpo is still tuition driven and if we get much smaller we can get into financial difficulty quickly.
I want to find the record of a Valparaiso rep directly ripping Brauer. The court said the paintings can be sold, so the illegal statement is off. Build away.
Read this morning's newspapers. They recount the attack by the university administration in the new court petitions suggesting Brauer committed an illegal action. From today's NWI Times: "VU claims Richard Brauer — the museum’s founding director and namesake — knew of the 'conservative' restriction when he purchased both artworks."
Also, the article reports: "Under the current terms of the Percy H. Sloan Trust, which provided the artwork in the Brauer Museum of Art or funding for them, the paintings can only be sold if the proceeds are reinvested into the museum’s collection." The courts have not "said the paintings can be sold." That is why the administration is petitioning the court to amend the trust language.
Valparaiso University is not dying. Unlike other private universities that have failed (e.g., St. Joseph's), Valpo has over $250M in endowment (the universities that failed never got anywhere near that level). That said, Valpo needs to make changes to be sustainable and grow....otherwise there is a danger of getting in the death spiral.
People keep saying the size of the endowment essentially makes Valpo bulletproof. Size matters, but to my knowledge it isn’t end-all-be-all. The university is already tapping into available income to the allowable max. It’s using undesignated funds. It’s borrowing from it. If there are additional options for squeezing more money out of the endowment, I’d love to know what they are and why they’re not being exercised?
I think a more realistic way of looking at the endowment is that its considerable size makes Valpo less tuition dependent presently than it otherwise would be. The scary downside is that it’s still not enough, not nearly enough.
@whvalpo They are dipping into underutilized assets, which include the large property they own on Lincolnway. Pal said they seem to have a buyer and if so it presumably could bring in millions. One use for the endowment was using funds to purchase the Strongbow site. This will tie the Eastgate property to US 30, making it a lot more valuable.
If some of Valpo's dorms need extensive remodeling, that indicates that they are probably almost fully depreciated. I understand this as I was at Valpo in the early 70's. If the University charges current competitive room and board rates (comparable to neighboring institutions), why does the current dorm income not generate some surplus to cover remodeling/upgrade costs in addition to the annual operating costs? Here's another angle - Many higher education institutions allow third party developers to build student housing on University owned land and then lease it back to the students. Has Valpo considered this option? Perhaps a University/developer arrangement could be worked out to provide some new updated student accommodations at a commensurate higher cost for those students that desire the latest while offering general basic accommodations to the others. Our capitalist system in effect to provide consumer choices.
I have a fundamental distain for those who take gifts intended for a specific purpose and use it for other non-donor approved purposes. This is fine if upon receiving the gift, the possibility of disparate use was made known to the donor. Apparently, art given in this Valpo situation was not to be sold and the revenue used for non-museum purposes. I'm sure most donors express limitations on their gifts to the University. These restrictions must be respected or the donors will go elsewhere and the Brauer museum donations disappear.
Saving these three significant art pieces of the museum is a matter of priorities. We all view these priorities somewhat differently. The University currently owns excess real estate, unused buildings, supports many programs (including some questionable sports programs) and other possible revenue generating opportunities. To some, selling the art is an expedient matter despite the "donor trust" issue. I can see this but do not agree. Quite frankly, I am most concerned about the chronic underpayment of the Valpo teaching staff as a long term financial challenge more so that some dated dorm rooms. Please find another way to solve this problem. The skilled Valpo administrative professionals should be able to do this.
Previous admins were infamous for kicking rocks further and further down the road. They did it with athletics in the early 2000s, and they seem to have been doing it again with much needed renovations. The fact of the matter is that VU currently charges 40k+ to attend the school, with lackluster facilitates in student housing. That is going to deter a lot of non-local students. The biggest concern that the Padilla administration is trying to address, is the severe lack of activity on campus. This is an issue going on around the US, but it is being felt even more in the Midwest. Students just are not going to college, and are not willing to spend 40k to go to college unless it is worth their time and the amenities justify the cost.
I am also not seeing many cases of universities subleasing property for student housing. What I do see, is private companies building apartment style facilities geared towards students off campus with no university involvement. This is exactly what happened over 10 years ago when Uptown East was built. Built just far enough off property to make an easy commute, but not owned by the university or affiliated with the school in any fashion. The only case I have see what you suggest happens to have been implemented is at the newly separated IUI and PIN. Where PIN is renting floors of both an IUI residence hall and an apartment style living community to house their students, but this is hardly a scenario worth copying. Schools do not make any revenue off of these facilities so they would be a very poor choice.
We aren't talking about simple upkeep here. We are talking massive renovations to severely dated residence halls. Yes, they do make enough money to pay for general maintenance, what residence hall doesn't, but a 70 year old building is a 70 year old building. There can only be so much done in the realm of general maintenance and renovations before its trivial. The property of Lincolnway is most likely going to go towards the CONHP or the arena project.
Yes, the paintings were a gift, but the status of the university when the paintings were given is drastically different from today. It is just like inheriting a family heirloom. Sure you cherish it when times are good, but when you fall on hard times, a lot of people wouldn't hesitate to get on the phone with Rick Harrison to see how much the ring from grandma is worth.
We can moan and groan all we want about how little the teachers are paid, but the school cant start paying teachers more if the are dipping into their coffers as it is.
