VU's two biggest "own goal" decisions of recent years were the mascot change and the art sale
I respectfully disagree. First, the giving has not changed, in fact the Day of Giving has set records since the mascot change. As for the Art Sale, the reality is that Valpo was in no position to simply protect or insure assets worth 12 million. Try 20,000 plus guard duties. Now we will have dorms that ar aircondioned with modern facilities. Difficult for the uninformed but certainly not “own goals”.
Regarding the art, is was the right move but a terrible execution, where the humongous could have been more tactful. Saving $20m of art pieces while watching a university slide requiring desperate funds makes no sense.
regarding the mascot changes , it was a truly dumb move but minor compared to engagement with faculty and alumni and getting funding.
with the humongous is still around and not allowing the university safe passages throughout the wasteland is beyond my understanding.
If the Day of Giving is up from years past as VU72 cites, that may be is a good signal. But those special "Days" are often contrivances that bunch together money that normally is predictable.
And you could have seen on the website in May that the "Valpo Fund" goal through June was way behind is 12-month goal. If you could find somewhere a year vs. year comparison of the last pre-Padilla year and the Padilla years. I am guessing like several others that "Mr. Rez" on the board is on staff so he would have those numbers.
I am guessing like several others that "Mr. Rez" on the board is on staff so he would have those numbers.
Not on staff at all whatsoever. Like I said. I am just not enough of a curmudgeon to throw a hissy fit over squirrels
Regarding the squirrel thing, let's compare it to what I would consider to be an outstanding 'small donation' program. Valpo has previoiusly had smaller fundraising efforts for specific student-oriented programs in all of the various Colleges (and athletics). This was superbly done, serious but also sort of fun, and resonated with the university's mission. Donations to name a squrrel are not harmful, but distract. Enough said on this topic, I guess.
Programs like "Day of Giving" (at any university) are setup to only end up reporting successful outcomes. There are pre-arranged donations and 'low bar' goal setting to make it nearly impossible to meet the goal. Maybe the university does publish it, but I would like to see yoy donations, preferably by category (my school is very good about publishing such detail).
Well at least the fundraiser is generating some sort of news for the university that is positive
I’m surprised Amy Lavalley didn’t mention that one of the squirrels was named Georgia Nut Keefe. I recall that Amy was the reporter behind many articles about the Brauer sale. But good on the advancement office for not censoring GNK.
@kreitzerstl Haha, that's hilarious! Love it. This has converted me to be a fan of the squirrel-naming campaign.
I think we should do a fundraiser campaign promo around Rez's true identity. I actually am on Team Authenticity, where I think 75% that he is some sort of earnest yet slightly naive college student in the Region and only 25% of me thinks he's a plant from The Administration. But it would be so awesome if there was a Great Reveal and he shocks us all by turning out to be J. Padilla himself! Or maybe Rez is actually Georgia O'Keefe! Or Amy Lavalley under cover? And we could name a squirrel after "Rez" too and throw a pie and/or give him the biggest pumpkin grown in Porter County. This is serious community-building stuff, you know, very good for e-board morale!
I think we should do a fundraiser campaign promo around Rez's true identity. I actually am on Team Authenticity, where I think 75% that he is some sort of earnest yet slightly naive college student in the Region and only 25% of me thinks he's a plant from The Administration. But it would be so awesome if there was a Great Reveal and he shocks us all by turning out to be J. Padilla himself! Or maybe Rez is actually Georgia O'Keefe! Or Amy Lavalley under cover? And we could name a squirrel after "Rez" too and throw a pie and/or give him the biggest pumpkin grown in Porter County. This is serious community-building stuff, you know, very good for e-board morale!
would my IU Indy Student ID suffice? Or do I need to present my SSN and the 3 wacky numbers on the back of my credit card as well to prove I am not a plant.
Right hand on the Bible i swear I am a 21 year old college student that grew up in Valpo that thinks is stupid to be this upset over a holdover fundraising campaign.
Regarding the squirrel thing, let's compare it to what I would consider to be an outstanding 'small donation' program. Valpo has previoiusly had smaller fundraising efforts for specific student-oriented programs in all of the various Colleges (and athletics). This was superbly done, serious but also sort of fun, and resonated with the university's mission. Donations to name a squrrel are not harmful, but distract. Enough said on this topic, I guess.
Programs like "Day of Giving" (at any university) are setup to only end up reporting successful outcomes. There are pre-arranged donations and 'low bar' goal setting to make it nearly impossible to meet the goal. Maybe the university does publish it, but I would like to see yoy donations, preferably by category (my school is very good about publishing such detail).
Indeed, giving days are rarely big money producers. They do help to nurture a giving orientation, with hopes that smaller gifts help to open up more generous donations later on. They can also serve as the giving prompt for people who donate annually and need a bit of a nudge. In that sense they help to build regular giving, enthusiasm, and momentum.
Toward throwing pies at Rez, I guess I started it. Sorry, Rez. I just didn't know why anyone would have a reason to research the list of universities who have run a squirrel campaign!
But, hey maybe you can buy two as a pair $37.18 and name them Heckler and Jose?
Toward throwing pies at Rez, I guess I started it. Sorry, Rez. I just didn't know why anyone would have a reason to research the list of universities who have run a squirrel campaign!
But, hey maybe you can buy two as a pair $37.18 and name them Heckler and Jose?
I guess a 5 minute google search counts as in depth research that would make someone think that you are an industry executive...Are people's standards for Valpo's admins really that low that a 21 year old doing a 5 minute google search is enough to make people believe you are a shill?
I guess a 5 minute google search counts as in depth research that would make someone think that you are an industry executive...Are people's standards for Valpo's admins really that low that a 21 year old doing a 5 minute google search is enough to make people believe you are a shill?
@rez: Uh, yeah, actually.
Take this with a grain of salt, because she is still listed on the website, but a few people from campus have told me that the VP for advancement was fired last week.
For what it’s worth, the departed CFO is also still listed.
