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if you think the art work is so valuable offer to buy it and then donate it.

That is exactly what was done. Look at the specs on the Frederic Church painting for example. It clearly states that the painting was bought and donated to Valparaiso University by Percy Sloan. The other two paintings were bought through donations to the Sloan Fund for purchase of art to be displayed at the university. This is why there is so much anger. I have never seen members of the university community—faculty (current and emeritus), students, community members—so unified on a topic as they are about opposition to Padilla in this instance. Those who could not agree with one another on past issues have come together on this one. Every prominent figure one might associate with the university as among the most revered and most loyal has publicly voiced opposition through letters, petition signatures, or statements at meetings. The letter to Padilla by nearly 100 present and past faculty is a who's who synonymous with Valpo. Even the new director of the museum, hired by Padilla but deceptively and unethically kept in the dark about this plan during the whole process, has now come out in opposition. The destruction done to trust and morale is more extensive than most can imagine, and Padilla's reputation has been permanently damaged.

As I have stated before, I would prefer that the art not be sold, but I am more concerned about what is in the best financial interest of the university. First of all, most "gifts", which is what a donation actually is, to a non-profit are irrevocable. I do not know if restrictions were legally placed on these monetary and physical "gifts" by the donors and I don't think most of the opposition know the facts either. Did anyone in the "60's" actually think that these painting would increase in value a thousand+ fold? Second, you state "Every prominent figure one might associate with the university as among the most revered and most loyal has publicly voiced opposition through letters, petition signatures, or statements at meetings". This statement is incorrect, because past and present members of the LUA are the most loyal and most prominent of all people associated with VU. Names like Duesenberg, Helge and Hansen are in that group. If those names aren't revered by the oppostion they should be. I know for a fact that many of the past and present LUA members were repsonsible, either directly with their own donations or by soliciting other high major donors, for at least 62.5 million dollars in the last campaign. That the opposition can so easily discount and not find the tiniest bit of merit in the recommendation of that extremely loyal, dedicated, and highly successful group is alarming to me.

Your dedication is pretty inspiring and the number of linkages are incredible. With Fort Wayne just two hours away and a long history of the church connections to Valpo you mention, is the enrollment of Fort Wayne students rising?

This is going to sound a little crazy. Valpo has not actively recruited students from Concordia Lutheran High School here in Fort Wayne in quite a few years. My wife and I have both been very involved with CLHS and this has bothered us for some time. In the past two years not one student has gone to Valpo from CLHS. This was the main focus of my conversation with President Padilla. I am working with a representative from VU trying to arrange a meeting time with the administration at CLHS. Padilla assures me that ignoring Lutheran secondary schools is a trend he intends on breaking, recruiting students from Lutheran secondary schools is emphasized in the strategic plan.

81 - selling the art is not a pleasant experience. However, are these desperate times?  I am simply lost and will never understand the financial situation. We have a $250m  endowment, why not tap into it?

In MOST cases the principle dollars of an endowment can not be spent. Non-Profits are governed by the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA). UPMIFA is a uniform state law that provides fundamental rules for the investment of funds held by charitable institutions and the expenditure of funds donated as "endowments." Most university endowments are made up of smaller endowed gifts that have restrictions as to how and for what they can be used. UPMIFA generally stipulates that the principle of an endowment can not be invaded and that only 4-5% of what would hopefully be 7-8% of income from investments can be distributed each year. In plain English, you can not just "tap" into an endowment. As you may have guessed, some individual endowments (that make up the larger general "endowment") actually went underwater this past year and therefore did not have a distribution.

I was in culture shock after graduating and living in LA.

So would just about all of the "flyover states" population. I think a lot of the families and students VU is going after would consider that a good thing.

Valpo was and still is a tradition for me and my wife. Our parents and many, other older generation family members went to VU. Children from family members have continued to attend. Most recently 3 of my nieces and nephews attended in the past 6 years with the last of the 3 graduating in December, all were very involved in the religous life of the campus. Religion was a big part of why I went to VU, not to become church worker, but to fulfill the calling of the founders of the LUA that stated "the church can not rise higher than the pew". "Christians are supposed to be the salt of the earth. We must have Christian doctors, lawyers and others active as citizens for the sake of our society". Some extended family members were professors and many of my close high school classmates went to VU giving it a very homey feel. I was in a fraternity and also involved in a number of other extra curricular activities.

I loved my time at VU and developed many friendships with classmates and proffessors. The close knit relationships fostered in small classes had an impact even after graduation. I remained active on the Alumni Board, sponsoring VU activities here in Fort Wayne and with VU basketball up until Heckler became president and Homer retired. I am very hopeful after talking with Padilla and the new Assistant Vice President for Mission, Church, and Ministry.

The VU Alumni Association ostensibly has a member on the VU board.  In the 80s that person was elected by ballot by every alum who attended Homecoming. 

VU95 - Could you find out the election process now?  Grassroots influence is important.  And how are the actual board members elected?   I probably have this quote wrong.......

John Adams - "Government only has power to the extent it is chosen by the governed." 

The president of the Alumni Board of Directors is chosen by the members of that board and voted on at the Homecoming open meeting (which few if any alumni outside of the board members attended), at least that is the way it was done when I was on the board in the late 80's early 90's. The Alumni Board president is on the Lutheran University Association Board of Directors. Alumni Board candidates were nominated by alumni and other Alumni Board members and ballots were sent out with the homecoming info packets. Voting was not done for board members at homecoming as far as I was aware. I am not sure how board members are selected/elected now.

Or maybe an offense that gets people open looks from the perimeter. 

We do get a decent number of open looks, we just don't hit them. 3 of the players on the floor could take an open 3 almost every possession. We are the worst 3 point shooting team in the conference. Ryan Fazekas, while he didn't play in a lot of games, shot 51.6% in conference play his senior year, we don't have anyone close to that this year or in any of the years since his graduation. Its not rocket science to figure out why we made the late season run that year and why it probably won't happen this year. Percentage wise in conference play our numbers are horrible. Only 3 players shooting better than 30% in conference.

   
• Nelson 42.2% on 64 attempts
• Ben Krikke 35.5% on 31 attempts
• Connor Barrett 31.5% on 54 attempts
• Quinton Green 29.1% on 117 attempts

I would say it is hard to win games in conference when your primary ball handler overall shoots only 32.5%

One thing I just noticed: Valpo is now shooting below 30% from three on the season (29.7%). That is beyond terrible.

They need something like this: https://www.noahbasketball.com/products

I attended a faculty meeting with Padilla and his cabinet last week in which all the details of the art sale plan and the Board's overall budget were offered. For the sake of ethics, I cannot repeat any of the conversation here.


However, two open letters to Padilla and the board strenuously objecting to the art sale have been composed: one by about 100 faculty, including the most revered and respected figures on campus, and another by nearly 400 students to be presented to the student senate for a proposal. There is also talk of a possible alumni letter forthcoming. Rather than "a few loud, naive students and professors," the perspective on campus appears overwhelmingly against Padilla's decision. I have heard no support for the plan. In fact, following the faculty meeting, objections to the art sale have only strengthened. The plan may take place, but the unfortunate consequences will be even greater division and distrust, as well as a further weakening of morale in the university community. 


On another point, I agree with you that an art sale, combined with faculty displeasure over current compensation discussions, would rule out any idea of a buyout or other large expenditures in athletics.

I find this very strange. There is a meeting that was designed to foster transparency. The budget is revealed and the disgruntled salary starved faculty does not see any merit in an action plan approved by 22 highly successful people, that potentially helps return the enrollment to previous levels.

You didn't see ANY merit in their plan???

The game was lost on those two late trips down the floor with the lead that each resulted in a turnover. Trevor Anderson said it on the Victory Bell, he prefers not holding the ball in those late possessions especially, when you are up only one or two possessions, just run your regular offense. I might change my mind on that if I had a point guard that was a scoring/shooting and driving threat. Valpo doesn't have that. I know many coaches think the other team can't score if they don't have the ball, but you are really putting a ton of pressure on your team to score with a time running down scenario.

valpopal - As I stated in a prior post, to what degree should Valpo consider the opinions of four art museum associations when making decisions regarding strategies and priorities?

Those associations have the power to sanction Valparaiso University, instructing its members not to loan work to or collaborate with the Brauer Museum in the future.

I mean no disrespect and would prefer that VU not feel that this action is necessary, but I don't see how sanctions or collaborations from or with these groups significantly impacts the university. I conceded that the negative publicity they have generated has certainly cast a pall over VU, have they expended as much energy in the past to promote the Brauer Museum? I have no knowledge of the financials, but I would have to believe that the Brauer Museum does not generate significant income for VU. Is the art community outside of alumni a significant donor base for VU? I tried to find videos featuring O'Keefe and the painting and was able to view several, but the painting was never attributed to VU other than the PBS video that was posted. Would the average art "person" know that VU has this piece and be inclined to donate something for its preservation? How much does the museum get for loaning out a painting and to what budget does that money go to? Are donations to the museum considered donations to VU or strictly to the museum?

There certainly were funds included in the final count that were available for immediate us, most notably the annual Day of Giving.  Last year the amount raised was in excess of #1 million so over the years of the campaign perhaps $5 million came from this source.  There were other gifts with direct consequences like the money given from the estate of Dale Kempf, which was used to renovate the Hilltop practice facility.  Also included was the $15 million given by the Helge's for the now complete Chapel renovation and addition.  If FWalum's $150 million yet to be received number is correct, that means that about $155 million has been received (announced total was $305 million), most of which will be added to the restricted endowment.

Monies given as cash means nothing, it needs to be looked at as restricted or unrestricted funds. Most of the funds from the annual Day of Giving are restricted. Kempf estate gift was restricted, Helge gift was restricted. Only funds specifically given to General Ops can be used "where most needed". Schools can appear to be swimming in dough, but if it is mostly restricted money they may struggle to perform day to day operations.

I should have clarified by writing that funds were given that were available for immediate use (by the department, college or specific purpose so designated)

So in case you haven't caught the drift of my theme here... if you are concerned about your non-profits cash on hand then give your money to General Operations!!! Gen Ops money can be used for ANYTHING including scholarships. I know that appeals go out from the departments, the arts, athletics (yes I have given to my department and athletics) and many other specific places that will restrict the funds for that use, but if you literally want to help keep the lights on then give to Gen Ops = where most needed.

There certainly were funds included in the final count that were available for immediate us, most notably the annual Day of Giving.  Last year the amount raised was in excess of #1 million so over the years of the campaign perhaps $5 million came from this source.  There were other gifts with direct consequences like the money given from the estate of Dale Kempf, which was used to renovate the Hilltop practice facility.  Also included was the $15 million given by the Helge's for the now complete Chapel renovation and addition.  If FWalum's $150 million yet to be received number is correct, that means that about $155 million has been received (announced total was $305 million), most of which will be added to the restricted endowment.

Monies given as cash means nothing, it needs to be looked at as restricted or unrestricted funds. Most of the funds from the annual Day of Giving are restricted. Kempf estate gift was restricted, Helge gift was restricted. Only funds specifically given to General Ops can be used "where most needed". Schools can appear to be swimming in dough, but if it is mostly restricted money they may struggle to perform day to day operations.

[could/should]

FWalum, we may differ on what constitutes the "real mission of higher education." I see it as multifaceted, encompassing both the liberal arts and vocational preparation. It also reaches beyond the immediate student body and engages the broader community, both geographically and -- as in here -- specific cultural, civic, and business communities.

But my viewpoint is hardly exclusive, and it concededly has trouble wrapping itself around the notion that prospective students  might regard the availability of fancier housing options as potential deal makers/breakers in choosing a college. Not long ago, it was more or less assumed that if residence hall options included a serviceable bed, desk, and indoor plumbing in a safe environment, that checked the box and the rest was about what the school could do for you outside of your dorm room.

Visit some of the elite universities in Europe, and you'll see what I mean. Over the years, I've attended summer school sessions at both (as an adult, continuing ed student). Many residence halls and facilities in places like Oxford and Cambridge are pretty old and plain. Some are living, breathing examples of deferred maintenance.

So yeah, fancy dorms aren't a part of how I regard the real mission of higher ed. But I understand that I'm running contrary to consumer expectations these days. And those expectations are driving up the costs of American higher ed relentlessly and prompting unfortunate decisions like the present one.

You and I think very much alike in how we wish things could/should be. I have recently been brought into a church related higher ed institution to help them on the "reality or business" side. We wish for things, but now I have to help them figure out the reality of finding dollars for that "wishlist" while continuing day to day operations.

If Valpo is so strapped for cash and going to start a art collection fire sale, what purpose did the $250M fundraiser have? I heard the donations or pledges are for cash that will be there.

Glad to see Valpo win, Krikke is a stud and we should be thankful for his contributions.

However but the commitment to mediocrity continues. At least we have dumb cuddly mascots.

At the end of the campaign the endowment stood at approx $350M in hard dollars (This has probably decreased because of declines in the markets). Money given to VU's general endowment is restricted by the terms of that endowment which may include some general operating funds for deparments and asset maintenance, other money given by individuals or families to their named endowments have their own restrictions on usage. Use of endowment money is further restricted by the rules of UPMIFA. There is approximately $150M that is yet to come to VU in the form of bequest gifts. This means that VU can currently most likely use about 17.5M a year, and the use of that money is restricted by the terms of the endowments and UPMIFA. In the case of my institution the majority of the funds produced by our endowments is required to go to student aid. I would supspect that this is also the case at VU.

[This is wild speculation]

Honestly, I don't see a lot of "wild speculation here." In fact, I've read a lot of informed speculation that attempts to make up for the lack of hard numbers due to what's being shared or not shared with university constituencies. How much financial information to reveal is, of course, VU's choice. But when it comes to controversial decisions, less info shared = more speculation.

If there is a "lack" of information how can the speculation be termed as "informed"? All I have seen is uninformed speculation.


Here is information, some of which has already been said in this thread... Nearly every university in the country has taken measures to counter what some perceive to be a paradigm shift in higher education. Valparaiso, because it has a moderately sized endowment of approximately $350,000,000 with additional bequest gifts around $150,000,000, appears to be in better shape then many other institutions of our size.

This is wild speculation

If the university is in some desperation cycle towards closing, it shoudl be decided and communicated quickly, while there is still money to give staff and students time to find other jobs or discern where else to finish their studies. It all sounds pretty bad, looking at cutting academic programs and crumbling dorms and selling of donated assets. But I feel even worse about the cases in the news where colleges have just closed abruptly mid-year and then students end up scrambling to transfer. In some cases these places were recruiting students and faculty and doing construction right up until the announcement to close the doors, which is insane and so unfair to those freshmen or sophomores who went in good faith. Luckily, Valpo still has a hefty enough endowment (and enough art assets?) to pay for some years' of employees salaries to give them a couple cycles or academic year job market seasons and to teach out whatever current students there are. But it would be important to stop hiring some years in advance and to not accept applications for after year 202X.

I'm afraid the actual existence of the University is a matter coming into question if these drastic measures are being planned.

How much actual time did St Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana have before their board of directors made the decision to close it's doors?

Don't get me wrong, I am a business person working to fund higher education who would love it if the hard decisions about university assets did not have to be made. I would love it if VU could keep these paintings!


Until this week I had no idea that the Brauer Museum had such a stellar national and even international reputation. It appears that it was one of the things VU has hidden under a bushel. The O'Keeffe painting probably has produced some revenue for VU, but unless we are getting over $500,000 per year for it to be displayed in other museums then it is underperforming. Does the revenue received from the loaning of paintings go back to the general fund of VU or does it stay in the budget of the museum? It would be unethical to put a $15,000,000 endowment into a standard savings account earning 3.5% interest yet it seems it is uber ethical to hold a painting of the same value that has had little if any effect on the admission and retention of students to VU.


There is more and more discussion among those involved in university development about the ethics of holding assets that do little to support the real mission of higher education. It is ironic to think that these 3 paintings have garnered more attention, albeit negative attention, to the general population and potential future students than at any time during their possession by VU.

Such wild speculation on this board is not helping the situation and as someone who works in the business side of higher education I find it almost malicious. All this speculation about ethics and not one question about the ethics of holding an asset that has increased in value at least 166,666% (if I read correctly the O'Keeffe painting was purchased for less than $6,000 and I am assuming it to be worth at least $10,000,000). This would be like having a $10,000,000 endowment that never made a distribution! Would all those worried about VU academics feel better if the $20,000,000 from the sale of the paintings was used to establish 5 new endowed academic chairs? I believe that David81 is correct in saying

My sense is that VU is not in danger of suddenly closing up shop, largely due to the earlier, very painful decisions already made. That may well have been the point of existential crisis at its worst. Indeed, it is noteworthy on this question that VU is not contemplating the sale of Brauer art works to cover everyday operating expenses, which -- aside from the merits of the decision itself -- is good (or at least better) news in the current context.

If you would review the data from NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) you could probably conclude that if VU is in danger of closing, then a VERY large number of smaller universities and colleges are in peril. While VU is still too dependent on tuition, we are not as dependent as MANY other colleges and universities. If the Valpo and other art communities wish for the paintings to remain in our museum then lets see how much money they can raise to make that happen.

Paul Oren dropped a 50 min podcast on the Victory Bell early this afternoon.

Reason why teams give Kobe open looks from 3. He gets away from his bread and butter slashing into the lane. Krikke, tremendous effort tonight. Green, needs to slash to the hoop more, especially if his shot isn't falling. This team has no margin for errors.

Although the guys who aren't making threes, such as King (0 for 6) and Q.Green (1 for 6) should not keep shooting threes if they keep missing them. It really hurts our team three point shooting % (8 for 31, 25.8%)

It seems that whe the 3's aren't falling they either come too quickly or when the shot clock is winding down. I know I sound like an old fart, but we would put a hard stop on shooting 3's in many situations. I am not sure why that has not been the case in several games.

[Wonder what happened to the chef donor? ----- to VU Library]

Good points in terms of the analogies or church terms!   

I would guess that the family with three 8-figure gifts in the press release already has driven up the "status" factor and lured more high gifts.  Wonder what happened to the chef donor? ----- to VU Library   

That would be the Christopher's.  Jay is a 1967 Valpo grad.  He and his Doris (primarily his wife) started and built a company called The Pampered Chef. He and his wife are now divorced. They gave $15 million for the Library, as well as large amounts for the Kalley-Christopher building. He also paid for the track.

The pampered Chef was sold to Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway in 2002 for a reported $900 million.

Jay Christopher and his now ex-wife have given over 75 million to VU.

Attendance was 1057, lowest of the year. Does the crowd number dip below 1000 for the Stonehill game on Wednesday or does the Community Game promo save the day?

Pretty sure the December graduation ceremony was at the same time, in the Chapel.  Maybe the grads out drew the basketball team!

I was at graduation. Cornell Boggs, the newly elected Chairman of the Thrivent Board gave the address to the graduates. He had an excellent speech along with a wonderful charge to the graduates by President Padilla.

Feed is up.

Bradley and UNI games have the same message.

DM to PO and he says it's an ESPN+ issue.

No video for some reason.

chgo - so my guess is that the administration still want to give him a chance to succeed and does not want to pull the trigger. If they did pull the trigger, how much money would Valpo have to pay out? Is it the rest of the season? Several years?

Probably not a lot of people know the specifics of his contract let alone the buyout clause. I would be shocked if it wasn't at least one years salary, but it is probably more with some potential negotiation points.
Check out this website Basketball coaches salary and buyout database there are several MVC coaches listed in the database. Buyouts vary greatly between coach's contracts.