Post by 10point on Jul 20, 2007 9:29:13 GMT -5
What do you guys think about this?
jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070720/NEWS0501/707200343/1152/NEWS
Purdue's celebration tab: $576,778
By BRIAN WALLHEIMER
bwallheimer@journalandcourier.com
Wow.
That's the response from many students and staff when told Purdue spent more than a half-million dollars for a party last month to celebrate the end of its Campaign for Purdue fundraiser.
"That seems like a big waste," said David Hoover, a junior studying actuarial science. "Pay for renovations to some of these buildings. A lot of the buildings need it."
The bill for the June 30 event, in which donors were thanked for $1.7 billion in contributions over the past seven years, totaled $576,778, according to documents gathered by the Journal & Courier. About half was paid for by the Purdue Research Foundation; the rest came from money raised through the campaign.
Joe Bennett, vice president for university relations, said the event had to be upscale to properly thanks donors, many of whom donated more than $1 million.
"It's part of what you do to raise money at that kind of level," Bennett said. "That's what the people who made contributions to us deserved."
Some on campus agree.
"It seems to me if Purdue wants to continue to have fundraising activities like the $1.7 billion fundraiser, you have to treat your donors right," said Erik Hanson, a philosophy graduate student. "If throwing a big party for donors will help increase donor support, sometimes that's what you have to do."
Bennett said there were some increased costs because the event was held at Mollenkopf Athletic Center instead of Purdue Memorial Union's ballrooms. Stages, lighting, audio and other equipment had to be brought in and set up in Mollenkopf.
Also, student singers and musicians weren't available in the summer months, so more expensive professionals were hired.
Purdue hired Thomas Productions Inc., an event planning company, for the job and paid $480,600 for food, entertainment, decorations and technical equipment and setup. The rest was for other printing, mailing, transportation, facility rental and catering costs.
It's unclear where Thomas Productions is based. The information obtained by the Journal & Courier didn't include receipts or vendor information.
The university received $15,826 from ticket sales, all of which went toward the event expenses.
George Bodner, faculty senate president, said it's hard to say what's appropriate to pay for thank-you events.
"I hate to say this is the best way of spending it, but sometimes you have to say thank you in an appropriate manner," Bodner said. "When you look at the numbers, this is an infinitesimally small percentage of what was raised and therefore may have been appropriate."
Lisa Peters, a conference division secretary, said she isn't surprised by the number but thought the money could have been spent better.
"It takes everybody to keep the place running for the students, and a lot needs to be directed toward them to keep tuition down," Peters said.
Bennett said France Córdova would not comment on the issue because she was not Purdue's president when the event happened and had no part in planning it.
Martin Jischke, president during the Campaign for Purdue and during the celebration, could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.
jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070720/NEWS0501/707200343/1152/NEWS
Purdue's celebration tab: $576,778
By BRIAN WALLHEIMER
bwallheimer@journalandcourier.com
Wow.
That's the response from many students and staff when told Purdue spent more than a half-million dollars for a party last month to celebrate the end of its Campaign for Purdue fundraiser.
"That seems like a big waste," said David Hoover, a junior studying actuarial science. "Pay for renovations to some of these buildings. A lot of the buildings need it."
The bill for the June 30 event, in which donors were thanked for $1.7 billion in contributions over the past seven years, totaled $576,778, according to documents gathered by the Journal & Courier. About half was paid for by the Purdue Research Foundation; the rest came from money raised through the campaign.
Joe Bennett, vice president for university relations, said the event had to be upscale to properly thanks donors, many of whom donated more than $1 million.
"It's part of what you do to raise money at that kind of level," Bennett said. "That's what the people who made contributions to us deserved."
Some on campus agree.
"It seems to me if Purdue wants to continue to have fundraising activities like the $1.7 billion fundraiser, you have to treat your donors right," said Erik Hanson, a philosophy graduate student. "If throwing a big party for donors will help increase donor support, sometimes that's what you have to do."
Bennett said there were some increased costs because the event was held at Mollenkopf Athletic Center instead of Purdue Memorial Union's ballrooms. Stages, lighting, audio and other equipment had to be brought in and set up in Mollenkopf.
Also, student singers and musicians weren't available in the summer months, so more expensive professionals were hired.
Purdue hired Thomas Productions Inc., an event planning company, for the job and paid $480,600 for food, entertainment, decorations and technical equipment and setup. The rest was for other printing, mailing, transportation, facility rental and catering costs.
It's unclear where Thomas Productions is based. The information obtained by the Journal & Courier didn't include receipts or vendor information.
The university received $15,826 from ticket sales, all of which went toward the event expenses.
George Bodner, faculty senate president, said it's hard to say what's appropriate to pay for thank-you events.
"I hate to say this is the best way of spending it, but sometimes you have to say thank you in an appropriate manner," Bodner said. "When you look at the numbers, this is an infinitesimally small percentage of what was raised and therefore may have been appropriate."
Lisa Peters, a conference division secretary, said she isn't surprised by the number but thought the money could have been spent better.
"It takes everybody to keep the place running for the students, and a lot needs to be directed toward them to keep tuition down," Peters said.
Bennett said France Córdova would not comment on the issue because she was not Purdue's president when the event happened and had no part in planning it.
Martin Jischke, president during the Campaign for Purdue and during the celebration, could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.
If they wanted to throw a big party and 100% of the party expenditures came from the donations, then fine, they're just refunding some of the donations as a bottom line... but why pull $$$'s from other budgets?