tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post116964826658541954..comments2023-06-18T10:03:39.982-05:00Comments on Gregorian Rants: DE says Poshard had a bad year? I just can't agree.PeterGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13362919400474969329noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1170623063530954242007-02-04T15:04:00.000-06:002007-02-04T15:04:00.000-06:00Poshard is going to do everything he can to raise ...Poshard is going to do everything he can to raise the money. However he made it clear with his comments to the graduate council that they need $28 million dollars to start the football stadium construction and the Arena renovation. They have $37 million in student fees coming in over the next four years. Therefore, with the student's money already coming in, I can only hope that they would at least start the northernmost buildings, either the classroom building or the student services building (from all inside information that I can gleam, it looks like the student services building will be the first to come online). Also, I'd like to see the Arena renovation before the new football stadium. A renovation to the SIU Arena brings a lot more to the table - our signature sport plays there, a lot of events are held there, and it's a way to put our best foot forward to Southern Illinois. The football stadium would at most be used 7 times a year. If they do build a new one merely to create space for the academic buildings, build it bare bones like a hole in the ground, have it seat 12,000 people in all bleachers, and only have a minimal press box. I'd bet you could save a lot of money doing that. $42 million for a I-AA football stadium that gets no publicity for the University and just burns a hole in SIU's pocket is a bit much. A new stadium shouldn't cost more than $ 8 or 9 million max.<BR/><BR/>I'd love to see Posard do it, but unless someone like Kenny Troutt writes a $30 million check, I don't see the Saluki Way as set up by Wendler happening. Our private giving has to improve though, and if SIU is more competently managed, people will regain confidence and we will be able to raise more money - not enough to keep up with UIUC, but enough to be the Second Crown Jewel again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1170215218203003342007-01-30T21:46:00.000-06:002007-01-30T21:46:00.000-06:00Poshard's recent speeches still use the words "hav...Poshard's recent speeches still use the words "have to" in association with a new football stadium. The speeches also acknowledge the donation problem that anyone can see at http://www.siuf.org/campaign/progress_detail.asp?campaignid=3<BR/>It looks to me like there will be another year or two of failed fund raising before they'll finally back away from Saluki Way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1170163287983404072007-01-30T07:21:00.000-06:002007-01-30T07:21:00.000-06:00This is all about the money. SIU will need millio...This is all about the money. SIU will need millions and more millions from private donors to do Saluki Way. They aren't going to get that money. A couple of months ago Caleb Hale wrote a Southern Illinoisan article about how they have only raised $400k so far. Poshard has made noises about not doing Saluki Way if they can't afford it. Put no money and calling it off together and you get not doing it fairly quickly.<BR/><BR/>There is nothing wrong with Wendler's plans that someone dropping a random Billion Dollars on campus wouldn't cure.PeterGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13362919400474969329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1170134300993831542007-01-29T23:18:00.000-06:002007-01-29T23:18:00.000-06:00I must ask about this "backing away from Saluki Wa...I must ask about this "backing away from Saluki Way" thing. How are they going to do it in a reasonable and orderly fashion (without tipping much of your hand)? I remember when Illinois State tried to do the same thing and a lot of their alumni went beserk. <BR/><BR/>Now if they back off it could cause a lot of hard feelings from boosters. I think there are worse things to worry about right now, but it would still be interesting to see the reactions of those who think we're going to do both the new football facility and the Arena renovations if the administration backed off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com