Update on Lecture Series Proposal
To:
Emeritus Colleagues
April
28, 2004
From:
James
D. Young, President
Emeriti of California State
University, Fullerton
Subject:
UPDATE on the William B. Langsdorf
Distinguished Lecture Series
Proposal
The WBL Lecture Committee met on Thursday,
April 22 to
discuss recent developments concerning our latest proposal for the
lecture
series. The enthusiastic support from
our members for L. Donald Shields’ proposal was confirmed in the
questionnaire
returns with pledges of time, expertise, and funds.
This “Emeriti Gift” to the university and community was
most
compelling to our committee because it would not require any funds from
our
university’s budgets: it was to be
totally self-supporting, given that: at the March 19 general meeting of
the
Emeriti, the proposal received an overwhelming endorsement of those
present and
Don at that time pledged two years of his life to making it a
successful
enterprise. We thought that Don Shields
and President Gordon were in full agreement that if the Emeriti could
not show
the ability to make a “go” of it by September 2004, the project would
be
dropped.
Following that March 19 meeting, the
proposal was widely
distributed to inform everyone concerned, and to encourage support from
those
of the Emeriti who did not attend the March 19 meeting. On April 14,
2004 at a
final decision-meeting, Dr. Gordon did not give his endorsement to the
proposal
due to a series of factors, not the least of which is the California
Budgetary
Crisis. It is Dr. Gordon’s concern and
that of the administration that the program would create an additional
drain
upon the University’s diminished resources. He
was concerned that launching a new endeavor at a time
of hardship for
our students, faculty, and other university personnel would be
competitive with
university priorities. Dr. Gordon did
not share our confidence that the Emeriti would be able to implement
the
proposal in a way that would bring new resources, as well as additional
prestige, to the University at no cost to the University.
The committee discussed these issues at
length at the April
22 meeting, and ultimately decided that we would recess our activities
at this
time. We are most thankful for your
enthusiasm and support for this endeavor. We
are returning checks that were sent to support this
project with deepest
thanks for your generosity. We invite
your continued support for Our University.
Sincerely,
James D. (Jim) Young
p.s.
I wish to thank the committee for your
generous sharing of time and enthusiasm for this project.
cc:
Milton A.
Gordon, President
WBL Lecture Committee:
Pamela
Hillman, Vice President
Leland Bellot, Chair
Dennis O’Connor
Lawrence
de Graaf L. Donald Shields
Joyce Flocken
Steve
Tanenbaum
Robert
McClaren
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