http://www.gophersports.com/genrel/013118aaa.html
I recently read multiple letters to the editor that reiterated a misconception about Gopher Athletics and, more specifically, the funding model for Athletes Village.
These letters inaccurately stated that University projects and programs may lack funding because athletics, and Athletes Village in particular, are being funded instead. That idea is false.
In fact, the Athletes Village is being completely paid for through private donations and athletics revenue. This has been shared in published media reports, has been publicly discussed at multiple Board of Regents meetings, and is clearly outlined on the fundraising campaign's website, NothingShortOfGreatness.com.
Athletes Village does not impact funding for any campus ventures. Beyond this, I have heard concerns that spending on Athletes Village has an impact on tuition, or isn't a responsible use of taxpayer money. These are also misconceptions that need to be cleared up. Neither tuition nor taxpayer money will be used to pay for Athletes Village.
Something that may fuel this misunderstanding is that the University is providing debt service - a loan - to bridge the difference between the total cost of the project (approximately $166 million) and the current fundraising total, which sits above $105 million and continues to grow. Our department is responsible to fully pay back the University for this loan, using future donations and athletics revenue as I mentioned before.
The University's support of the project has been critical to reaching this point and is greatly appreciated, but that support does not include any permanent financing.
It is disappointing these misconceptions about financing for Gopher Athletics and the Athletes Village continue to surface, but I understand that it's on me, and my staff, to correct these misconceptions. We will do a more intentional job of sharing this important message.
The Athletes Village is a significant jump forward for Gopher Athletics. We now have a nutrition center that will not only feed all of our student-athletes, but welcome all students our facilities for breakfast or lunch if they would like. We dramatically expanded our academic center and leadership center, allowing us to better prepare student-athletes for successful careers after sport. We also added modern training spaces for football, and men's and https://youtu.be/fUx1yIyBDEo, which will ultimately free up existing spaces in our current buildings to upgrade facilities for many more of our teams.
Opening Athletes Village is a key moment in our department's effort to upgrade the facilities our student-athletes use to study and train each day. We are proud of our fundraising for the Athletes Village to this point - already the largest fundraising total for a single project in the department's history - and we are so appreciative to the many, many donors who have invested in our student-athletes by giving to Athletes Village. I hope everyone who supported this project is as proud as we are to open its doors to Gopher student-athletes.
I recently read multiple letters to the editor that reiterated a misconception about Gopher Athletics and, more specifically, the funding model for Athletes Village.
These letters inaccurately stated that University projects and programs may lack funding because athletics, and Athletes Village in particular, are being funded instead. That idea is false.
In fact, the Athletes Village is being completely paid for through private donations and athletics revenue. This has been shared in published media reports, has been publicly discussed at multiple Board of Regents meetings, and is clearly outlined on the fundraising campaign's website, NothingShortOfGreatness.com.
Athletes Village does not impact funding for any campus ventures. Beyond this, I have heard concerns that spending on Athletes Village has an impact on tuition, or isn't a responsible use of taxpayer money. These are also misconceptions that need to be cleared up. Neither tuition nor taxpayer money will be used to pay for Athletes Village.
Something that may fuel this misunderstanding is that the University is providing debt service - a loan - to bridge the difference between the total cost of the project (approximately $166 million) and the current fundraising total, which sits above $105 million and continues to grow. Our department is responsible to fully pay back the University for this loan, using future donations and athletics revenue as I mentioned before.
The University's support of the project has been critical to reaching this point and is greatly appreciated, but that support does not include any permanent financing.
It is disappointing these misconceptions about financing for Gopher Athletics and the Athletes Village continue to surface, but I understand that it's on me, and my staff, to correct these misconceptions. We will do a more intentional job of sharing this important message.
The Athletes Village is a significant jump forward for Gopher Athletics. We now have a nutrition center that will not only feed all of our student-athletes, but welcome all students our facilities for breakfast or lunch if they would like. We dramatically expanded our academic center and leadership center, allowing us to better prepare student-athletes for successful careers after sport. We also added modern training spaces for football, and men's and https://youtu.be/fUx1yIyBDEo, which will ultimately free up existing spaces in our current buildings to upgrade facilities for many more of our teams.
Opening Athletes Village is a key moment in our department's effort to upgrade the facilities our student-athletes use to study and train each day. We are proud of our fundraising for the Athletes Village to this point - already the largest fundraising total for a single project in the department's history - and we are so appreciative to the many, many donors who have invested in our student-athletes by giving to Athletes Village. I hope everyone who supported this project is as proud as we are to open its doors to Gopher student-athletes.
