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General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events Topic
Topic: What would you do with $50 million
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Alan Swank
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Posted: 6/8/2021 4:07 PM
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SBH
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Posted: 6/8/2021 8:29 PM
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Uh, make that FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION.
The Optimist
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Posted: 6/8/2021 9:13 PM
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$550 million is the largest donation to any public school in US history. Wow. I hope they make good use of it.

Edit:
After reading the article Alan may have been referencing the 50 million specific to Athletics
Quote:expand_more
WMU’s record-breaking gift will be delivered to the university’s foundation over 10 years where it will flow into three main streams, according to the Washington Post story: $300 million for Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine; $200 million for need-based financial aid, faculty hiring and other university initiatives; and $50 million for the school’s Bronco athletic programs.
Last Edited: 6/8/2021 9:15:57 PM by The Optimist
Recovering Journalist
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Posted: 6/8/2021 9:22 PM
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Only a handful of people with any ties to the school could have given that amount. My guess is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Stryker
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 6/8/2021 10:34 PM
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Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
Only a handful of people with any ties to the school could have given that amount. My guess is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Stryker
Good guess. I think you've probably picked the right woman.
Last Edited: 6/8/2021 10:36:42 PM by OhioCatFan
cc-cat
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Posted: 6/9/2021 12:57 AM
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Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
Only a handful of people with any ties to the school could have given that amount. My guess is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Stryker
If I'm the University of Northern Colorado I am pissed.
Last Edited: 6/9/2021 12:59:15 AM by cc-cat
mf279801
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Posted: 6/9/2021 11:10 AM
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“What would you do with $550,000,000?”

I’ll take “rhymes with cookers and flow” Alex (RIP)

Not sure what I’d do with the other $540,000,000 (but I’d come up with something)
Alan Swank
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Posted: 6/9/2021 12:52 PM
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So I'll ask the question again, what would you do with $50 million?
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 6/9/2021 1:33 PM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
So I'll ask the question again, what would you do with $50 million?
Subsidize like two seasons of FBS football without student fees?
Alan Swank
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Posted: 6/9/2021 4:26 PM
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
So I'll ask the question again, what would you do with $50 million?
Subsidize like two seasons of FBS football without student fees?
I guess I should have been a bit more specific. If our athletics department was getting $50 million over the next 10 years like Western's is getting, what would you do with it?
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 6/9/2021 4:39 PM
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First, the peden scoreboard moved to the top of the hill and built on a higher structure.

2nd, the rest of Peden knocked down and rebuilt.
The Optimist
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Posted: 6/9/2021 5:14 PM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
So I'll ask the question again, what would you do with $50 million?
Subsidize like two seasons of FBS football without student fees?
I guess I should have been a bit more specific. If our athletics department was getting $50 million over the next 10 years like Western's is getting, what would you do with it?
If I were donating $50 million to Ohio Athletics, it'd definitely come with caveats on how to use it. 50m is a lot. I'd like to see a massive Convo renovation (including the dorms) and add-on a practice court facility. The remainder of the $ I would divide up between programs on both the men's and women's side.

As for donating to the University at-large, I'd make a sizable donation to the CoB and make a donation to focus on healthy nutrition/dining halls.
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 6/9/2021 11:22 PM
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My top priority would be to invest it in a way that would reduce dependence on student fees for the athletic department budget.
SBH
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Posted: 6/10/2021 9:21 AM
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The dumbest think they could do with the $50MM is invest it in big capital projects at this strange point in the history of intercollegiate athletics. Establish an endowment and feed off the earnings until things shake out.
stub
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Posted: 6/10/2021 1:14 PM
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The Optimist wrote:expand_more
[QUOTE=Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame] [QUOTE=Alan Swank] So I'll ask the question again, what would you do with $50 million?
If I were donating $50 million to Ohio Athletics, it'd definitely come with caveats on how to use it. 50m is a lot. I'd like to see a massive Convo renovation (including the dorms) and add-on a practice court facility. The remainder of the $ I would divide up between programs on both the men's and women's side.
Agree.
Need a practice facility for sure. And the Convo could be a gem if they create some type of an Ohio Historic Sports Center in the concourse. Plus, more support of minor sports and bring back men's track and field and return it to its former days of glory. One One can dream.
Ohio69
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Posted: 6/10/2021 1:35 PM
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Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
My top priority would be to invest it in a way that would reduce dependence on student fees for the athletic department budget.
I'm with Jeff. Maybe spend $2 million on a locker room/facility type building for Soccer/Field Hockey/Track to share over by their fields. The rest into an athletics endowment.
The Optimist
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Posted: 6/10/2021 1:48 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
The dumbest think they could do with the $50MM is invest it in big capital projects at this strange point in the history of intercollegiate athletics. Establish an endowment and feed off the earnings until things shake out.
I've got no confidence in college administrators to effectively manage money, so there's a slim chance I'd just give them money and let them run with it...
giacomo
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Posted: 6/10/2021 9:00 PM
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It’s like everyone’s dream of winning the Power Ball. It ain’t happening.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 6/10/2021 11:16 PM
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Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
My top priority would be to invest it in a way that would reduce dependence on student fees for the athletic department budget.
I'm with Jeff. Maybe spend $2 million on a locker room/facility type building for Soccer/Field Hockey/Track to share over by their fields. The rest into an athletics endowment.
Precisely. I agree with both of you.

And the guy above me says it's not happening, while it is happening at WMU. They won the lottery!
giacomo
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Posted: 6/11/2021 9:11 AM
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My point is who among us has not dreamed of what we would do with the money if we won the lottery. That is this thread. Somebody somewhere always wins the lottery. The first thing I would do is make Boals the highest paid hoops coach in the MAC.
Last Edited: 6/11/2021 9:17:41 AM by giacomo
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 6/11/2021 9:37 AM
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giacomo wrote:expand_more
My point is who among us has not dreamed of what we would do with the money if we won the lottery. That is this thread. Somebody somewhere always wins the lottery. The first thing I would do is make Boals the highest paid hoops coach in the MAC.
OK. Thanks for the clarification.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 6/12/2021 12:21 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
My point is who among us has not dreamed of what we would do with the money if we won the lottery. That is this thread. Somebody somewhere always wins the lottery. The first thing I would do is make Boals the highest paid hoops coach in the MAC.
OK. Thanks for the clarification.
OCF - based on his past comments about not paying coaches more than deans, I think he was pulling the old "let's add another deck in Peden" argument on us.
TWT
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Posted: 6/12/2021 12:50 PM
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Fun to think about as a hypothetical. I would put some of that to work on facilities while leaving the remainder to endow athletic operating funds. The money allocated might not quite pay for everything under the wish list but enough to definitely confer naming rights.

Convo Upgrades ($10 million):

-Basketball Practice Courts
-20,000 sqft Olympic Weight Room
-Team lockers for select Olympic sports.
-Rehab pools and physical training space.
-Convo museum preserving cultural history (e.g. rock concerts)

Peden Upgrades ($10 million):

-Student side tower with a team banquet hall overlooking Peden.
-Tower chairback seats to match the home side.
-Second floor nutrition center with offices for training staff.
-Ground floor visitors locker room w/rehab and storage space.
-Ground floor upgraded concessions and bathrooms for the student section.

Take the remaining $30 million and endow the budget for a few of the Olympic sports. 3% income a year on $30 million works out to be 900k. That might be enough to pay for the golf teams with extra left over to fill an operating gap.
SBH
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Posted: 6/13/2021 8:50 AM
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Are you planning on using undocumented workers? A stadium tower with those amenities for $10 million?
Taiwan BC
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Posted: 6/13/2021 8:43 PM
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SBH, your comment instantly made me think of this clip from Back to School:
https://youtu.be/uSLscJ2cY04

Channeling your inner Thornton Mellon…
Last Edited: 6/13/2021 8:47:10 PM by Taiwan BC
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