UA seeking millions in private funds for union

Randy Metcalf Arizona Daily Wildcat Peter Nicastro, UA Foundation campus life development director, speaks yesterday before a closed meeting in the "Swede" Johnson Alumni building. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss possible private donors for the UA's Memorial Student Union renovation project.

"We consider every corporation and individual as a prospect," said Jim Manilla, the University of Arizona Foundation's development vice president. It's part of the business that were in. I think all the major companies know they're going to be contacted."

Union renovations remain in the cards despite last year's failed student referendum that would have imposed a $40 per semester fee to help fund the project. University officials and others now are seeking other ways to pay for construction.

Manilla said the UA must seek outside sources because Arizona Legislature dollars make up less than one-third of the university's budget.

"State funding has been eroding over the last 10-15 years," he said.

In addition, Adam Talenfeld, an ASUA Arizona Students Association director, said last night that the UA Foundation has selected in-state donors, since the UA lacks the $60 million necessary for the renovations.

"He (Peter Nicastro, UA Foundation campus life development director) told me that there were several actual potential sponsors from the Arizona southwest region that they are starting to actively pursue," Talenfeld said. "The foundation does have a solid beginning of individuals that they're looking toward."

But Talenfeld, Nicastro and Manilla refused to name the possible donors, and denied access to a meeting yesterday in which they discussed the project's funding.

Talenfeld also said he compiled a list of possible private, corporate donors that would appeal to students and gave the document to Nicastro and Manilla during the meeting.

Although Talenfeld refused to turn over the roster, Associated Students President Tara Taylor yesterday produced the list during an interview. The document included corporations like Reebok, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Campbell's Soup, Abercrombie & Fitch, Microsoft and IBM.

Talenfeld said he came up with the list of ideas himself.

"It was very useful because it was a student perspective," he said. "Now they know that we're serious about this."

But the list "is not official and does not represent ASUA's opinion," Talenfeld added.

Taylor said ASUA has not contacted any corporations included on the list, and the document, which Taylor said she asked Talenfeld to compile, is meant to aid UA Foundation officials.

"We don't have any donors in place, but we've talked about prospective donors," Taylor said yesterday afternoon. "We made up a list of things students are interested in. We don't have any leads or know that they will donate any money."

Arne Ekstrom, president of the UA's Students Against Sweatshops chapter, said he is not concerned that clothing manufacturers such as Reebok are part of ASUA's suggestions.

"As long as I haven't heard alerts about the labor practices of the company, I wouldn't have anything against it," Ekstrom said. "Certainly Reebok isn't great and there are things they could work on, but they haven't stood out."

He said many members of Talenfeld's list are "kind of famous for being ruthless" and he is mainly concerned about the apparel companies.

"Any clothing manufacturer on that list probably has sweatshops overseas," Ekstrom said.

Manilla said he supports student involvement in the UA Foundation, which he said raised $74.8 million last year.

"We collectively try to involve anybody with any interests in the facility," Manilla said. "You would hope students would have an interest in how the Union is funded."

David J. Cieslak can be reached via e-mail at David.J.Cieslak@wildcat.arizona.edu.