UA administrators step up for Union

During the next four years, more than 20 University of Arizona administrators will donate $1,000 each to help offset the expenses for a revamped Memorial Student Union.

"The contribution was designed to be more than what students would have paid over four years," said Michael Cusanovich, vice president of research and graduate studies. "We wanted to make a statement that we value the Union and put some money on the table to back that up."

Two weeks ago, students defeated a measure that would have had them contribute $40 a semester to shoulder $31.5 million of a proposed $70 million in Student Union renovation costs.

The UA Faculty Senate decided last month to allow a "checkoff" on paychecks, enabling all university employees to contribute a portion of their salary to Student Union renovations.

Administrators agreed the contributions made an important statement for their support of the project.

"We are residents of this campus too and we are one community," said Carla Stoffle, UA library dean. "In my personal opinion, as a good community member it was my responsibility to step forward and make a significant enough gift to be in the spirit of things."

Dean of Students Melissa Vito agreed.

"If we're going to ask students to contribute," Vito said, "we should be contributing too. We (administrators) all use the Union for things like faculty tours and interviews."

Vito said the full fund-raising campaign will kick off this spring and the UA Foundation will actively pursue donors for the project.