By: Alice Ralph

Alice Ralph — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:51:43 +0000

UM Regents’ actions have significant impact on people and our area. We wouldn’t be where we are without the UM–for good or difficulty. The constitutional authority of the Regents puts them in a position to act within the protocols of the UM alone.
Ten years ago, working on behalf of concerned residents, I worked to promote the transfer of UM property to a non-profit entity, as UM has now done with the Henry Ford Estate. In my example, the Dexter area property, known as Gordon Hall, had been donated to UM in 1951 and, after 50 years, deemed outside the UM educational mission. The plan was to divest. And indeed they did. Instead of donating the village founder’s estate to the community he founded, the UM’s choice to seek bids forced the community to raise money for the purchase–a stunning $1.5 million. Although it is “unusual”, the UM has the authority to return resources to the public in keeping with precedent. I wish “discussions” had resulted in a better outcome for Dexter’s Gordon Hall. The UM could have facilitated the ongoing project, but chose to do the opposite. Thanks instead, to continuing extraordinary community effort, Gordon Hall has “come back” to Dexter. It will just take longer, and more money, to make things right again, for a landmark also worthy of national status.

By: ChuckL

ChuckL — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:34:51 +0000

It is infuriating that the likely increase in tuition will more than blow away any paltry increase the LEO members will get.

Comments on: UM Regents Road Trip to Grand Rapids

By: Alice Ralph

By: ChuckL