Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Northrop2.png

(Illustration from Board of Regents Resolution, 7 July 2010 Concerning Northrop)


President Bruininks Flip-Flops on Northrop Auditorium


Executive summary: On June 30 President Bruininks claimed that Northrop was perilously close to closing because it did not support our mission. Seven days later he supported a resolution by the Board of Regents to put it on the National Register of Historic Places.

Which is it President Bruiniks?

And what, exactly, is your agenda here?

From a post on Other Voices (Star-Tribune blog), Trainwreck at Northrop:

"The University is very concerned about the fragility of the building. Northrop is egregiously out of compliance with code and life-safety requirements and code officials could close the building at any time."

Steven Rosenstone, Vice President for Cultural/Scholarly Affairs
University of Minnesota

"Recently, people on campus have described Northrop as uninviting, impenetrable, a 'mausoleum,' under-utilized, and an obstacle to their destination."

and

"If Northrop does not serve students and faculty of this University, if Northrop does not serve the academic priorities of the University, and better serve the community, turn it into a parking structure." Rosenstone, redux

From the Daily (June 30, 2010)

It's [Northrop] one of the most iconic buildings in the state, and we're perilously close to closing it... Rappin' Robert Bruininks

OK, folks, so while all this propaganda has been emanating from Northrop about having to close it, what do we have at the Board of Regents Meeting today but a resolution to put Northrop and most of the rest of the Northrop Mall on the National Register of historic places! This is not a joke. Have these people no shame? Apparently not...

From BoRe meeting documents:

President's Recommendation:

The president recommends that the Board of Regents adopt the resolution to nominate the Northrop Mall District to the National Registry of Historic Places.
So, ah, what's it going to be, Bob?

And why don't you admit that there is a whole lot more going on in this proposal of yours to re-engineer Northrop than bringing it up to code and historic preservation. Let's bring out the whole project for a real discussion, shall we?

No more smoke and mirrors?

No more long term commitments on the sly without the U of M community fully realizing what is going on?

No more starting projects with private funding and then, voila! it is a fait accompli that we have to go along with.

How about a little honesty for a change?

How about walking your own talk:


Everything we do at the University of Minnesota is out in the open.



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