President Bruininks Tries the

Old Quarterback Sneak on

Alcohol in

The House That Bob Built

From the Pioneer-Press:

After staying out of the debate last year, University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks said Thursday that he wants to push in the upcoming legislative session to eliminate restrictions on alcohol sales at the Gophers football stadium. 

The anticipated earnings, which Bruininks estimated at $1.5 million per year, could be used to shore up the football program, fund student scholarships and pay down stadium debt. 

Board of Regents chairman Clyde Allen said Thursday that he hadn't spoken with Bruininks about the idea and couldn't predict how the board — which serves as the U's governing body — would react.


"It would take some very thorough discussion by the board to see where we want to be in terms of putting it in the legislative hopper," Allen said. "I'll listen to all the arguments."

And the proposal would face an uncertain future at the Capitol. 

There are strong feelings, particularly in the House,
that if booze were available for purchase in the pricey seats, it should be available in the less-expensive seats, too, said Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights 

 

If the Legislature continued to require sales in general seating, he [Bruininks] said, "I think it will not be something that will be supported by me or the U's board of regents." 

"If you have, let's say, $300,000 a year you put into student scholarships, that's pretty significant. It would take about $7 million of private fundraising to create an endowment that would produce that much money every year. If you think about that in perpetuity, that would really have a huge impact on keeping higher education affordable for thousands of young people in the long term," he said. 

See, he's doing it for the children...

Bob, you should be ashamed of yourself.  This scholarship business is just a "tax" that you are willing to pay in order to generate more revenue for the football program.  Admit it, please, and cut out this charade.

We are not stupid.  You propose to hand over about 20% to the students for scholarships it appears. 300K/1.5 mil = 20%. 

Retire the debt?  Aren't students already helping - involuntarily - to do this?  

"For shame!"  As my grandma used to say. 

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