(04-05-2022 01:54 PM)HuskieJ Wrote:  

(04-05-2022 10:35 AM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  

(04-05-2022 10:10 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  Read the "announcement" regarding the projects. Thank you to the Nelson's for their gifts and commitments.

That said.... STF -- you really need to funnel funds appropriately. The Chick Evans Fieldhouse, if you didn't know (and maybe you didn't because it's a big part of Huskie history, so why would you) is close to the dorms, and on most underclassmen's walk to the academic buildings daily. It is prime real estate on campus. It SHOULD HAVE BEEN the location of the new basketball arena when the convo was built instead. To use that building for 4 or 5 indoor tennis courts (which apparently are to be used by the tennis teams? not even available for the students at large, or the community?) to use that valuable real estate for such a restrictive use is just unfathomable. I am sure there are other adjectives as well.

STF, if I may offer some advice. Focus is necessary to accomplish anything of value. I believe you were given some title that reflects a high level position in the university. Not mere athletic director, but rather VP of something or other. So, one question: How does building 5 indoor tennis courts for use by a select handful of students a few days a year right in the middle of campus -- how does that benefit the university? Additionally, how else could that money have been invested? What return do you expect from that investment in 5 tennis courts? What alternative investments did you consider?

I assume STF will say that the courts were a result of a restricted gifts specifically for that purpose. That is no answer. Your job, as Sr. VP of whatever, with the accompanying paycheck, is to do what is best for the university. So, I ask, are 5 indoor tennis courts for restricted and limited use on prime campus real estate really the best for the university?

Your job is not to be an "order taker" who just accepts generous donors' money. Your job should be to envision great things and then find/ discover/ unearth/ or create individuals who you can get to see that vision with you and can invest in it.

NIU does not have, never has had, and likely never will have a bottomless pot of money to spend on anything, much less athletics. A FOCUSED approach to best allocating available scarce resources is what is required. I am afraid Mr. Frazier has never understood that.

So it was STF's fault that the Convo Center was built where it is now? That is almost as ludicrous as blaming Cary Groth for the engineering mistakes for the Convo Center.

The only thing the AD is responsible for is a wish list( New baseball stadium, amenities etc.)and fundraising money for that wishlist. That wish list besides the demands for Athletics Administration and being responsible for X number of student athletes and sport programs is what his job is.

He is not responsible for location, feasibility studies, engineering specs, community planning etc.of new projects.

I understand that STF is not in a favored light on this board and some of the reasons why is his fault. But let's not blame his for situations that were clearly out of his control.

Usually agree but Groth was the project lead on the Convo. If the Indoor track, lighting, seating, etc., she needs to take some of the blame.

So an AD needs to have building engineers' licence and degree also? The design, engineering,and construction was all handled by the State of Illinois in Springfield. Do you really think they are going to put a person with no construction experience as project lead of a multi-million dollar building project? Come on!