Step 7: Mislead people when Necessary
It’s going to get tricky. Sometimes you’re simply going to have to mislead people.
At the town hall meeting on 9/30/12 in which President Ayers addressed students, faculty and alumni, he made the following statements, on camera:
“The task force and I were convinced by last spring this was the best approach for Richmond. It was also clear that the plan could not be enacted without philanthropy. So the plan was defined, just as I have described it here, but we chose not to vote on it, enact it or announce it until we knew we could accomplish it.”
One month after Ayers’ assertion that the decision to drop soccer and track had been made by the board, two members of the soccer alumni steering committee met with Tom Gutenberer in his office. The date was 5/18/12. In that meeting, the soccer alumni presented Gutenberger with designs and costs for a soccer stadium. Gutenberger reiterated that he did not believe men’s soccer was in jeopardy of being cut. Furthermore, he went on to say that the University was considering on-campus locations for a soccer stadium. Soccer alumni reaffirmed their desire to support the program in any way possible, including fundraising.
Unbeknownst to the soccer alumni until recently, Tom Gutenberger was in the April 2012 board meeting! Tom Gutenberger was in the April 2012 board meeting at which President Ayers said the decision was made to cut soccer and track. How can, one month later, Tom Gutenberger tell the soccer alumni he doesn’t believe soccer is in jeopardy? How can Gutenberger tell the soccer alumni the University is evaluating space for a natural grass soccer stadium, when said athletic program is a dead man walking? Someone is not telling the truth.
Fast forward to August 2012. A member of the soccer alumni steering committee meets with Tom Gutenberger to see if there’s any decision by the University on a location for a soccer stadium. Following that meeting with Gutenberger, a member of the soccer steering committee sent the following email to the soccer alumni steering committee, summarizing the discussion:
“Guys, just a quick update…I met this morning with Tom Gutenberger (was at my request). He wanted to get an update from me (ironic) on the coaching situation as well as give me an update from what he is hearing. Overall, I think the program is fine. LAX has some vocal donors but it doesn’t have real support due to the fact no one wants anything cut. Actually, they have talked more about adding women’s sports (crew potentially) if LAX comes about but he didn’t think it was likely. Also, lots of field discussions around soccer and the debate is now centered around lights or no lights. It looks like it may go by River Road and the thoughts are now centered around getting a grass field is more important than having night games (problem with the neighbors on RRd)…this is positive discussion. Overall, he couldn’t guarantee anything but doesn’t feel like soccer is any danger of being cut. I’ve also talked with [trustee member] several times and he is a big fan of Olympic Sports and particularly soccer…he is a very outspoken UR trustee. Tom said Dr. Ayers was aware I was meeting with Tom and I encouraged Tom to set something up with him if it was needed. He is going to get back to me after he catches up with Ayers. That’s all for now…Best”
At the town hall meeting on 9/30/12 in which President Ayers addressed students, faculty and alumni, he made the following statements, on camera:
“The task force and I were convinced by last spring this was the best approach for Richmond. It was also clear that the plan could not be enacted without philanthropy. So the plan was defined, just as I have described it here, but we chose not to vote on it, enact it or announce it until we knew we could accomplish it.”
One month after Ayers’ assertion that the decision to drop soccer and track had been made by the board, two members of the soccer alumni steering committee met with Tom Gutenberer in his office. The date was 5/18/12. In that meeting, the soccer alumni presented Gutenberger with designs and costs for a soccer stadium. Gutenberger reiterated that he did not believe men’s soccer was in jeopardy of being cut. Furthermore, he went on to say that the University was considering on-campus locations for a soccer stadium. Soccer alumni reaffirmed their desire to support the program in any way possible, including fundraising.
Unbeknownst to the soccer alumni until recently, Tom Gutenberger was in the April 2012 board meeting! Tom Gutenberger was in the April 2012 board meeting at which President Ayers said the decision was made to cut soccer and track. How can, one month later, Tom Gutenberger tell the soccer alumni he doesn’t believe soccer is in jeopardy? How can Gutenberger tell the soccer alumni the University is evaluating space for a natural grass soccer stadium, when said athletic program is a dead man walking? Someone is not telling the truth.
Fast forward to August 2012. A member of the soccer alumni steering committee meets with Tom Gutenberger to see if there’s any decision by the University on a location for a soccer stadium. Following that meeting with Gutenberger, a member of the soccer steering committee sent the following email to the soccer alumni steering committee, summarizing the discussion:
“Guys, just a quick update…I met this morning with Tom Gutenberger (was at my request). He wanted to get an update from me (ironic) on the coaching situation as well as give me an update from what he is hearing. Overall, I think the program is fine. LAX has some vocal donors but it doesn’t have real support due to the fact no one wants anything cut. Actually, they have talked more about adding women’s sports (crew potentially) if LAX comes about but he didn’t think it was likely. Also, lots of field discussions around soccer and the debate is now centered around lights or no lights. It looks like it may go by River Road and the thoughts are now centered around getting a grass field is more important than having night games (problem with the neighbors on RRd)…this is positive discussion. Overall, he couldn’t guarantee anything but doesn’t feel like soccer is any danger of being cut. I’ve also talked with [trustee member] several times and he is a big fan of Olympic Sports and particularly soccer…he is a very outspoken UR trustee. Tom said Dr. Ayers was aware I was meeting with Tom and I encouraged Tom to set something up with him if it was needed. He is going to get back to me after he catches up with Ayers. That’s all for now…Best”