Entering the arena at Res/Rec Hall on Homecoming night, attendees found it transformed into a classy banquet. As they moved to their assigned tables, they found four things waiting for them: an elegant place setting, a scrumptious menu, a detailed program, and most importantly, a brochure about the new Science Center.
As President Troy Hammond took the stage, his focus was on the Science Center, the centerpiece of the $150 million Brilliant Future Campaign. Hammond’s passionate speech surely inspired students and alumni alike to visit the Brilliant Future Campaign website and find out more.
Of the $150 million, 21 percent has been raised to date, according to the campaign website. It is clear that $60 million is going toward the Science Center; it is not clear how much of the 21 percent is going toward the Science Center. The most crucial information, naming opportunities, is readily available and broken down into an easy-to-read chart. Prices range from less than $25,000 to over $10 million. You can name anything on campus from a brick, to a faculty office, to a whole building.
The lack of transparency raises concern over where the money is coming from and where the money is going. What is the Brilliant Future Campaign? Can the money be raised before the completion of the Science Center? Where is the 21 percent going? Widespread information has been positive thus far, but students need to demand reliable and clear information about the elusive finances of North Central.
By contributing writers Raiha Akram and Jonna Sekowski
