More than a fortnight ago, UA Board member David Pryor tried to send a signal to the rest of the University of Arkansas Board members, the UA Administration and certainly its athletic staff.
Looks like few caught the message.
The UA Board voted, 8-2, with only Cliff Gibson, a high-powered lawyer from Monticello, joining Pryor in the minority of two rejecting the move.
A majority of eight other sitting UA Board members voted to move quickly forward with a $160 million expansion of Razorback stadium, backed with the good faith and credit of the state at risk.
Therein lies the real rub with Pryor's objection.
That move may be both illegal and ill-advised.
But I'll let the former U.S. senator, governor, congressman and state house member's own words tell you.
Pryor wrote a letter to all concerned before the board meeting the following:
"Some months ago I proposed that we adopt the cost/benefit test as we proceeded to decide this project. As you know, the stadium expansion will be the largest bond issue in the history of higher education for the state of Arkansas. It is a monumental commitment of resources, and to some extent, our Board will be establishing by our support that a few luxury boxes and special seats in a football stadium used six times a year is the highest priority for the institution we all revere and serve. I personally do not believe this project is the highest priority for the University of Arkansas.
"We must always put students first.
" The stadium expansion does not put students first. In fact, the some 26,000 students on the Fayetteville campus will not benefit one iota. There are no extra student seats added. In fact, there are no general admission seats added -- but only some 3,000 'special seats' for those fans in upper income levels.
"Not one student has contacted me to express support for this project. To the best of my knowledge, not one student organization, alumni group or chapter, or booster club has voiced support for the North End expansion. To the best of my knowledge not one sport writer or newspaper has endorsed this expansion."
Pryor continued "We have just raised tuition, thus adding to the backbreaking debt load our students and their families bear. With state funding for higher education stagnant, where do we get the dollars for future classrooms for the fast growing student population? How do we equip our labs and find scholarship support? Can we continue being in last place in faculty salaries, according to the Southern Regional Education Board? Are we to accept as a given fact that we are 45th in the nation of those states with the lowest percentage of college degrees? And is our answer to these and many other questions going to be, "Let's use our resources to add 3,000 luxury boxes and high-end seats for our football stadium?"
In closing Pryor wrote: "In some 8.5 years as a trustee, I have voted for many bond issues, every tuition increase and all athletic facilities proposed by the Athletic Department.
"I cannot support this proposal. It makes no sense. In fact, it defies common sense and fairness that has always been a part of the Arkansas character. Well-known and respected sports writer Nate Allen recently added some true wisdom to this discussion: 'Reserve the Razorbacks just for the rich and they become a brand who fewer can afford and for which they will lose their passion.'"
The other UA trustees voting for the expansion were Reynie Rutledge of Searcy, Morril Harriman of Little Rock, Mark Waldrip of Moro, Ben Hyneman of Jonesboro, John Goodson of Texarkana, Sheffield Nelson of Little Rock, Stephen Broughton of Pine Bluff and Kelly Eichler of Little Rock.
Can these eight be correct?
And David Pryor is wrong?
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Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 06/22/2016