A group of alumni have organized a fundraising campaign dubbed “Friends of Susan” for retiring University Vice President Susan Murphy ’73, Ph.D. ’94.
“Celebrate Susan Murphy’s 37 years of service to Cornell and her 20-year legacy of transforming the undergraduate student experience!” reads the website dedicated to the campaign.
In 1994, Murphy became the University’s Vice President. During her tenure, Cornell’s endowed college and nonresident contract college tuition has risen by over 156%–from $19,066 in 1994-95 to $48,880 next academic year. Over the same time period, the cumulative inflation rate has been about 60%.
According to the site, authored by Ed Butler ’63, Nancy Butler ’64, Penny Haitkin ’65, and Kent Sheng ‘78, “the funds raised will be used to name a significant space in the new health center in Susan’s honor.”
It is particularly interesting how this fundraising campaign will go to naming a space in the expanded section of Gannett, the campus’s health services center, considering the $350 student health fee announced last month is essentially a bailout for the administration to keep Gannett alive.
The website reads, “our campaign dovetails with a project that is dear to [Murphy’s] heart – one that she has worked tirelessly to make a reality: the renovation and expansion of the university health services facility.”
Many students were shocked and frustrated by Murphy’s comments at a town hall last month organized in response to the student health fee. At one point in the Q&A, Murphy said, “You’re here to be students. It would be unfair to burden you [with information regarding the student health fee]… some information is not appropriate for students.”
Those still interested in donating can give here.
How is the VP responsible for rising education costs? What percent of the rise in tuition do you attribute to the VP?
I never wrote she was responsible.
Your third paragraph links her to tuition hikes. And compared inflation rates. You certainly implied causation.
Merely an observation. Readers can make their own inferences.