- Joined
- Aug 29, 2011
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The AAU is kicking members out because the nation's research budget has been slashed.
The AAU is not an academic organization as much as it is a lobbying group. Headquarters on K Street. With less $$ to go around, they are slashing. Cuse didn't run afoul of the org so much as the org sees less pie to go around in the future. There have literally been letters sent out signalling that more culling is in the works.
I understand that. Do some research though on what Syracuse has done with their research programs and projects. This is at least a 10 year process that's going on up there. IMO, they have basically put nearly every resource they've got into projects that are locally funded and are geared toward pumping up the local community. To me, if you're looking to grow, if the big time federal dollars aren't available, a major focuse should be on the largest private industries you can find, wherever they may be, not focusing on making sure that the local high schools are graduating their students at at least a respectable rate. Syracuse has turned the major focus of their research funding to projects that are centered on improving life in upstate new york. In an environment of restricted federal spending, that's clearly a self preservation move, not a growth move. My opinion.
As for the spending, cash situation, Cuse has a billion dollar endowment. They took a $300 million hit a few years ago, based on bad local investements, and it was a hiccup. Our entire endowment is just over $300 million. Taking a $300 million hit would bankrupt us right now.
President Herbst, priority #1 is growing the endowment, and so far she's done a great job.
As for ESPN, the paycheck is absolutely signidiant. Big east football/bball schools netted 8.6 million last year based on big east conference affiliation as dual members (Numbers released in memphis joingin press statements, meaning that memphis was told that they can expect revenue similar).
A $15 - $17 million payout is clearly double that.
But yes, I think that signing over exclusivety to a broadcasting company for all of a conferences broadcasting rights, is a terrible idea.