[Vision2020] where are the local papers?

[Kai Eiselein, editor]

where are the local papers?While it was a nice attempt at a jab, Mark. The press release didn't arrive in my email until 2:15 p.m. yesterday. I would assume it probably the same for everyone else.

You didn't say whether you saw it online or in print. I would guess you saw it online. 

It could be that the two local dailies are trying to get more info/interviews. It came after deadline for the afternoon daily, so there's no way it could have made it in there yesterday.

Also realize this, the Spokesman has a staff that is much larger than any around here (Trust me on this, I was employed there at one time, the employee lunch room has one of the best views in town.) so they can jump on these right away.

If you are going to take a swipe at local journalists, it least make it an honest swipe.

Donor Requests Delay in University Development in Sandpoint


MOSCOW, Idaho - Development of a University of Idaho campus in Sandpoint, Idaho, is on hold. The university has been notified by Wild Rose Foundation, the campus' financial donor and developer, that the project will be delayed.


"The University of Idaho is disappointed by the delay in the planned Sandpoint campus," said President Tim White. "Dennis Pence's vision for creating educational opportunities in northern Idaho resonates with the university's mission, and we look forward to resuming the project at the appropriate time. Our faculty and staff have been engaged in innovative planning and curriculum development for this new campus, and we will be well positioned when the project continues. "


Pence heads northern Idaho's Wild Rose Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization.


The Sandpoint concept proposal received approval from the university's Board of Regents and Idaho's State Board of Education in February; the board gave final approval to the project in early August.


The project calls for Wild Rose Foundation to build educational facilities on approximately one-half of 77 acres included in the development and then gift the land and buildings back to the university. The University of Idaho has planned several new programmatic offerings for the campus. 


The delay does not affect existing University of Idaho programs in Sandpoint, including an Executive MBA program, a master's degree program in educational leadership, horticultural research programs, and extension, family and youth programs. The university will continue to seek ways to increase its programming efforts in northern Idaho.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark Solomon 
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 6:07 AM
  Subject: [Vision2020] where are the local papers?


  This from the Spokesman, dated yesterday. m.


  UI Sandpoint campus plan shelved

  >From staff reports
  October 22, 2007

  The Wild Rose Foundation said late today that it's putting on hold its proposal to finance a University of Idaho campus in Sandpoint due to a downturn in the foundation's financial portfolio.

  Timelines for the project have been put on indefinite hold based on the financial considerations, foundation director and Coldwater Creek founder Dennis Pence said in a statement.

  "As a large percentage of the assets of the Foundation reside in equities, and the value of the portfolio has declined substantially over the last six months, Wild Rose has requested to the University of Idaho that the planned development be delayed until such time as the condition of the investment portfolio of the Foundation improves," Pence said.

  Tim White, president of the University of Idaho, said in a statement, "The University of Idaho is disappointed by the delay in the planned Sandpoint facility. Dennis Pence's vision for creating educational opportunities in northern Idaho resonates with the university's mission and we look forward to resuming the project at the appropriate time."

  The delay does not affect existing UI programs in Sandpoint, including the executive MBA program.

  "We look forward to putting the project back on track as soon as feasible," Pence said, adding that he will continue "unqualified support" for the learning center. Pence also said the delay was "personally disappointing," and he praised the university for its support of the project.

  Through his foundation, Pence committed to spend at least $36 million on the project, according to an agreement approved in August by the Idaho State Board of Education.

  The board at that time backed a plan to sell 77 acres owned by the UI just north of downtown Sandpoint to the Wild Rose Foundation for $6.25 million. Most of that money would have gone into a trust for educational programs at the site, and the foundation agreed to spend at least $30 million to build the first four buildings, which were to be given to the UI, according to the agreement.

  Classes were tentatively scheduled to start at the Sandpoint Center in fall 2009. A variety of offerings would have been available, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary programs focusing on the liberal arts, natural resources and food science. Other programs would have included the UI's executive MBA program, already available in Sandpoint, as well as offerings from North Idaho College.

  Pence is chairman and CEO of Coldwater Creek, the Sandpoint-based clothing operation that has seen booming growth in recent years.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  =======================================================
   List services made available by First Step Internet, 
   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
                 http://www.fsr.net                       
            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
  =======================================================
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20071023/7313d99c/attachment-0001.html