Anson: ‘Still committed to med school’

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Former University President Michael Rao’s departure instigated the $100,000 loss in contributions to the medical school.

But it is not the lone factor alumnus Todd Anson used in his decision to transfer his donation to the Rose Arena renovation.

Anson, a Mount Pleasant native and 1977 alumnus, said when he pulled his donation just two weeks after Rao’s announcement to leave for Virginia Commonwealth University in late February, he wanted his donation to be put into the Rose Arena renovations project.

He said he wanted to give it necessary funding to aid in the Board of Trustees’ approval of the project’s budget.

“Upon Rao’s resignation announcement, the plans for the medical school were somewhat in doubt,” Anson said. “Knowing that funding for the medical school was premature, my wife and I wanted to explore the new Rose renovation project. It was a natural transition.

“We backed the medical school with our contribution dollar-for-dollar with Rao because we backed Rao. Once he left, the medical school didn’t have a president, Mike Rao, driving it forward anymore.”

His intentions were nothing but good, Anson said, as he and his wife wanted to commit their funds to the renovations in Rose Arena as a tribute to his dear friend and sports commentator Dick Enberg, a 1957 alumnus.

It is to promote Enberg’s legacy as a sports commentator, his untarnished career, Anson said.

Ted Tolcher, interim vice president of development and alumni relations, said donors do not frequently relocate contributions from one purpose or project to another, but it is not the first time it happened. Though it is the first time this occurred with medical school contributions, he said.

“It’s not a habitual type of thing, and it is not common either,” Tolcher said. “Someone might find a new project they weren’t aware of and want to transfer funds.”

Anson said although his contribution was transferred, he and his wife are still huge supporters of the medical school.

“This is by no means a withdrawal of support from the medical school,” Anson said. “I’m glad Kathy Wilbur supports it, and they’ve hired a capable dean that is willing to work to make this project on its way. … There are people that need to open their minds in the Mount Pleasant and CMU communities to greater things. It’s that strive for greatness that inspires (us) to give.”