Questions remain about $10 million allocation to Events Center from CMU

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The $10 million allocation Central Michigan University made to the Events Center continues to remain a mystery.

When reached by phone Wednesday, CMU Board of Trustees Chairman Sam Kottamasu referred to the money as “additional funding,” “a donation” and “university assistance,” but what exactly to call the money and where it came from is unknown.

After struggling to find the right word to describe the money, Kottamasu said “donation” wasn’t the right word to describe the amount provided to the project.

“I wouldn’t call it a donation,” he said. “I would say that this is additional funding to help complete the project so donors can come forward.”

But whether the $10 million will be paid back remains unanswered. On Tuesday, Kathy Wilbur, vice president of development and external relations, said CMU donated $10 million to the project and questioned whether the money would be paid back.

“My sense is that the money is going to be paid back when funding is complete, but I can’t remember or comment on specific details at this time,” Kottamasu said.

Although the donation from the university has been accepted by the Events Center, the project remains advertised as “privately funded” on the facility website.

Gail Shields, professor of economics, said the wording on the site should be changed if the university allocated this type of money toward the project.

“I think that if it said that CMU was not going to donate anything or that it would be private, then the notice on the website should be changed if CMU has donated money,” she said. “The statement on the website is misleading.”

Athletics Director Dave Heeke, who said in April 2008 that the university “was committed to raise all $21.5 million privately,” has declined several requests for comment. Wilbur said earlier in the week that $8 million had been raised privately, and a fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 18 featuring sports broadcaster and CMU alumn Dick Enberg.