Breaking News – College of Dupage accidentally releases the Presidents emails detailing that he would invite Quinn to give the commencement speech and steer 3500 votes his way in turn for $20,000,000 in funding. The college president says they don’t know what they would even use the money for and Quinn could let them bank it away. There are hundreds of community colleges in Illinois struggling and College of Dupage has over $200 million in reserves and doesn’t need any of the money. This is another example of how our Governor is holding funds until he has a political advantage. To make matters worse, State Representative Dwight Kay confronted the College of Dupage President and he said this is the way the game is played with the Governors office and this is what they have to do in order to receive funding.
Press Release:College of DuPage Pay-To-Play With Governor Quinn- Election Votes For $20 Million State Construction Grant?
For Immediate Release- June 26, 2014
Further Information Contact:
Adam Andrzejewski (SAY: AND-G-F-SKI) | [email protected] | 312.320.1867
COLLEGE OF DUPAGE PAY-TO-PLAY
WITH GOVERNOR QUINN— ELECTION VOTES FOR
$20 MILLION CONSTRUCTION GRANT?
Political Pressure Applied to College of DuPage (COD) Trustees to Fast Track unplanned $50 million construction project ahead of Governor Quinn’s commencement address. Repeated emails from COD President Robert Breuder apply pressure to trustees
regarding $20 million in state construction grants.
“I needed to identify a project that would help release our state funding. My idea: a Teaching and Learning Center. Several Board members want to weigh in on the need for such a facility. I have no problem with that; however, not being able to say how we would use the state’s money (perhaps no real need) could lessen our chances to break the money loose at this time (the political moon is rising).”
“When I introduce Governor Quinn at commencement, I want to help our cause (getting the $20 million released sooner rather than later) by thanking him for his commitment in front of 3,500 people. There are many voters in our District. Please keep November 4 in mind.”
“Bottom line: I need some room to breathe on this matter so I can enhance the likelihood
we get the $20 million, soon.”
Dr. Robert Breuder, President of College of DuPage
excerpts from email to Board of Trustees May 9, 2014
(Elmhurst, IL) For The Good of Illinois founder and Chairman Adam Andrzejewski addressed the College of DuPage Board of Trustees meeting with email evidence from the college President that Governor Quinn’s invitation to keynote the commencement was a critical part of an unplanned $50 million construction scheme to give the Governor political support and free up $20 million in state funding for college construction grants.
Andrzejewski questioned the COD Trustees, “Is the Board going to let Dr. Breuder continue as President while he concocts schemes to secure funding he admits he doesn’t need, through projects that are unplanned, in exchange for a vague and unfillable promise to deliver votes for Gov. Quinn.”
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From: Breuder, Dr. Robert
To: ~Board of Trustees
Subject: Board Item
Date: Friday, May 09, 2014 10:09:49 AM
Attachments: 10.A.2) Construction of a Teaching and Learning Center.pdf
FW_ Quote for Gov. Quinn Press Release (163 KB).msg
I am in a bit of a quandary.
We have been working with the Governor’s Office (seemingly forever) to secure our $20 million. Initially the money was to be used for our Homeland Security initiative. When we accomplished our Homeland agenda without state funding, we changed the focus to building demolition. With that initiative soon to be history we need an alternative. I needed to identify a project that would help release our state funding. My idea: a Teaching and Learning Center.
Several Board members want to weigh in on the need for such a facility. I have no problem with that; however, not being able to say how we would use the state’s money (perhaps no real need) could lessen our chances to break the money loose at this time (the political moon is rising).
A building that focuses on teaching and learning is politically attractive; more so than let’s say a student center, PE facility, etc. At COD, general purpose classroom space is our greatest need. (See attached Board agenda item.) A need that will expand with continued enrollment growth. My having to dance around the issue of how we would use the money attenuates our ask. When I introduce Governor Quinn at commencement, I want to help our cause (getting the $20 million released sooner rather than later) by thanking him for his commitment in front of 3,500 people. There are many voters in our District. Please keep November 4 in mind. The limited state dollars for capital projects will go somewhere in this heightened political season. Why not College of DuPage?
In the attached press release you can see how I have had to dance around how we would use the money. It was a less effective quote than it could have been.
And lastly, who better to know what physical space needs we have than the people who deliver services every day? There is always the option of telling the Governor we want the money, will bank it until we figure out how to use it, and then build something. And is it not better to match money than to provide 100%?
Bottom line: I need some room to breathe on this matter so I can enhance the likelihood we get the $20 million, soon.
Thanks.
B
P.S. In the last five years, I have led a $550 million transformation of our physical plant. By now I hope all Board members have confidence in my judgment. But, then again, this may be about something else.
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