27 Feb 23

PREAMBLE

We begin with a statement of goodwill, believing that—during a time of immense challenges to higher education broadly and Valparaiso University specifically—the administration, board, and campus community all want what is best for Valpo. We emphasize that we need to work together and not in silos to achieve this end. Correspondingly, we believe that involving faculty in university decisions is in line with the ethos of our mission and core values, regardless of whether it is officially required. Involving faculty in decision making further contributes to an effort to rebuild trust and transparency, the recent lack of which has been noted by many employees at our institution.

FACULTY SENATE RESOLUTION on the sale of works from the Brauer Museum of Art and the renovations of first year dorms: 

WHEREAS, the university’s strategic plan recommends the renovation of dorms as one way to recruit and retain new students;

WHEREAS, the administration’s and board’s collective decision to sell three paintings from the Brauer Museum of Art has been met with concern and resistance from current and retired faculty, current students and alumni, current donors and museum professionals;

WHEREAS, the sale of artwork constitutes a violation of professional museum ethics in which Valparaiso University will be censured or sanctioned by professional organizations, which will result in the museum being unable to lend, borrow, or collaborate with other museums;

WHEREAS, the sale of artwork appears to violate the terms of the trust agreement signed by the VU board president when the core collection was acquired in 1953 and/or unethically uses assets purchased with funds from the restricted Sloan endowment fund;

WHEREAS, the expected cost of dorm renovations, the potential revenue from the dorms, and the amount of expected revenue from the sale of the artwork is unclear and may vary widely;

WHEREAS, the media attention and/or litigation that may arise from this conflict may harm VU and the VU brand monetarily or by reputation;

WHEREFORE, for the above reasons, and desiring to see relationships across the institution’s constituencies—staff, faculty, students, alumni, donors, administration, and Board—rebuilt;

BE IT RESOLVED that the university put a halt to the sale of the artwork both on ethical grounds that are connected to our university mission and on grounds connected to the potential collateral harm it may have to our institution, monetarily and to our brand;

BE IT RESOLVED that the administration provide a business plan with bids for the dorm renovations to be shared with the campus community;

BE IT RESOLVED that the administration collaborate with members of the faculty to pursue an alternative funding mechanism for dorm renovations to avoid the sale of the artwork, including the following:

  1. a short-term loan, instead of a draw, against our endowment and/or

  2. a short-term, intensive fundraising initiative and/or

  3. a plan drawn up in accordance with professional museum organizations to help find alternative revenue solutions, such as leasing out artwork; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the administration work with the Director of the Brauer Museum of Art and the Collection committee for the Brauer Museum of Art  to develop a policy for deaccessioning and disposing of art from the collection to guide any future decisions.