Howard Lipman used his last Ohio University Foundation Trustee meeting to say goodbye.
Lipman, vice president for University Advancement and CEO and president of the OU Foundation, will leave at the end of the month for Florida International University. During his report, he personally thanked several foundation members and administrators with whom he worked during his four years at OU.
Lipman will serve as senior vice president for University Advancement and president and CEO of the FIU Foundation. OU President Roderick McDavis will replace Lipman in an interim role until a search committee finds a replacement.
As he said goodbye to McDavis, Lipman became emotional.
I know (McDavis) is not happy with me
and that's O.K. Lipman said. He's a special guy. You (the board) need to nurture him and take care of him because he cares about this place. And it's a tough place.
In his report to the board, McDavis revisited the topic of Intercollegiate Athletics, saying OU's victory against University at Buffalo last week was a point of pride.
I'm not one that runs from being proud of Intercollegiate Athletics
he said. I think there is a place for it among our students
and there is a place for it at our university. I'm proud to lift it up and continue to pledge my support for it.
The board also discussed future plans for The Oasis, which has stood vacant since 2006. Board members voted unanimously to allocate $160,000 to demolish the building during winter break. The building is overrun with asbestos and can't be used as is, Lipman said.
Besides being an eyesore
it is becoming dangerous
he said.
The area will be landscaped with grass and plants once the building is gone; no concrete plans have been made for the space's future use, Lipman added.
The board voted to appoint Stephen Golding, vice president of Finance and Administration, as the foundation's treasurer and McDavis as its interim head, unanimously electing to give them signatory access to the foundation's accounts.
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Rebecca McKinsey
