Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 11:24 AM
From: "James Lamb" <JimLamb@usa.com>
To: cphernandez@albany.edu, kgordon4@albany.edu
Cc: "Laurence Socci" <laurence.socci@soccilawfirm.com>, "Havidan Rodriguez, President" <presmail@albany.edu>, Fsanai@albany.edu, mchristakis@albany.edu, kathleen.moore@timesunion.com, jill.s.delaney@gmail.com, Foil@albany.edu, Kapil.Longani@suny.edu, chancellor@suny.edu, trustees@suny.edu

Subject: Formal Complaint to the University at Albany University Council

I meant to copy the University Council on the email below, in addition to the SUNY Trustees & Chancellor.
 
Please consider this a formal complaint to the University Council.
 
I do not understand why the UAlbany Administration turned a simple offer by SA Alumni to help Dippikill into a media fiasco.
 
http://www.timesunion.com/education/article/university-albany-alumni-say-dippikill-sale-soon-19964473.php
 
We are just trying to help UAlbany retain Dippikill as a unique aspect of student life, get Dippikill reopened for the enjoyment of students, alumni and University affiliates, and stimulate donations to Dippikill from past SA leader alumni and other supportes of the campground. 
 
I do not appreciate being made to look like a liar or fool by UAlbany PR in the media when everything I told the TU was true.
 
And ladies and gentlemen, VP Sanai knows it was absolutely true.
 
Although we were finally sent the requested UAlbany Fund link to use for Dippikill fundraising by VP Sanai, I am still waiting for an apology from the University at Albany and a correction in the Times Union clarifying the representation made by VP Sanai to me that Dippikill was being considered by Student Association for sale "for the past 6 or 7 months."
 
University at Albany Alumni deserve to be treated much better than this.
 
Especially alums like myself who have remained involved with SA and Dippikill governance throughout the years and are historically signficiant donors to the UAlbany Fund.
 
The Administration should be setting an example for students in the Ethics and Integrity Department as part of their college education.
 
This was very bad form, a very bad example for them, and sent a message to alumni I don't believe the University should be sending.
 
I am also still waiting on replies to my two FOIL legal requests.
 
Please distribute this as a complaint to the University Council Members and Reprepresentatives.
 
I want this matter addressed, not brushed aside, and I request a written response to this complaint.
 
The Chancellor, SUNY Legal, and the Board of Trustees are copied here again for their information.
 
Ms. Delaney, the alumni representative to the University Council, is copied directly here for her information.
 
I request she advocate for alumni trying to help the University secure financial support for Dippikill.
 
Thank you.
 
Sincerely,
 
/s/ JAMES LAMB
SA President 1988-89
Class of 1991
PO Box 480340
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33348
 
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2024 at 7:09 PM
From: "James Lamb" <JimLamb@usa.com>
To: "Christakis, Michael" <mchristakis@albany.edu>
Cc: Sapresident@albany.edu, "Laurence Socci" <laurence.socci@soccilawfirm.com>, Fsanai@albany.edu, ddoyle@albany.edu, "Havidan Rodriguez, President" <presmail@albany.edu>, kathleen.moore@timesunion.com, Kapil.Longani@suny.edu, dan.clark@timesunion.com, communications@suny.edu, chancellor@suny.edu, trustees@suny.edu, university.audit@suny.edu

Subject: Our Disappointment in UAlbany Leadership's Handling of our Offer to Raise Funds for Dippikill

Dear VP Christakis,
 
As of 6PM today, attached are the internal Save Dippikill Petition statistics I would like to share with you & SA.
 
In addition to 500 Dippikill stakeholders signing seeking the reopening of the campground, 60 people have acted to promote the petition by donating directly to Change.org. $1,182 has been contributed, which has purchased 29,508 future views. The petition is therefore expected to grow drastically over the next 30 days.
 
This money could have been contributed directly to Dippikill instead of a political campaign. 
 
In addition, we have been running a poll on Facebook since December 14th as you know which asks respondents:. 

Now that both the University at Albany and the Student Association have told the Albany Times Union a Dippikill sale is off the table, should the Office of University Advancement set up the proposed Dippikill UAlbany Fund link for an SA Presidents' Coalition Dippikill Appeal Fundraiser to help with Dippikill finances so we can get Dippikill reopened?

Here is the poll.
 
SA Alumni Society | Facebook
 
The results show overwhelming over 99% of respondents voting in the affirmative.
 
We do not understand why the University is obstructing the efforts of SA Alumni to financially support Dippikill.
 
Our SA Alumni Society members just want to get Dippikill reopened at this point and we are getting zero cooperation.
 
We are very disappointed in both the University Albany Campus leadership and the Student Association
 
We are also (disappointed) that SUNY Central does not provide a mechanism for the public to donate to Dippikill via https://www.suny.edu/give/.
 
I am pasting the names of over 500 signers of the http://www.change.org/SaveDippikill petition below, which include every Dippikill property director dating back to the 1960's. Numerous past SA Presidents and Dippikill Inc. Board members and Dippikill staff have also signed.
 
The time is now for Mr. Rose to reopen the facility already and stop playing games over a $60,000 2023 990 operating expense, which is a mere 2% of SA's budget. Dippikill brings back in income 90% of its budget.
 
We now know the real reason for this closure is an employer-(employee) dispute over overtime that is an internal legal matter. That should not adversely affect Dippikill student and alumni patrons. I have also identified what I believe is a scheme to defund Dippikill so that SA can misappropriate student activity fee money to their non-student friends in the city of Albany under the guise of feeding the hungry, which is not a permissible expense under state regulation and has been reported to SUNY (University) Audit Fraud Hotline via university.audit@suny.edu since UAlbany did not respond to my complaint of misuse of funds contrary to 8 NYCRR 302.14.
 
The time is now for the University at Albany to work with SA Alumni to raise funds for Dippikill.
 
And perhaps the time is now for us to take this discussion to the Chancellor and the SUNY Board of Trustees copied here.
 
As a past UAlbany donor, long-term supporter of UAlbany students, and the sponsor of the University's trip which sent students to Puerto Rico to rebuild after the Hurricane highlighted in this article...
 
Rebuilding | University at Albany
 
I am a very frustrated and disappointed alum in the University's handling of this situation and the misrepresentations made to the Albany Times Union this month that adversely affect my reputation and character.
 
University at Albany alumni say Dippikill may be for sale soon
 
The University owes me an apology and needs to treat its alumni trying to support their alma mater much better than this.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
/s/ JAMES LAMB
UAlbany SA President 1988-89
UAlbany Class of 1991