Angry alumna yanks funding

by Katy Knapp

Daily Lobo

UNM alumna Linda Hale said she had to do something drastic to get the University's attention.

She pulled $3,000 a year from the University after former UNM President Louis Caldera resigned on Jan. 25. She was also upset over the Feb. 9 hiring of Billy Sparks into a $120,000 a year position created for him.

"I feel this is a public institution, and I don't want to be party to enabling them," she said. "I thought the only way to get through to the University - and this is going to sound very ugly, but it's true - is to hit them where it hurts."

In April 2002, Hale allocated 2.5 percent of her U.S. Charitable Gift Trust to UNM. That comes out to about $3,000 in perpetuity, meaning the University would receive that amount every year after her death.

When Caldera resigned before the end of his contract, he received a retirement package of $720,000.

Hale said she is angry about the secrecy revolving around his resignation and the amount of money he is receiving from the deal.

The UNM Board of Regents has not commented on the reason for Caldera's resignation, because they say it's a confidential personnel matter.

Hale called the regents and the President's Office last month to tell them she was taking UNM off her trust.

She said Regents President Jamie Koch and Michael Carroll, director of the UNM Foundation, called her back that day.

Hale said Koch was not helpful and provided no information on why Caldera resigned.

"I spoke to Jamie Koch, and he's keeping it under wraps," she said. "I resent that. I resent somebody treating me as if I don't have a brain in my head."

Hale said confidentiality is not a valid excuse.

"This thing about confidentiality - that's being used to cover a lot of things," she said. "And I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be party to an institution that's going to do this."

Koch confirmed he spoke to Hale on the phone, but would not comment further.

"I don't have any idea on who the lady is," he said. "I have no comments about her."

Koch also declined to comment on reasons for Caldera's resignation.

Hale said while the interaction with Koch was less than positive, she appreciated the call from Carroll.

Carroll said he would not comment on the conversation, because he didn't feel right doing so without Hale's direct permission.

However, Carroll said he understands Hale has been supportive of the University in the past, but had to make an important decision for herself.

"People have their reasons. It's their decision to make," he said. "It's not their light bill."

Carroll said he did not know if other alumni of the University have also yanked donations.

Hale is also upset over the hiring of Sparks, the executive director of communication and marketing of the Health Sciences Center.

Sparks was the deputy chief of staff for Gov. Bill Richardson until he resigned Feb.1.

Hale was angry because the job was not advertised and because Sparks does not have a college degree, a requirement of the position.

Sparks also called her after hearing the news, she said, and explained why he didn't have a college degree. She said his reasons are irrelevant.

"If this is a guideline of the University, then either the guideline applies to everybody or it doesn't," Hale said. "And if it doesn't apply to everybody, then we shouldn't have a guideline. I mean that's my own foolish feeling."

While it's not an official University guideline to have a college degree, most of the job descriptions listed on the Human Resources Web site require the applicant to have a four-year degree.

Sparks said the conversation with Hale went well, and he hopes with time people will understand why the position was created for him.

"It's like any job - you should be rated by performance," Sparks said. "And I'm confident we are going to get great results. All the ingredients are in place."

Susan Morrison, director of the Office of Planned Giving at UNM, said all donations, no matter the amount, are significant.

"Every gift we get is important," she said. "They all add up, and each one of those dollars goes to students and programs at the University."

Planned Giving, a part of UNM Foundation, handles all money set to go to UNM through wills or trusts.

Morrison said the office keeps track only of funding they receive now, not necessarily the money they will get. She said that is because people put that donation in their trusts or wills without notifying UNM.

In fiscal year 2005-06, Planned Giving received $2.4 million. In 2004-05, the program generated $4.4 million.

Hale, who graduated from UNM in 1972, said she loves the University and is a longtime supporter of the Lobo basketball teams.

She is also not the only one in her family to have ties to UNM.

Her brother, son and husband also received graduate degrees from the University.

The trust was set up in her father's name, she said, because he didn't get a chance to go to college.

"Dad always said, 'Give back to institutions that have helped you,'" Hale said.

The money will now go to the Animal Humane Association of New Mexico, she said.

"They're not political," Hale said. "And I like cats and dogs - and so did my dad."