Rumors that a member of the University Foundation’s Board of Trustees might resign in light of the recent rift between the University and Nike CEO Phil Knight were put to rest Tuesday when Board President Randy Papé received official notification about the resignation.
When trustee Patrick Kilkenny discussed his reasons for his resignation with Papé over the phone Tuesday afternoon, however, Papé said he got the impression Kilkenny might reconsider his move.
“My take is that Mr. Kilkenny is reevaluating his action,” Papé said. “I told him I was going to tear [the letter] up.”
Papé said he hopes to hear back from Kilkenny as early as today on his final decision.
Kilkenny, who manages an insurance company in San Diego, was not available for comment Tuesday.
Papé said Kilkenny sent the letter of resignation as a response to the recent developments at the University involving its decision to join the Worker Rights Consortium and Knight’s pledge to stop all personal donations to the school. Papé said Kilkenny told him that the events of the past few weeks have put Kilkenny, who holds both University President Dave Frohnmayer and Knight in high regard, into an uncomfortable position.
Papé said he was surprised when the office of the foundation contacted him Monday with the news that a letter of resignation from Kilkenny might be on its way.
“I picked up the phone and called Pat and I said ‘Pat, what’s going on’?” he said.
The University Foundation is a private, non-profit organization that has received and administered private, confidential donations and gifts to the University since 1957. The Foundation’s 52-member board of trustees is made up mostly of respected University alumni. Donations and gifts to the University, overseen and administered by the board, are used to help various departments cover expenses for buildings, scholarships and faculty.
Should Kilkenny in fact follow through on his resignation, Papé said he will not be replaced. The number of trustees, who serve five year-terms, can be anywhere between 45 and 55 members. Currently Kilkenny has one year left before his term expires.
Tom Hager, the University’s director of communications, said the University Foundation, although aligned closely with the University itself, is a separate entity.
The Register-Guard reported Tuesday that Kilkenny, who graduated from the University in 1974, was stepping down from the board, but plans to continue to support his alma mater as a donor.
“I’m not walking away from that. It’s a great school with great people, and I wish them all the best,” Kilkenny was quoted in The Register-Guard. “By no means am I bailing out on my interest in that marvelous institution up in Eugene.”
Kilkenny also told The Register-Guard that while his resignation is a statement expressing his feelings on recent events at the University, he said he holds Frohnmayer in high regard, and his resignation does not mean that he questions the president in any way.