The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

T Boone to donate biggest academic donation to an Oklahoma college.

OSU Provost Marlene Strathe wrote in an e-mail to academic deans, "This gift has the potential to transform Oklahoma State University …,"

Formal announcement on Wednesday.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080520_12_Oklah62838

Lot of T Boone news this week...
Yesterday it was announced he's puchasing 667 wind turbines at $3-mil a pop  ($2 billion purchase)
to place in the Texas panhandle.

Name change in progress to BSU.....

I'm glad to hear of a major donation to OSU ACADEMIC programs!  

Sports are important in as far as they teach young people lessons about teamwork, commitment, follow-through, playing within the framework of the rules, giving your all, etc.  For grownups, they offer entertainment, a weird sense of community, an excuse to drink beer, a reason to wear color-coordinated attire, and a way to feel superior to your neighbors.  (If you're an OSU fan, it may also teach adults lessons about the persistence of hope, humility, and delayed gratification....)

This state has put enough emphasis on sports.  It's time for a renewed emphasis on education...something that is truly transformative, and will have a long-term, positive impact on the state.

I really hope there is some small amount for OSU Tulsa.

Try to think of oil/gas prices as a tax, it's just THEY want to decide how to spend it rather than having all us pesky folk vote-n-stuff.

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Originally posted by PonderInc

I'm glad to hear of a major donation to OSU ACADEMIC programs!  

Sports are important in as far as they teach young people lessons about teamwork, commitment, follow-through, playing within the framework of the rules, giving your all, etc.  For grownups, they offer entertainment, a weird sense of community, an excuse to drink beer, a reason to wear color-coordinated attire, and a way to feel superior to your neighbors.  (If you're an OSU fan, it may also teach adults lessons about the persistence of hope, humility, and delayed gratification....)

This state has put enough emphasis on sports.  It's time for a renewed emphasis on education...something that is truly transformative, and will have a long-term, positive impact on the state.

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T-Boone's sports-only donations do have an impact on academics. Good sports programs drive big alumni signups and contributions. T-Boone throwing his money at athletics lets OSU spend their other donations elsewhere. Now, after that is all paid for, he gives the academics a big shot in the arm.

What could this do to the prospects of growing OSU Tulsa? Or supporting the OSU Teaching hospital here?

$100,000,000.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8358586

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- T. Boone Pickens made another super-sized donation to his alma mater on Wednesday, giving $100 million to Oklahoma State University for endowed chairs in what was touted as the largest gift for academics ever given in the state.

The energy magnate has made previous gifts to Oklahoma State through the years that have totaled more than $300 million.

Pickens, who will turn 80 this week, is an Oklahoma native and former wildcatter who now heads the Dallas-based hedge fund BP Capital Management LP.

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Originally posted by Townsend

$100,000,000.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8358586

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- T. Boone Pickens made another super-sized donation to his alma mater on Wednesday, giving $100 million to Oklahoma State University for endowed chairs in what was touted as the largest gift for academics ever given in the state.

The energy magnate has made previous gifts to Oklahoma State through the years that have totaled more than $300 million.

Pickens, who will turn 80 this week, is an Oklahoma native and former wildcatter who now heads the Dallas-based hedge fund BP Capital Management LP.

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just adding from KTUL's website.  "Endowed chairs are professorships permanently paid for with revenue from endowment funds. The donation is the largest ever given in Oklahoma for academics. And, what's more, a state program which matches donations for endowed chairs could double the money.'

 So this essentially could be doubled to $200 million! Does OSU Tulsa have any endowed chairs?

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Originally posted by TUalum0982
 Does OSU Tulsa have any endowed chairs?

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Yes, they are implants.




Sorry, the kid in me made me type that.

The question is, Will Tulsa get any of these endowed chairs and will the state matching this 100 mill make them even tighter fisted in being able to expand OSU Tulsa any time soon?

I'm only concerned with the Tulsa campuses as well. Any info is greatly appreciated.