CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Gregory Barnes got into his car last week and drove six hours from his home in Delaware to get some answers and deliver a message to Clarion University.
He did meet on Monday with some Clarion University and Clarion University Foundation, Inc. officials.
The university was asked by exploreClarion.com for an official reaction to the information and video below, and an official statement was provided late Monday afternoon.
“As an update, earlier today the university and foundation representatives had a good conversation with Mr. Barnes,” said Communication Manager Tina Horner.
“Both organizations welcomed the opportunity to talk with him directly and address his concerns to the best of our abilities. We felt it was a productive meeting as Mr. Barnes was positively engaged in the discussion of future potential uses for the Barnes Center, and we look forward to continued conversations with Mr. Barnes.”
On Friday, Barnes said he was denied a Freedom of Information request by Clarion University regarding his donation of $1.2 million to help fund the construction of the Bradford George Carmack Barnes Residence Hall at Clarion University — Venango Campus in Oil City and the Gregory Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development at Clarion University.
His questions related to the Barnes Center research; he questioned the use of the building and recruiting of tenants. According to Barnes, the request was denied because the Barnes Center is owned by the Clarion University Foundation Inc.— a separate entity from the university. When he contacted the Foundation on Friday, he said he was told that the information was confidential.
On Sunday, he decided to protest Clarion University at the corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue with two signs claiming declining enrollment, jobs, and morale under the leadership of President Karen Whitney. Along with signs, he said President Whitney should leave now for the declines. Whitney has already announced she would leave the position on July 1, 2018, after receiving a three-year contract extension from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
In a Sunday interview with Barnes, as a result of perceived failures, he felt the entire senior administration of the university and trustees and the foundation and board should also resign.
A university news release from November 19, 2008, provided some background about the contribution.
Here are some excerpts:
Greg Barnes, a retired business faculty member and investor, always wanted to talk the talk and walk the walk when it came to supporting Clarion University. His $1.2 million gift, one of the largest individual contributions from a living donor, allows him to walk tall.
The contribution will help fund the construction of the Bradford George Carmack Barnes Residence Hall at Clarion University — Venango Campus in Oil City and the Gregory Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development at Clarion University.
Working hard, living simply, and wisely investing his money over the years brought the former accounting professor to the point where he was able to consider such a contribution.
“I gave because I perceive that President Joseph Grunenwald is a businessperson and a proponent of capitalism,” said Barnes. “I also believe that it is my social responsibility.”
Barnes hopes his gift will open some eyes.
“I believe that we should all support education; society as a whole has an obligation to support education,” said Barnes. “I think that many of my peers in higher education don’t understand the business community. I wanted to send a clear message to academia that business people strongly support education. I want to challenge faculty members to financially support the university.”
Son initial inspiration for gift
“The passing of my son was clearly an inspiration for this gift,” said Barnes. “After I settled on a contribution in his honor with the naming of a residence hall, I wanted to do more. I looked at what Clarion was doing to encourage the development of business growth, and I settled on the Biotech Center.”
Barnes started teaching at Venango Campus in 1976 after his first wife, Barbara, accepted a physician’s position with Titusville Hospital.
Earlier in his career, he served in Vietnam and intended to practice accounting after graduation from college, but he quickly realized that teaching of accounting was what provided greater satisfaction.
Advice about support is simple and direct from Barnes.
“My advice would be that the emotional rewards from donating to the university far exceeds any materialistic satisfaction from having a large home,” said Barnes. “Hey, I could have purchased a nice home in Oil City or whatever, but it just didn’t mean anything to me anymore.”
“I lived in an apartment, and I’ve lived simply, saved money, and as long as I can live comfortably and visit places, I’d rather donate the money to serve society or to my four nieces and four nephews.”
About the Gregory Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development
The Gregory Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development was a three-story, brick veneer steel frame building built for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Silver Certification. The first floor will house the Small Business Development Center and Trinity Point Development Corporation, while the upper two floors will house incubator space for biotechnology development.
