Old Dominion, NC (WZIP 2/15/07) -- Danny "Jack" Jones, a lawyer representing Lenoir-Rhyne University, said at a press conference today that the University was redirecting the $6.1 million donation given to it last Wednesday (Feb. 7) by the Rudisill family for a new program in Bowling Science.
On February 7th, a spokesman for the Rudisill family had announced that the funds were intended for Lenoir-Rhyne University's School of Metaphysics and a new state-of-the-art Rudisill School of Metaphysics Building. (See Wednesday's press report: "Lenoir-Rhyne scores $6 million for School of Metaphysics")
WZIP subsequently learned that John Jay Rudisill, the multibillionaire donor who made his fortune in the pom-pom manufacturing industry in Old Dominion, had died suddently of a heart attack on Monday, February 12th. His widow, Mrs. Abigail Rudisill, was livid with anger when she learned of Jones' announcement of the redirection of the donated funds at LRU's press conference earlier today.
"The money was specifically donated for the School of Metaphysics," said Mrs. Rudisill. "John Jay would have been terribly upset to hear that LRU would do a thing like that. It's unconsciounable. I've made an appointment with my lawyers and plan to sue."
Jones, the school lawyer, responded by saying the Rudisill's have no legal case, invoking the doctrine of cy pres, which means, he explained, that where circumstances warrent, the "nearest equivalent" of the doner's intention may be carried out.
George Riley, a University public relations spokesperson, explained further: "We fully expect that Mrs. Rudisill will be fully satisfied once she understands the details of the [Bowling Science] program, which is going to be far more popular and meet the needs of many more North Carolinians than a building for the School of Metaphysics ever could have," he said.
Dr. Jimmy Holman, recent recipient of the John Jay Rudisill endowed Professorship of Bowling Science at Lenoir-Rhyne University, was philosophical when we asked him about the event.
"It's humbling to realize that a man of John Jay Rudisill's stature was helped to get where he got in the pom-pom manufacturing industry by studying metaphysics," he said. "But it's even more humbling, as Chair of the School of Bowling Science at Lenoir-Rhyne, to realize that the generosity of such a man will help our students achieve state-of-the-art levels of mastery in Bowling Science."
In a telephone conversation, Lenoir-Rhyne University President, John Wayne Peyton told WZIP: "We think this bodes well for the future of education here at LRU where we put academic excellence first."
Professor Roman J. Rutherford, Chair of the School of Metaphysics could not be reached for comment.
1 comment:
Dear Lenoir-Rhyne Onion,
I took bowling as a phys. ed. elective many years ago, and really struggled with it. Perhaps if I had been able to study Bowling Science I would have done better. I think this program could really put LR on the map, don't you?
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