Mason Gets $15 Million from Governor to Begin Academic IV

By Daniel Walsch

The ongoing budget roller coaster ride that has dominated much of the attention of higher education leaders throughout 2001 took another sharp turn Aug. 21 when Gov. James Gilmore, at a hastily called press conference in Mason Hall, announced intentions to unfreeze $15 million to fund George Mason University's much-discussed Academic IV building that will be built on the Fairfax Campus.

"The manner in which we have managed our monies enables us to free up these funds. It gives us an opportunity to help George Mason rise to a level of an institution that maintains the highest standards," Gilmore told reporters. Also present were representatives of all segments of the campus population, including President Alan Merten, members of the university's board of visitors (BOV), administrators, faculty, staff members, and student leaders.

In making the announcement, Gilmore praised George Mason for its successes and identified it as the next "major institution" in the commonwealth. His remarks were greeted with applause.

"We are very pleased with the governor's decision and hope monies for our other needed capital projects are soon made available as well," said Merten. Academic IV is one of three buildings planned for construction by the university over the next several years. In addition to Academic IV, the others include a $40 million academic building in Arlington and a $20 million academic building in Prince William.

Prior to the press conference, Gilmore met with Merten and members of the BOV. According to those present, BOV members were very forthcoming in their calls for the governor to help provide the university with greater financial support in such areas as faculty research and additional capital expansion.

Even though the governor's words were greeted with whole-hearted support at George Mason, throughout the state there still remains skepticism among state leaders as to how financially prudent he was being. The Washington Post quoted several state legislators as being concerned that the commonwealth is still not free of budget difficulties.

"You've got to look for another clash of wills between the state Senate and [Gov.] Gilmore over his final budget," State Senator Warren E. Barry (R-Fairfax) told the Post. "They're saying today that the sky is falling, except here in the land of Oz." At the Mason Hall press conference, however, Gilmore reiterated that the state government was in "sound financial shape."