Chris McGowan resigns from Alumni Association Development Committee

If AMSOL alumni have checked their school email accounts in the last 24 hours, they might have read a message purportedly from the Alumni Association and signed by "THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF THE AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION".

So who is on this "Development Committee" of the Alumni Association? After Chis McGowan's resignation from this committee, which occurred before this email was sent out, exactly ZERO ALUMNI. In fact, the only person on this committee is Dave Kelly. So now we have a message claiming to be from the alumni association without a single alumni approving the message.

God save our law school.

Mr. McGowan's letter of resignation is reproduced below:

May 31, 2006

Dear Mr. Negri:

I regret to inform you that after much deliberation, I can no longer, in good conscience, lead the effort to solicit financial gifts from our fellow alumni for the Ave Maria School of Law’s Annual Alumni Giving Campaign.

As the volunteer Chair of the Alumni Association’s Development Committee, achieving our rank and distinction as first in the nation for percentage of alumni participating in planned giving served to confirm the passion our alumni have for AMSL, and was a source of satisfaction for me personally. Furthermore, I am proud of my role as a student in conceiving the Graduate’s Grotto, initiating and executing the placement of the engraved names of the inaugural graduates on the library study carrels, and, after graduation, participating in the creation and underwriting of the first alumni scholarship. Like you, I have also labored to assist efforts to recruit qualified students and help graduates secure permanent employment.

Jason, suffice it to say, whether it was in my capacity as the President of the Student Bar Association, as a member of the Honor Board, as the student commencement speaker in 2003, or now as a graduate of AMSL, I have always done my very best to be a positive and steadfast reflection of the exceptional people and the laudable ideals the Ave Maria School of Law once embraced. Unfortunately, developments at the law school over the past year have caused me a great deal of discomfort, and I am no longer willing to financially support this institution. As such, I have concluded that it would be inappropriate for me to ask others to do so.

While it is beyond disheartening to craft this correspondence, so long as the law school’s leadership continues to demonstrate what I consider cavalier and dismissive attitudes toward the legitimate concerns of our students, faculty, and alumni, I must respectfully retreat from actively supporting the Ave Maria School of Law financially. It is my sincere hope that our leaders will eventually alter their present course, actively perform the fiduciary duty that they are morally and legally obligated to execute, and ultimately reengage AMSL’s most ardent supporters.

Please allow me to add that I have enjoyed working with our Director of Development, Mr. Dave Kelley. I have found Mr. Kelley to be a cordial, committed, and capable gentlemen, and only wish circumstances would allow our continued collaboration on behalf of AMSL. While I do not presently intend to resign from the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, should you, with the support of the Alumni Board, believe our association and AMSL would be best served by my resignation, I will submit it without delay.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge your exceptional service and leadership as our Alumni Association President. Very few people have access to the comprehensive information you possess, and therefore lack the informed perspective you command on these many difficult issues. My respect for your leadership, as well as your considerable discretion with these sensitive issues has grown considerably as you have navigated these troubled and turbulent waters. You have earned and deserve the gratitude and appreciation of all alumni, as well as many others, for your tireless efforts to act in the best interests of our Alma Mater.

Sincerely,

Christopher J. McGowan
Class of 2003
cc: Mr. Dave Kelley, Director of Development