Medical school gift confirms campus reliance on donors

By Marcelle Richards
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
[email protected]

The UCLA School of Medicine just hit the jackpot.

The best part is, they can do whatever they want with the
money.

David Geffen’s $200 million is not only the largest
donation ever made to the University of California; it’s an
exception in that it’s basically a blank check. In return he
gets a Medical School named after him.

“This whole gift is made even more special because it is
unrestricted ““ that is the hardest money to come by,”
said medical school Dean Gerald Levey, noting that just thinking
about the gift makes him smile or walk with an “extra
step.”

The medical school, like the rest of campus, is growing
increasingly dependent on donors to fund programs, construction and
operational costs, since the university cannot foot the entire
bill.

State contributions are marginal, and the campus is already
preparing for cuts next year.

Though UCLA is a public institution, much of the campus
developments are funded by private dollars.

The campus even employs an army-sized team of solicitors through
Campaign UCLA. The target audience: wealthy “friends of
UCLA” who will help the university reach its goal of $2.4
billion by 2005.

The problem is that about 80 percent of donations are earmarked,
which is why Campaign UCLA increased its goal from $1.6 billion in
March to open the door for more discretionary funds.

Geffen is the most recent of many philanthropists who have made
a name for themselves at UCLA ““ that is, until a higher
bidder comes around.

Geffen’s donation replaced a hefty sum given by Ronald
Reagan supporters as the largest donation made to UCLA. The
Republicans pledged $150 million to the Westwood Hospital
replacement project to be named after the former president.

The Dickson Art Center, to undergo renovation this summer, will
assume the titles of art-enthusiasts Eli and Edythe Broad.

The Engineering School joined the mix when donor and former
professor Henry Samueli made a pledge and got a title.

Already with the namesake of Geffen Playhouse, the entertainment
executive is leaving the allocations up to the doctors, and Levey
is more than happy to bear the burden.

Levey said the money will go back to programs and people, namely
efforts to recruit and retain faculty and financial aid for
students.