The recent article (Jan. 5) about college presidents` wasteful spending practices made very ignorant references to former Southern Illinois University President Delyte W. Morris.
The SIU $1 million ”mansion” referred to was in fact conference rooms for university officers, faculty and visitors and lodging for visiting dignitaries from around the world. It also devoted a modest amount of space to serve as the president`s official residence. President Morris` detractors had to add the cost of substantial road construction and the landscaping near the site in order to reach the magic $1 million figure and refer to the entire building as a ”mansion” so the project would appear to be extravagant.
In fact, the president`s long-time, very large residence in the center of the campus was scheduled to be demolished to make way for a new building and the apartment-size residential area of the new ”mansion” provided significantly less living space.
At that time there also was a severe lack of adequate hotel space to house the frequent distinguished visitors from other states and countries. It was President Morris` intention that the need for adequate conference space, visitor`s lodging and new living quarters be combined into one building away from the center of campus. This project was going to be of short-term benefit for President Morris, who was planning his retirement, and in fact was intended for his successors.
