Controversy grows over UW donation

Controversy grows over UW donation: "Controversy grows over UW donation

By JEFFREY JACQUET
Star-Tribune correspondent

LARAMIE -- When it was announced last month that the UniWyo Federal Credit Union would donate $1 million to university athletics and academic programs, officials lauded the gift as a 'perfect fit' between two long-standing organizations that have 'always enjoyed a great relationship.'

Since the announcement, however, controversy has grown among members of the credit union, who say the self-described 'nonprofit financial cooperative owned by its members' left its own members out of the decision-making process over what became the second-largest gift to the UW intercollegiate athletic facilities campaign.

Eight months of negotiations took place between UW and the credit union's democratically elected, volunteer board of directors over specifics of the donation. But many members said they were shocked to first learn of the donation when it was reported in newspapers on July 1, nine days after the contract was signed."