Harbaugh's 50K Bathroom

[TallTitan34]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2009/08/harbaughs-private-bathroom-has-critics-at-stanford/1

Jim Harbaugh recently had a $50,000 private bathroom built for himself at Stanford.  Stanford's athletic department is in the middle of a financial crisis which makes the timing very interesting.  Jobs have been cut yet a 50K bathroom was installed. 

The old bathroom was 20 steps away.

[muball]

Creans ego may have rubbed off on him

[ChicosBailBonds]

Didn't a donor pay for this?

[MilTown]

Why are we supposed to care about this?

I thought I remember reading that Stanford has the third largest endowment in the country. With relaxed state rules on endowments, seems like the university can tap into that and come out of financial difficulty really fast.

[GGGG]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2009/08/harbaughs-private-bathroom-has-critics-at-stanford/1

Jim Harbaugh recently had a $50,000 private bathroom built for himself at Stanford.  Stanford's athletic department is in the middle of a financial crisis which makes the timing very interesting.  Jobs have been cut yet a 50K bathroom was installed. 

The old bathroom was 20 steps away.

This made me laugh:  "The school is considering cutting fencing."

The arms race for athletic facilities is pathetic, donor funded or not.

[TallTitan34]

Didn't a donor pay for this?

So is the toilet named after the donor?

Yes donor paid for it but the money couldn't have went towards something else?  Harbaugh was a tool for even asking for a 50K bathroom when the athletic department is bleeding money.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So is the toilet named after the donor?

Yes donor paid for it but the money couldn't have went towards something else?  Harbaugh was a tool for even asking for a 50K bathroom when the athletic department is bleeding money.

Well, I think it makes a huge difference.  The donor donated money for that purpose.  It's not like the donor said here is $50K, do whatever you want with it.  It's not like something else didn't get done or was more deserving of the money and it was chosen to be spent here.  If it was a pool of money or budgeted cash and chosen to be spent here, I would completely agree.  But since the money was donated for this purpose and this purpose only, I have much less of an issue with it.

Nowhere in the article does it state that a donation of $50K was given to the athletic department. It was money given directly for this purpose.  So if the bathroom wasn't built, it's not as if the athletic department would have an extra $50k lying around. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Sorry guys...this isn't surprising in the least. Jim Harbaugh has ALWAYS been an idiot.

[TallTitan34]

Well, I think it makes a huge difference.  The donor donated money for that purpose.  It's not like the donor said here is $50K, do whatever you want with it.  It's not like something else didn't get done or was more deserving of the money and it was chosen to be spent here.  If it was a pool of money or budgeted cash and chosen to be spent here, I would completely agree.  But since the money was donated for this purpose and this purpose only, I have much less of an issue with it.

Nowhere in the article does it state that a donation of $50K was given to the athletic department. It was money given directly for this purpose.  So if the bathroom wasn't built, it's not as if the athletic department would have an extra $50k lying around. 

Right but Harbuagh asked for the bathroom.  The donor wouldn't have given the money unless Harbaugh asked for it.  My problem here is with Harbaugh.  When you school is hurting you don't ask for something as ridiculous as a 50K bathroom.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Right but Harbuagh asked for the bathroom.  The donor wouldn't have given the money unless Harbaugh asked for it.  My problem here is with Harbaugh.  When you school is hurting you don't ask for something as ridiculous as a 50K bathroom.

Believe me TT, I get it and I'm mostly on your side on this.   Don't get me wrong, I think the ask is odd, etc.  It sounds like Harbaugh is a gov't bureaucrat. 

But I do think he did exactly what you're supposed to do and what organizations do all the time when they know they don't have the money for a pet project (which I'd categorize this as), they fund raise for it or get someone else to pay for it.  I think you hit the nail on the head at the end of your statement in that it seems more than foolish what the request was for....but I don't blame him for the process in which he went after it.  For whatever reason, he thought it was important, he didn't ask the department (or did and was denied) so he got the money elsewhere. 

[TallTitan34]

I completely agree with you.  I don't fault the administration.  I don't fault the donor either since it's their money and they can do what they want with it (no matter how foolish I think it is).  I just think Harbaugh should make less ridicioulus requests especially at a time when programs are being cut.

[77ncaachamps]

I completely agree with you.  I don't fault the administration.  I don't fault the donor either since it's their money and they can do what they want with it (no matter how foolish I think it is).  I just think Harbaugh should make less ridicioulus requests especially at a time when programs are being cut.

You best believe that. They had to lay off AD staff and programs are slated for cuts.

When they lose to San Jose State, they will be demanding his head on a silver platter!

GO SPARTANS!

[ChicosBailBonds]

You best believe that. They had to lay off AD staff and programs are slated for cuts.

When they lose to San Jose State, they will be demanding his head on a silver platter!

GO SPARTANS!

That's always an odd rivalry game.  I suspect USC will pummel them back to the stone age next week first.  If they get up from that punch, they always play Stanford tough.  It's too bad next year's game won't happen from my understanding.