I find it strange that the ISU Foundation is so concerned these days about revealing donor identities. Years ago, after writing some modest checks to selected programs on campus — none made out to the Foundation — I found my name included, without permission, on a published list of people being thanked for making that the best single year ever for donations to the Foundation.

But my donations were meant to support programs that presidents Gordon Eaton and Martin Jischke, as well as regents President Marvin Pomerantz, had long been scheming to sell off or eliminate. Who knows how many other contrarians on that list felt similarly embarrassed about being portrayed as if we, too, agreed with changing from the “New Humanism” theme of the President William Parks years to “Iowa State means business” mantra that was to follow.

When did the Foundation change from cavalierly revealing donor identities without permission to closing its records on donor identities? I don’t really know, of course, but would not be surprised if things really tightened up after Mark Gannon, Bill Kunerth and Neal Harl, among others, began questioning certain behind-the-scenes actions and maneuverings of the Foundation.

John W. Patterson

Professor Emeritus

Materials Science and Engineering