Dumbledore and Shane

John Lombardi, the UMass Amherst chancellor and (and apparently human Wuzzle), had his going-away party today . He leaves at the end of the month to head the Louisiana State University system.

Some folks over there are still smarting over him leaving due to disagreements over how to run the Amherst campus with the UMass president's office:

Comparing Lombardi to the beloved headmaster in the "Harry Potter" series, library director Jay Schafer spoke of that character's battle with an evil wizard who wanted to "eliminate" him.

And vice chancellor Charlena Seymour likened Lombardi to Shane, the hero of the 1953 western who is drawn into a conflict between a homesteader and a cattle baron.

Certainly, whoever takes over as the permanent chancellor is going to have their work cut out for them. And not just in slipping into Lombardi's shoes.

Fundraising ability is likely going to be a top concern for the search committee when looking at candidates.

Interestingly enough, UMass officials pointed to lack of a powerful football team as one reason. (Even more interesting, rumors were floated earlier this year that in the private meeting where the UMass reorganization plan was unveiled to a small number of trustees and other UMass folks, a good deal of the discussion revolved around football. UMass board chairman Stephen Tocco has vigorously denied this.)

But back to the main point. The Republican, in an editorial today, writes:

The absence of a powerhouse football team - or UMass-Amherst alumni in powerful Statehouse positions - isn't enough to explain the university's lackluster fund-raising profile. While the UMass system's endowment has risen from $143 million in 2003 to $348 million today, much of that increase has come from the system's four smaller campuses in Lowell, Boston, Dartmouth and Worcester. The Amherst campus raised just $28.7 million in 2006, compared to the median of $48.4 million for 50 similar schools.

One way to raise more dough may be to admit more kids of alumni.

At least, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research paper, it is. As an item in the newest Atlantic Monthly puts it: "Though the authors note that alumni without a stake in the cycle still often give generously, many alums who are parents 'believe that donations buy them entrance into a lottery whose prize is admissions for their children.'"

Apart for the one for my son or daughter's eventual college tuition, looks like I'll have to start a separate coffee can for planned donations. (Full disclosure: I'm a UMass Boston student.)

Separately, in the "Hey, look! Positive press!" category, the UMass system's home page highlights a Worcester Telegram and Gazette's column on UMass President Jack Wilson.