. . . an opportunity for each of us to help others, to express our values in action, to conform our deeds with our words, and, through the habit of giving, to develop character. If giving were a duty, it would not be charity -- an expression of love for others.
But there is one clear duty in the charitable transaction. It's the duty . . .
. . . of charitable bureaucracy to handle the money honorably, which means -- at the barest minimum -- without self-dealing.
And that brings us to the Univesity of Texas Law School Foundation, now off my list of approved charities.
I have never given much. My calling, to use a Christian term, is to contribute primarily to Christian charities. They do a better job with the money, I believe.
Still, I have always made small ceremonial gifts to the foundation, to show support for its mission of supporting the law school.
Now comes this:
The process Larry Sager, the University of Texas School of Law's former dean, used to secure a $500,000 forgiveable loan for himself was not transparent, created "an impression of self-dealing that cannot be condoned," and should be permanently suspended, according to a University of Texas System report released Tuesday.
The report, written by UT System Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Barry Burgdorf, examines the forgiveable loan program the University of Texas Law School Foundation used to supplement some professor's [read professors'] salaries -- including the money Sager received at his own suggestion.
Never again. This foundation has forfeited its most important asset: trustworthiness.
(Reeve Hamilton, "UT Law's Forgivable Loans to Faculty 'Not Appropriate,'" texastribune.org, November 13, 2012)
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