Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Gow pays for own inauguration ceremony

By KJ LANG | La Crosse Tribune

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow has paid the approximately $8,000 cost for his inauguration ceremony Friday.

He and wife, Betsy Valentine, wrote the university a check for nearly $7,600 to cover all non-donated expenses and paid UW-L student Matt Duckett $400 for a special portrait for the inauguration.

“We wanted to give something back to the university that has given so much to us, and in a very short time,” said Gow, who has been at UW-L since February. “People here have been so welcoming and so supportive.”

As a university leader, he needs to be careful how resources are used, Gow said.

“Spending thousands on essentially a party for the chancellor shouldn’t be a high priority right now,” he said.

It also was difficult to justify using taxpayer money for his installation, Gow said, especially with the ongoing state budget stalemate.

“I want them (legislators) to know how I understand how challenging that is, and we are going to do everything we can at UW-La Crosse and the Wisconsin system to make the most of the resources we have and, more importantly, the resources we need for a strong future,” said Gow.

When Gow appointed a committee to plan the event, he said he told them “we are not throwing a prom.”

“What I meant was, let’s keep it simple, tasteful and keep the costs down,” he said.

Which they did: in comparison, Doug Hastad’s inauguration in April 2002 cost $11,528, according to a Tribune article.

Part of the savings for Gow’s ceremonies came by having his wife, a graphic designer, create the invitations and programs.

This isn’t the first time Gow has given back. As Nebraska Wesleyan University interim president, he donated a $24,000 farewell bonus to a fund to install sprinklers in Nebraska Wesleyan’s fraternity houses after a 19-year-old student died in a fire at one of the houses.

If you go

WHAT: Inauguration of Joe Gow as University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor

WHEN: 3 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Cleary Alumni and Friends Center, UW-L campus

DETAILS: Open to the public. A lineup of the grand marshal, delegates, the chancellor’s platform party and faculty, staff and emeriti will take place at 2:15 p.m. in UW-L’s Mitchell Hall. Other inaugural activities can be seen online at www.uwlax.edu/inauguration.

Kj Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.