Kate Santini ‘27
Chief News Editor
With the 2024 fall semester on the immediate horizon, the College of the Holy Cross was suddenly shaken by a lawsuit filed by ‘56 alum and former member of the Board of Trustees, Cornelius B. Prior, Jr., who claimed that his sizable donations to the College had been misallocated over the years.
In 2012, Prior initiated a string of donations intended to fund the construction of a namesake performing arts center, the Prior Performing Arts Center (PAC). In the suit, Prior expressed frustrations regarding the delay in the PAC’s construction and the simultaneous acceleration of other projects such as the athletic center. In regards to the latter, Prior insisted he had been pressured by the Board of Trustees to donate an additional $3 million on top of what he had already donated for the PAC to help fund the athletic center. Prior felt that the details of the PAC’s construction were being obscured and that his request to have segregated funds was ignored.
The plaintiff’s formal demands include–yet are not limited to–the full reimbursement of his funds which are to be redistributed to a charitable organization erected under his name, the resurgence of any documentation regarding his monetary contributions to the school, and for the College to admit to breaching its written agreement.
“I can’t tell you how deeply saddened we are about this situation. The donor’s allegations are simply untrue” stated College President Vincent Rougeau in an email addressing Prior’s allegations. Speaking on the College’s behalf, Rougeau explained, “We believe this matter is governed by a written pledge agreement that was signed by both parties in February 2014 and requires that we first work to resolve this matter privately through mediation or arbitration.” While Rougeau would have preferred to keep the matter private in the traditional manner of the College, the public nature of Prior’s allegations “made it impossible for us to avoid sharing the facts.”
At the time in which the “pledge” between the Board of Trustees and Prior was signed, Prior had been a trustee who, by definition, was committed to acting in the best interest of the College. The delay in the PAC’s construction, one of Prior’s major grievances, was merely a result of the Trustees adhering to a unanimously agreed upon principle that two-thirds of any given project’s funds must be provided before beginning construction.
In his email, Rougeau sheds light on the fact that although Prior pledged to eventually donate $25 million to the PAC, this amount only barely scratched the surface of its final cost of construction. According to Rougeau, Prior repeatedly pushed for exuberant design choices which is, in part, the reason why the total cost of construction amounted to $109 million as opposed to the projected $57 million.
Rougeau further lamented his disappointment and frustration with the suit, stating that “Many see this lawsuit as a dispute over money, but it is more than that for the College. With the suit, the donor has unfairly challenged the integrity of the College itself, the board of trustees and many people who have dedicated their professional lives in service to our mission….The College and our trustees take seriously our responsibility as stewards of donor funds, and we manage our obligations to our donors with due care and good faith.” He then goes on to assure the student body that all of Prior’s funds had been used in adherence to the pledge he signed in 2014. Rougeau further assured that in spite of any concerns raised by the suit, the College stands on solid financial ground.
Rougeau concluded the email by expressing his gratitude for the PAC, stating that he is thankful not only for all of the individuals who contributed to its development, but also to all of the students and faculty who fulfill the building’s mission through their artistic pursuits.
While lawsuits are challenging to grapple with, especially for an institution whose mission is to educate and do good for its community, it is imperative that all allegations launched against the College are properly addressed. While the suit is yet to be finalized, the College has made its formal statement regarding the plaintiff’s allegations and retains confidence in its legal standing. Recognizing that the situation may have come as a shock to the Holy Cross community, the hope is with transparency of the facts that students, faculty and alumni can be educated on the situation and collectively move forward.
Featured Image Courtesy of College of the Holy Cross
Copy Edited by Annamaria DeCamp
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