Letters
My name is Richard Sotell. I am a member of the Class
of 1975 and a DKE. I was one of the earliest members of my class to join
the Willow Society. I have been a loyal and active supporter of Colgate
for many years. Over the past 5 years I have mentored and employed for
each summer 1-2 Colgate students at my company The Kraematon Group. Many
of these students have graduated and pursued careers in the Investment
business as a result of this experience.
I have just resigned from the President's Club and the Willow Society. This was to indicate my displeasure of the way President Chopp and Dean Weinberg treated the DKE community in the Spring prior to the disclosure of the new Residential Initiative. While major changes were in the offing; not a word was spoken to the DKE leadership at that time. While we were in good faith negotiating for the return of DKE to full status in the Colgate community (while simultaneously pouring money into the DKE coffers to effect renovations) not a word was spoken about the pending takeover of the property. I have just received a communication from DKE leadership indicating that the University at the last moment has now made a play to purchase the DKE Temple. I have had enough!!!!
The current board and administration's one sided, non-negotiable approach to the Greek Societies is insufferable. It was within the DKE house that I learned the concepts of duty and charitable fulfillment. The friendships created there that exist to this day have served to reinforce my positive feelings toward Colgate and the desire to assist the current undergraduates in their pursuit of careers. While I will continue employing students for the summer, I can no longer in good conscience support an administration that seeks to acquire Greek property in a coercive fashion. I was one of the first members of my class to join the Willow Society. Unfortunately, I am probably one of the first (but not the last) to withdraw. Colgate will be removed this week from both The Sotell Family Charitable Trust and the New England Life insurance policies I purchased many years ago with Colgate as the beneficiary. I hope that this is only a temporary move. I pray that the University will approach this emotional issue with a more conciliatory approach. To date it feels as if University doctrine is "My way or the highway!"
Respectfully,
Richard Sotell 75'