It took Bruce Benson exactly two weeks to prove his worth as president of the University of Colorado.
Ten days ago, state lawmakers zeroed out funding for a $111 million science building on the Auraria campus, even though a gaping hole already had been dug.
Facing a $700 million budget shortfall over the next five years, legislators didn’t want to commit to long-term projects they could no longer afford.
“There is no way for the state to fund that building,” said state Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley.
Done deal, right? Not to Benson.
As former president of the Metropolitan State College Board of Trustees, he was familiar with the project and its importance to the school and campus. The current science building is so dilapidated that pregnant or nursing women are advised not to step inside.
The new building would be shared by Metro, the University of Colorado Denver and Community College of Denver.
So Benson, Metro State president Stephen Jordan and Nancy McCallin, head of the community college system, began a three-day blitz, calling the media, lawmakers and anyone else who could help.
One of Benson’s first calls was to state Sen. Josh Penry, a rising star in GOP circles.
Penry had an answer, but it involved an idea that had been languishing at the statehouse.
Last July, Penry broached the idea of sending a portion of the federal mineral lease money that Colorado would receive from drilling on the Roan Plateau to higher education. When federal lands are leased to energy companies, Colorado receives a portion of the money. In 2006, Colorado received $144.1 million from such leases.
With energy production booming, that amount is only expected to go up. Why not redirect some of it to higher education, at least to pay for one-time capital construction projects?
But the idea had stalled for lack of leadership — beyond Penry and a handful of lawmakers — until Benson swooped in.
The CU president scheduled a Monday lunch with Gov. Bill Ritter, where he urged the governor to run with the idea. A few hours later, he did. Ritter said he would back legislation to not only allow completion of the science building, but also fund other higher education projects across the state.
Benson “made it happen,” Penry says. “Bruce was totally instrumental in an agreement that will do great things not only for CU but for all of higher education.”
When Benson was named the sole finalist for the CU job earlier this year, there were those in Boulder who choked on their hummus. The former oilman and Republican kingmaker was dismissed by some faculty and students because of his non-traditional resume and lack of an advanced degree.
But he has proven, quickly, that he has the political instincts and skills to get things done under the gold dome, and to find cash where lawmakers say none exists.
His willingness to get elbow- deep in an Auraria campus project is important, too. It signals CU’s intent to be a major player on the campus, which will benefit both Metro and CCD.
It also shows Benson could be the leader all of higher education needs. He won’t take no for an answer, and he won’t be satisfied fighting over financial scraps.
Higher education lacks that strong, unifying voice right now. He could be that guy. He needs to be.
Dan Haley can be reached at dhaley@denverpost.com.
