VA. COURT GIVES ART SALE OPPONENTS SIX MONTH FUNDRAISING EXTENSION

AVV 12-5 #721

 

LYNCHBURG, VA. (AP) — Opponents of Randolph College’s plans to sell four paintings were unable to raise $1 million to keep an injunction in place by the deadline, but the Virginia Supreme Court agreed to give them more time.

Anne Yastremski, executive director of Preserve Educational Choice, said the group has raised just over $500,000. The organization is financing a lawsuit in Lynchburg Circuit Court by some Randolph graduates and former employees challenging the art sale.

The Supreme Court, which on November 16 lowered from $10 million to $1 million the bond the group must post to keep an injunction in force for six months, agreed to extend the deadline for raising the cash to February 15.

Yastremski said a fundraising effort yielded more than 650 donations ranging from a few cents to a pair of $100,000 checks. She declined to identify the big donors.

“We were really delighted with the response,’’ said Yastremski.

She said a group of students went door-to-door in dormitories and raised more than $2,200 from 213 classmates — roughly one-third of the student body.

College spokeswoman Brenda Edson said the extension doesn’t mean much.