June 3, 2019

Ms. Patricia Harris

Chairperson of the Board of Roosevelt University
Ms. Susan Bart, Vice Chair of Board

Mr. Melvin Katten, Senior Vice Chair of Board
Mr. Robert Mednick, Senior Vice Chair of Board
Mr. Kenneth Tucker, Senior Vice Chair of Board

Dear Ms. Harris, Ms. Bart, Mr. Katten, Mr. Mednick and Mr. Tucker:

We, 8 of 10 non-Roosevelt University trustee members of the Auditorium Theatre?s Executive
Committee, have decided to submit our resignations as of?cers and directors of the Board of the

Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (?The Theatre?).

We have come to this decision reluctantly. The Theatre needs both strong ownership and
leadership in order to succeed programmatically and financially in the highly competitive
Chicago performing arts environment. Furthermore, the Theatre needs a governance and
ownership structure that enables, not inhibits, its committed staff and Board to raise the
significant capital, estimated to be $50 million or more, to restore this architecturaljewel to its

former glory.

Our AT Search Committee chaired by Phil Lumpkin, in conjunction with the highly respected
search ?rm KOYA, worked effectively and successfully together to attract and recruit a new
CEO for the Theatre. KOYA and our Search Committee felt fortunate and excited to have
attracted two highly respected leaders of distinguished Chicago- based arts organizations as
?nalists for the CEO position. We were deeply discouraged when, after meeting with

Roosevelt?s President, each candidate declined to continue discussions about the CEO role.

Last week, we attempted to arrange meetings with Roosevelt?s President to discuss possible
Options. John Svoboda and Lew Collens proposed a meeting with the President, but John was
informed that Lew would not be invited to such a meeting. Mel Katten, after meeting with Lew
Collens on Wednesday, May 29, called the President?s of?ce to arrange a meeting between

himself, Collens and the President. That request was ignored.

As a result, we lack con?dence about the future outlook for the Theatre, are unable to advance
the Theatre?s mission, and have been stymied in our attempts to work with the University?s
leadership to ?nd a solution. We thereby jointly submit our resignations, effective immediately,
We hope that you and the University Board are able to put the Theatre on a strong path in terms

of good stewardship and solid ?nancial support.

Sincerely,

{m
My. 

John A. Svoboda
Chairman of the Board, Auditorium Theatre

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Norman R. Bobins Lew Collens
Vice Chair of Board Vice Chair of Board
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Amanda Brimmer Philip Lumpkin
Executive Committee Chair of Audit committee

Baa-Na 

Suzanne C. Martin Danny Nikitas
Chair of Governance Committee Chair of Communications Committee
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Edward S. Wei]
Executive Committee

Cc: Ali Malekzadeh