New Plans Proposed for Dippikill in Senate Meeting

By Lucienne Burns | December 8, 2025 

Senators convened for their last meeting of the semester, which included a discussion regarding Dippikill. 

Photo Credit: Lucienne Burns | The ASP

At its final meeting of the fall semester, the Student Association (SA) Senate hosted discussions regarding the future of Dippikill, an SA-owned-and-operated wilderness retreat located in the Adirondacks that was closed down over a year ago. 

“Probably a good decision fiscally, but certainly a tough decision, given the fact that Dippikill has been part of the University since 1956,” said Vice President of Finance and Administration Todd Foreman, who visited the Senate and discussed a proposed solution for reopening. 

The proposed solution, a three-way split between the Student Association, the Alumni Association and University Auxiliary Services (UAS) would take part of the financial burden off of SA. In this deal, each partner would equally pay $125,000 to cover the cost. 

According to Foreman, Dippikill’s annual operating cost sits at an estimated $375,000 to $400,000. 

Foreman announced that a working group was convened to discuss reopening the camp so it could continue to be available to alumni and students, including SA representatives President Trevor Pettit and Comptroller Gabrielle Holness, two representatives from the Alumni Association and two representatives from UAS. 

“This is a huge win for the students, and I am incredibly pleased with the three-way split plan. Since taking office in May, I have pushed for this outcome specifically to protect Dippikill access and ensure its long-term stability,” Pettit said in a statement to the ASP. “University Auxiliary Services and the Alumni Association have been exceptional partners throughout this process. Their collaboration and contributions will help guarantee that Dippikill remains affordable, student-driven, and properly maintained.” 

“While the 18-month reincorporation period presents a challenge, it also gives us valuable time to finalize key improvements such as student transportation, event programming, and expanded outreach. I am excited to use this period to deliver a stronger, more accessible Dippikill experience for the entire UAlbany Community."

The working group analyzed data, costs and challenges proposing a financial model involving shared fiscal responsibility among the three partners. The plan additionally relies on revenue to lower the expenses. 

The proposed plan also involved reducing Dippikill’s operating hours, prioritizing keeping it open during its most frequently utilized months and days, which are April through October, and between Thursday and Sunday, the data from the working group found. 

This change would reduce operating cost, the shared fiscal responsibility and SA’s contributions significantly.  

Foreman explained that not only would the proposal take the financial burden out of SA’s hands, it would also take the management burden away as well. Under this new plan, ownership of the camp would be transferred to a new entity created and managed by UAS to alleviate the financial burden on SA. 

“The goal will be that there will be no financial subsidies required to operate Camp Dippikill, because we would like to get to a place where we have enough revenue coming in that would offset the expenses to run. However, the reality of that is fairly unlikely,” Foreman said, explaining why the proposal would call for these changes. 

Dippikill Inc. is the subsidiary organization that operated the retreat under SA. Last year, five months after the camp’s closure, it was revealed by then president Jalen Rose that SA had settled a “wage and hour” claims suit with Dippikill Inc., draining SA’s funding, as it had to “clear its $250,000 budget and also use interest-accrued funds from an SA reserve account.” 

According to the Times Union, the amount SA had to pay from the wage dispute settlement was $572,000, while Pettit stated that the correct total is $540,000, including both settlement and legal fees in an email to the ASP. 

SA has been paying this amount off incrementally, over a three-year period. 

Dippkill was consequently a point of contention amongst the Senate last year, following its abrupt closure, lack of transparency concerns, and the settlement.

In order to keep the camp open in this proposed plan, there also would need to be an increase in use, according to Foreman, who suggested that the retreat had been underutilized by students in recent years. 

In order to avoid another closure, he spoke about increasing advertising and accommodating students with adequate transportation to the venue, in order to keep it in use.

A senator asked about the potential costs for winterization and maintenance, in which Foreman responded that he was not aware of the exact costs, but a typical estimate for these services was reflected in estimated operating cost that he previously mentioned. 

Senator Ayomide Ewumi asked about what the fate of Dippikill would be, if the Student Association did not move forward with paying the $125,000 as proposed in the three-way funding plan. 

Foreman responded that this plan removes liability from the Student Association, both fiscal responsibility and management responsibility, also announcing commitments from the other two partnering organizations. 

“I’m very confident that they will contribute their share of the operating cost for this, and I think it’s a reasonable and good investment for the Student Association,” Foreman said. 

A separate discussion regarding Dippikill – with SA’s legal counsel in attendance – was held in executive session, in which members of the public and press are not allowed. 

“As you know, the Student Association leadership changes over year to year, and it doesn’t make sense having folks who are brand new to Dippikill trying to figure out how to manage Dippkill,” Foreman said. “And I think that over time, that has led to some of the financial challenges and some of the personnel issues that we’ve had.”