By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief

The university’s latest fund-raising campaign is without a specific leader after Mike Barnes left the university Sept. 30.

The Centennial Campaign was begun Jan. 1, 2001, with the hopes of earning at least the total raised by the previous campaign, and Barnes’ resignation will not affect that goal, officials in the Office of Development said.

“Mike had a desire to go and do some other things,” said Brent Magner, director of development. “Mike did a great job with us here.”

Magner said Barnes’ responsibilities are being divided between himself and Dr. John Tyson, vice president of development. A successor is not yet apparent.

The Centennial Campaign began the day after the university’s most successful fund-raising campaign to date ended. The To Lead and To Serve Campaign raised $114 million for the university.

This campaign, university officials said, should raise more than that.

“It’s safe to say it will be at least as large as $100 million,” said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university.

The university has not yet officially announced the campaign.

Both Barnes and Money declined to comment on how much the campaign has raised so far, deferring to the official announcement, which Barnes said would probably come in February 2004.

“We have a good chunk already in hand,” Barnes told the Optimist last month. “But we’re not quite ready to announce.”

Barnes leaves the Centennial Campaign in the midst of the university’s most successful stretch of fund-raising in its history.

The previous record for an ACU fund-raising campaign had been $30 million before it was shattered by To Lead and To Serve. Barnes said the Centennial Campaign could go as high as $200 million.

The development office will shuffle Barnes’ responsibilities until a permanent replacement can be found.

“We weren’t pleased he chose to leave,” Magner said.

“But apparently it’s the right move for him and his family.”