private liability

[Greg Granoff]

Dear CAUT,

I'm curious to know if anyone out there has dealt with this, and if so,
what (if any) solution was found.
Have a fine old vintage Steinway B with a very tired soundboard
(but quite solid in other structures)  that is losing its place to a
donated instrument of equal caliber and a nice fresh sound.  With
literally no piano replacement budget, I consider this instrument
irreplaceable, needing only the soundboard work to be up to speed.
Being incredibly squeezed for room, there is no place in the Dept. or on
campus to store it -- set up or otherwise.
My contention is that the University should retain ownership, but find a
piano baby sitter (faculty hands are already waving eagerly in the
air).  The Chair is against this -- feels it is inappropriate due to
liability issues, and doesn't agree with me that the value of the
instrument given our circumstances outweighs such a concern.  Arguments
about how even soundboard work is  peanuts compared to complete
replacement of a piano of this caliber are meeting deaf ears.

Is there a solution that would let us keep the piano and satisfy
liability issues that's being overlooked?  (I'm sure the faculty in
question would be willing to show evidence of putting the instrument on
their homeowners insurance, or whatever was appropriate.)

Thanks.

Greg Granoff  RPT
Humboldt State University