“Friends University May Close” reports a Wichita newspaper, The Sun, on June 16, 1976. A candid interview with president Cope revealed that the school needed $500,000 in less than a month in order to close the books in the black. He also stated that there would be no salary raises for faculty and there was consideration around closing the football program.
At the June board meeting, board members pledged $905,000 to help close the $500,000 deficit gap.