million range, though values may have been less due to a flagging art market. The university's endowment was $700 million before being hit by the drop in financial markets. Several of the university's large donors were reportedly particularly hard hit due to investment losses with Bernard Madoff. On March 16, 2009, it was reported that members of the founding donors' family had publicly denounced the closure plans, calling it a "plundering" of the collection. On July 27, 2009, three of the museum's overseers filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts to halt the closing and sale of works. The three, including a member of the Rose family, contended that the planned closing contradicted the museum's "charitable intentions", violated the trust of those who donated art to the institution, and reneged on "Brandeis's promises that the Rose would be maintained in perpetuity". Ironically, a major new book was to be published in 2009 by Abrams Books, anticipating the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Rose Museum. The lead contributor to the book was the museum's director, Michael Rush, who initially was "shell-shocked" by the surprise closure announcement. Rush later helped to organize opposition to the proposed closing, but his employment contract with Brandeis was not renewed in June 2009, effectively forcing him out. In December 2010, Rush secured a position as founding director of the new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University. The situation remained in contention, but a final resolution was slow in coming. The museum continued operations, but did little to initiate new programs in the absence of a permanent director. By June 30, 2011, under the new leadership of Brandeis president Frederick M. Lawrence, the lawsuit that had been brought against the university to prevent the closing of the Rose was settled. The museum remained open, and no works of art were sold to support university operations. The controversy was chronicled in a 2012 book by Francine Koslow Miller: Cashing in on Culture: Betraying the Trust at the Rose Art Museum. October 2011 reopening After a brief closing period to undergo major renovations, the Rose Art Museum reopened October 25, 2011. This coincided with the 50th anniversary of the museum, which was also celebrated with ceremonies including speeches by the university president Frederick M. Lawrence and the artist James Rosenquist. Post COVID-19 reopening After an emergency closing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rose