Academics, as a group, are perhaps the most egotistical, self-important, irrational, and mutually self aggrandizing people on the planet. Granted the 2% who don't suck tend to be awesome people to be around. But whiny and professor are two words that go very naturally together.
This chancellor knows what the fluck he is doing. He also clearly knows how to appease these idiots enough to shut them up if only because they look stupid otherwise. The guy is a winner. If he thinks we need a promenade, there will be a promenade. Visuals matter, campus experience matters. I'm all for it