Byline: Jennifer D. Jordan

Oct. 9--The University of Rhode Island is more than halfway to its $100-million goal in its capital campaign started in 2004.

The university will launch the public phase of its fundraising drive Saturday evening with an invitation-only black-tie event in downtown Providence, where it will celebrate some of its biggest donors and announce the exact amount raised in the initial phase of the campaign.

But URI officials say the success of the campaign, which wraps up in 2010, now rests with alumni and supporters of the state university who may not have $1 million each to spare.

"We've received many six- and seven-figure gifts during the ...