History cannot be undone, of course. We can constructively move forward by learning from history, and by establishing procedures whereby philanthropy will be appropriately vetted for the money’s olfactory backstories.An easy solution exists: Do not name buildings after living people. And wait for a while for history to vet the dead people.
But, that is all in an ideal setting.
In the real world, universities sell the naming rights, for all purposes, and then shit happens.
For instance, remember bill cosby? After his shit hit all over the place, universities hurriedly rescinded the honorary doctorates they gave him, and renamed the buildings that had his name.
Even my own small-time university engages in these naming rituals in order to gain access to money and power. Awful.
Sensing political advantages in having influential lawmakers on its side, my university named two buildings after two people (like this one.) And then two other buildings have been named after patrons who made significant donations (like this one.)
I am old-school when it comes to all these. I don't want to sell the naming rights. And, I want buildings to have names that mean something to the community. Especially in public buildings.
And, yes, even my university has one such awesome example. The residential dining hall carries the name Valsetz.
Why Valsetz, you ask?
No, it was not some old-time timber baron who donate a chunk of change.
Valsetz is a made up name for a community that does not even exist anymore. Exactly as Wikipedia notes:
William W. Mitchell Company started the town in 1919 and named it as a portmanteau of Valley and Siletz Railroad, whose terminus was at that location. ... Valsetz post office was established in 1920.In the US, if there is a post office, well, that makes it a real town, however small that is.
Railroad and timber. Those were the old days. And those days are long gone. Timber became less important to the economy. The town was closed down.
In 1984, the town and most of its structures were removed, as everything in the community, property and streets included, was owned by the corporation. The post office closed the same year.So, what is the connection with my university? The residential dining hall is named in honor of that community:
Between 1926 and 1931, WOU, then known as the Oregon Normal School, sent 16 to 20 student teachers for six-week sessions in the Valsetz elementary school.A kind of a history that we can, and will, always be proud about, right?
