Controversy About the Naming of New MU Recreation Center
Controversy About the Naming of New MU Recreation Center Save Email Print
Posted: 8:19 PM Nov 21, 2008
 Last Updated: 8:19 PM Nov 21, 2008
 Reporter: Dave Benton
Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com
28 comments
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Choosing a name for Marshall University's new recreation center has become a center of controversy.

The building is the latest addition to the growing Marshall campus. But putting a name on the new recreation center would take a $10 million donation. That amounts to one third of the total cost of the center, as well as the university's policy for naming rights.

Professor Nicholas Freidin is one of many faculty members and students who say the rec center should be named after Dr. Paul Ambrose, a Marshall alumnus who died on Flight 77 that crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

"He's the kind of student we wish we had more of," Freidin said.

Recently, a walking and biking path was named after Ambrose, who researched the obesity problem in Appalachia. The Marshall Faculty Senate approved a recommendation the rec center be named after Ambrose, but Marshall President Stephen Kopp did not forward the recommendation on to the Board of Governors whose members make the final decision.

"My heart goes out to Paul Ambrose’s family, and the circumstances surrounding his death were tragic," Kopp is reported as saying. "But we have to look at this from a long-term point of view. It is incumbent upon the Board of Governors and myself to do everything we can to raise funds to offset further escalation in fees and membership costs."

Freidin responded by saying, "It is (Kopp's) job to get enough money for the university but I think there are other ways to do it."

Members of the honorary society representing sociology students started a petition with 700 signatures in favor of naming the rec center after Ambrose.
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Posted by: JESS on Nov 24, 2008 at 11:46 AM
IT IS ABOUT MONEY! EVERYTHING IS! THE TUITION ALONE IS GOING TO BE $300 MORE. RIDICULOUS. WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY WILL DECIDE TO INCREASE NEXT. I THINK THE STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE CHOICES TO VOTE IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE ISSUE. THEN AGAIN I'M SURE MARSHALL WOULDN'T LET THAT HAPPEN, BECAUSE PAUL AMBROSE WOULD PROBABLY BE THE WINNER. HAVE SOME HEART, MU?
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 23, 2008 at 07:01 PM
The story notes that the university's policy for naming rights on a building is a donation of at least one third of the total building cost. Really? That's not what the Board of Governor's Policy states: see 2.1.1 of the MARSHALL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS Policy No. GA-10 Naming Policy for Units and Facilities http://www.marshall.edu/president/board/Policies/MUBOG%20GA-10%20%20Naming%20of%20Units%20and%20Facilities.pdf
Posted by: kim on Nov 23, 2008 at 06:14 PM
WHY IS EVERYTHING WITH MARSHALL ABOUT GETTING MONEY? SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER AMBROSE.
Posted by: Dianna on Nov 23, 2008 at 02:17 AM
Also, on a side note... they RAISED students athletic/student fees for this building beginning in about 2006. It's close to $200 in fees a semester for athletic fees (even if you don't go to a game or use the facilities). But, their athletes are struttin' the Nike gear and enjoying their free books, tuition, etc.
Posted by: Dianna on Nov 23, 2008 at 02:14 AM
MU is greedy. They would take away money from my academic scholarships and grants because my estimated cost of attendance "was not as high as the amount I received." They decided how much I was spending (but forgot that I commuted with four dollar a gallon gas five days a week, was in the nursing program with much higher fees, etc.) and would keep the money for themselves. When I first went to MU in 2004, my bill for one semester (not including books and such), was around $2000 for tuition. When I graduated in 2008, it was closer to $3000.
Posted by: judi on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:59 PM
I am a Marshall student, I seen Dr. Ambrose a few months before he was murdered by terrorist. I have to say as an obese person that he was the kindest dr. I have ever met. He made me feel like a person and not like a sugar junkie or glutton. He told me a little about his research. The world was a better place with him in it. Maybe with a constant reminder of him someone might think about taking up his research, and use his compassion and kindness to combat obesity. Most dr.s are rude to obese people. He deserves the rec center named after him. His kindness was worth 10 million to me.
Posted by: Brandon on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:36 PM
This is pretty sad, all hail the might dollar right? Lately it seems that Marshall has lost itself trying to become a big university like OSU or Penn State when in reality we should be attempting to do the opposite. The university should focus on its students and alumni, rather than selling the honor of the name dedication. It would be far more respectable to name it after a man like Lambrose, especially considering the fact that he is an alumnus! While we're at it why dont we change the motto too? "We Are ... shamelessly ignoring honorable alumnus in the attempt to raise funds!" This is just another reason I'll be attending WVU, or anywhere else for that matter.
Posted by: WOW on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:00 PM
Hold it!! 10 million dollars to name a building???? What am I missing???? Do signs cost that much??? Or do you have to pay $100,000 for each time it is typed into a computer/typewriter? What say the students decide and let the art class design and make the signs!!! Surely 10 million was a typo...simply incredulous!
Posted by: Tim on Nov 22, 2008 at 08:07 PM
I have to agree, if means a 10 million dollar donation that would help students with fees, ect... then they should go with that. There is already a trail named after Ambrose.
Posted by: Heather on Nov 22, 2008 at 07:14 PM
Make them pay for their own names on the building. We are already taxed enough with all the money going to these Universities and other dead end outlets that never contribute back to the city or the state. $10 million could help with our PUBLIC schools, child support enforcement, police, fire department. These students get their education, while badmouthing the city, then leave and then badmouth the city. It's not my fault if you can't see it.
Posted by: Bill on Nov 22, 2008 at 06:09 PM
I hope to someday donate enough money to Marshall to have a urinal named after me in Smith Hall.
Posted by: ?? on Nov 22, 2008 at 04:25 PM
They do the namings to GET money. Most buildings do have names, some residence halls for example: Haymaker, Willis, Wellman, Gibson are named after prominent couples who made donations to the school. The newest halls do not have names on them, likely because no one wanted to donate. Which is likely to be the problem with the rec center too. There aren't may Joan C. Edwardses out there, so it's hard to tell if anyone will even be willing to donate the $10 million for this building. I would say look for someone to make the donation, and if after a certain amount of time if you don't get the money, then name it after the doctor or someone else who should be memorialized. But I see the argument...if we're going to name it after Dr. Ambrose, why not Leah Hickman?? Who makes the decision on which person is most deserving? Good luck guys! Just don't be too greedy, Kopp!!
Posted by: Judy on Nov 22, 2008 at 03:59 PM
It is a shame that every building on Marshall's campus has to be named after a multimillionaire. I frankly am sick and tired of hearing the names of Byrd and Edwards. Grateful for their donations, just sick of their names on everything. If I could donate, I would personally ask that they NOT give it my name. Just do it because you want to do a good deed for the community - not to plaster your name everywhere.
Posted by: SAD BUT SO? on Nov 22, 2008 at 03:49 PM
It's all about the Benjamins, isn't it? Memorials without money does not matter much on state levels, does it?
Posted by: captdanamerica on Nov 22, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Typical...We are no longer are the Marshall U. that made us stand out from the others. We have been taken over by the big money, good ol' boys club, that as always, circumvents the will and pleasure of the people(alumni). Is our university "owned" by the politicians and the wealthy, or those who have sacrificed, worked hard, and did whatever it took to get an education from Marshall. Those are the people I see scurrying to class, filling the cold seats of the Marshall University Stadium, or embracing their parents on graduation day. Sons and daughters of teachers, coal miners, factory workers, store clerks, constuction workers, or just plain ol' working people. It seems to me that Dr. Ambrose carried the banner for those people, carried the flag for our university, and is worthy of having our university carry his name.
Posted by: Anon on Nov 22, 2008 at 11:48 AM
NAME IT MARCO!
Posted by: Marshall Alum on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Whose story do we want to tell? Who do we want to be remembered? I'd rather see a man like Dr. Paul Ambrose be remembered in a very special way than another shrine to Byrd or Edwards. Paul Ambrose is someone that the university can be proud of being one of its own, and his father was the finest, gentlest professor that I ever had the privilege of studying under. We have a unique opportunity to wrest a little attention from the Byrds and Edwards in our society, and recognize one of the good people who really help to make this world a better place. To me, it's a no-brainer.
Posted by: Ken on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Why must everything be up for sale? I think that if someone offered enough money, they'd change the name of the entire university...
Posted by: Allen on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:07 AM
If this is not about money then lets put a minimum of a $ 10 donation to everyone who wants to sign the petition.Get some press and put it on the net.Donations would pour in.Marshall makes money,and the name is Ambros.WIN-WIN!
Posted by: MUGrad on Nov 22, 2008 at 08:44 AM
We've named buildings after Robert Byrd, who brought AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS NOT HIS OWN so why not name it after Dr Ambrose. He was, afterall, the kind of Marshall Grad the university should use as a ROLL MODEL. I can't say that for Senator Byrd. He, on the otherhand, is an embarrassment to the entire state!
Posted by: CRUDE OIL on Nov 22, 2008 at 08:34 AM
How about $1 M not 10!
Posted by: tony on Nov 22, 2008 at 07:34 AM
does every building have to have someones name on it? why cant it just be named after marshall university (marshall student facility) or something simple
Posted by: Vet 636 on Nov 22, 2008 at 01:57 AM
The ones in power show their greed by not going with what the student and faculty want. Kopp not even a native of WV doesn't understand why they want to name it after Dr. Paul Ambrose. If there isn't money involved the powers to be don't want to get involved. Its sad that money is more important than memoriolizing the life of Dr. Ambrose.
Posted by: WANTS TO KNOW on Nov 22, 2008 at 12:56 AM
WHERE DO YOU GO TO SIGN THE PETITION?
Posted by: Olivia on Nov 22, 2008 at 12:53 AM
I'm sorry that this man lost his life, but honestly, what did he really ever do for the University or community? Many say he was a "great" man and good at what he did, but how much did he really contribute to Marshall or Huntington? There's a reason why there are so many things named after Senator Byrd and Joan C. Edwards; it's because they contributed to the future of the University and the city of Huntington. If we name this building after him, we should name it after everyone who has ties to the University and 911 as well.
Posted by: JM on Nov 22, 2008 at 12:16 AM
I am with Kopp, whichever brings in the most money for the University. This is a private business and as a student anything to keep costs lower helps. Besides there should be some type of monument erected in the Medical School for Ambrose. Who really cares about a Rec Center anyway, people would just ignore it and it would lack meaning. Instead name after the largest willing donor and make an Ambrose monument in the Medical School with an atmosphere like the memorial fountain.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:15 PM
mane it home of the brave
Posted by: Willie on Nov 21, 2008 at 09:47 PM
How about Joan C. Edwards or Robert C. Byrd ? - We can't use those names enough !
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  • Posted By: Fixed that for you: Any one who is paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them. Its simple NO TEST, NO CHECK. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for our money to go to people in government and on welfare who can be TRUSTED.
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  • Posted By: redbaron: in response to pablo on comment dated 01/06 - EXCUSE ME!! I do believe FIREFIGHTERS also risk their lives for total strangers and no they are NOT law enforcement!
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  • Posted By: goodorbad: I look at it like this-if you dont have anything to hide, shut up and do the test!
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