August 30, 2008

What's in a Name?

The newest CMU-built dorm has been renamed. For the past couple of years it has been called "New House" (yes, very creative). However, at some point over the summer it became "Stever House" - and since this was poorly advertised, it is throwing everyone but the freshmen through a loop (until I saw the new signage I thought it was a joke). That aside, this is what I really want to know:

  1. How much money does it take to rename a dorm?
  2. Who (other than this mysterious "Stever") has that kind of money?
  3. Why hasn't my cost of tuition or housing dropped?
Cause really, wouldn't it be nice if the university passed the generosity of Stever on to the students?

1 comment:

Chris Shull said...

Google led me to this Reuters article which makes it look like there was no gift to name Stever:

Carnegie Mellon Names 'Green' Dorm in Honor of Its Fifth President, H. Guyford Stever

PITTSBURGH, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The man who helped to create Carnegie Mellon University will have a building named after him.

Carnegie Mellon has named a first-year residence hall in honor of H. Guyford Stever, the university's fifth president. At the school's 1967 commencement, it was Stever who announced the formation of Carnegie Mellon
University as a result of a merger between the Carnegie Institute of
Technology and the Mellon Institute of Research.
Some 41 years later, Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon told the Class of 2008 that New House, the nation's first "green" dormitory, would become Stever House. "Carnegie Mellon and the nation owe President Stever an enormous debt of gratitude," Cohon said, referencing Stever's accomplishments in both science and academics. "President Stever oversaw the complex transition to
Carnegie Mellon University with his characteristic thoughtfulness and effectiveness, setting the stage for the university's growth and achievement ever since."
Stever also led the creation of the Department (now School) of Computer Science and the School of Urban and Public Affairs (now the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management), two programs significant to Carnegie
Mellon's core. Stever House is notable for being the first dormitory in the nation to be
certified for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED from the U.S. Green Building Council). It has a "silver" LEED designation because of its low environmental impact in both construction and function.
"It is fitting to associate Dad's service with a living experience such as Stever House," Stever's son, Roy said. The relationship is twofold, Roy Stever
explained; his father is passionate about environmental change, and he is enthusiastic about the university's success in community-oriented dorms like
Stever House.
"The late 1960s and early 1970s were not comfortable times for college presidents, nor faculty and students," Roy Stever continued. "The commitment
to listen to all voices has clearly flourished at Carnegie Mellon over the years."
"The naming of Stever House came as a huge surprise to me and my family. It is a tremendous honor and something we are all very proud to be a part of,"
said Kasey Stever, who accepted the honor on behalf of her grandfather and their family during commencement on May 18. A member of Carnegie Mellon's Class of 2008, Kasey Stever earned an industrial design degree.
In addition to serving seven years as president of Carnegie Mellon, Stever was the director of the National Science Foundation, was the Presidential Science Advisor to Gerald Ford, and was a leader in the development of the
nation's space program. Stever also is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. He won the National Medal of Science in 1991 and the Vannevar Bush Award in 1997, which are among the nation's highest honors for scientific work
in public service.