Students are protesting the addition of the name “McClendon” to OU’s honors college amid concerns about donor Aubrey McClendon’s political views.
Members of Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society are circulating a petition that demands “McClendon” be removed from the name of the Honors College.
According to a 2008 OU Foundation press release, the name of the OU Honors College was changed to the Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College to honor Aubrey McClendon’s parents after the Oklahoma City businessman donated millions of dollars to the university.
Members of the organization say they wrote the petition after requests for more information about the donation were denied by honors college officials, who declined to comment for this story.
“If there is more transparency, then there is more accountability,” Sean Hughes, president of OSDS, said.
Hughes, letters and philosophy sophomore, said the group wants the name removed because members are afraid McClendon’s donation will be used to influence the curriculum of the Honors College. However, OU officials say donors don’t have that kind influence.
The petition states that McClendon “contributes generously to a slew of right-wing and anti-gay groups.” Hughes said he does not want to see McClendon’s donation used for the donors’ own political agenda.
McClendon is the CEO and co-founder of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy. According to the OU Foundation, $5.5 million of McClendon’s $12.5 million donation to OU is committed to the honors college. Currently, the honors college has received $1 million for the OU Debate Program and $750,000 to endow the first Chesapeake Chair in Meteorology.
But a request by McClendon to endow three additional chairs as part of a new institute within the college has Hughes worried.
According to the OU Foundation, the chairs will be part of “a new Institute focused on the historic and political roots of the American Constitution and our form of government,” or what Hughes calls a “conservative think tank.”
Hughes said he is afraid McClendon will have influence over who is chosen for the new chair positions and the extent of their power.
“We do need donations, but we don’t need them from people who give money with stipulations,” Hughes said. “We would just like to give him his money back.”
According to an e-mail statement from Robyn Tower, associate vice president for the Office of Development, “Donors determine the type of chair that will be established based on university needs and the donor’s wishes.” Tower stated that donors may influence a new chair’s role, but not the choice of who will fill it.
“Donors do not and cannot have influence on who holds the positions. Chair holders are recruited through the standard faculty search process, which involves direction from the leadership of the college, school, or department and their faculty,” Tower stated.
But Hughes disagrees.
“He is trying to use his money and his clout to get some influence on our campus and we don’t want any part of it,” said Hughes, an Honors College student. “He can take his money and shove it as far as I’m concerned.”
So far, about 120 students have signed the petition, Hughes said.
The Daily left telephone and e-mail messages Wednesday with Honors College Dean Robert Con Davis-Undiano in an attempt to learn about officials’ reaction to the petition, but Davis declined to comment.
“I would [make a statement], except that I don’t have a statement to make. I’m busy running the college and don’t know anything about these issues,” Davis stated in an e-mail.
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dck101 3 years, 1 month ago
Does Mr. Hughes provide any evidence? As far as I'm concerned, this is all speculation with Mr. Hughes making the OSDS look like a bunch of idiots.
From the looks of it, either the reporters that wrote this article has skewed this article in favor of OU, or Mr. Hughes simply doesn't have any substance to offer.
This is all opinion, Mr. Hughes; quit wasting the time of readers and space of the Daily and write your own opinion column. This isn't news.
shughes 3 years, 1 month ago
Just wait for the e-mails to come out...
your_still_life 3 years, 1 month ago
I sincerely doubt this Hughes character would say any of this to Aubrey McClendon's face. It doesn't matter what his political beliefs are. That's his business, just as your beliefs are your business. You're a black mark on the university's image. Your opinion doesn't matter because you're an honors student.
Whether you agree with Mr. McClendon or not he donated millions to our university. You must respect that.
libertarian 3 years, 1 month ago
Makes sense coming from the pretentious folks at the Honors College: We want money, but we don't want money from people we don't agree with politically!
Tank 3 years, 1 month ago
briareus 3 years, 1 month ago
Since the people who wrote this petition are seriously concerned that natural gas is "polluting" the country, I invite them all to stop using gas to heat their homes and happily freeze next winter.
Benjamin 3 years, 1 month ago
“He can take his money and shove it as far as I’m concerned.” That’s a little disrespectful Mr. Hughes. I'm incredibly thankful that the McClendons were so generous. It was particularly nice of them to include the debate team in their donation. It’s ironic that this story broke just after Earth Day, whoever agreed to publish any of Mr. Hughes’ statements must have suffered a head injury during the slacklining festival by the library.
Perhaps, rather than criticize the Honors College or the Oklahoma Foundation for accepting donations from the right, you should find a wealthy individual on the left who'll match the donation and even things out. (It’s unlikely, I know. Maybe “Tom” of the footwear fame could serve as a donor.)
Also, I thought RC Davis' response was great. He probably gets an outrageous number of emails from student "reporters" digging for stories. I don’t doubt that the response the daily received wasn’t automated.
Finally, if the Honors College decides they would rather not have the money, the business college would love the support. We could always use a few more flat-screen TVs, ergonomic chairs, and nationally ranked programs.
veritas 3 years, 1 month ago
Students for a Democratic Society??? lol these nut jobs are still around?
Wanting to take McClendon's name off the Honors College and/or give back his money is no better than banning Richard Dawkins from speaking at OU because some people don't agree with evolution.
Shut up already! Get a job! Try to be a productive member of society for once!
johanns 3 years, 1 month ago
McClendon has stood up and given the money our University needs where the state has not. He deserves our thanks and appreciation, not our smears.
livi0293 3 years, 1 month ago
The most important thing to note here is the disturbing response the reporter received from Dean Robert Con Davis-Undiano: "I would [make a statement], except that I don’t have a statement to make. I’m busy running the college and don’t know anything about these issues,”
Wow. I am utterly blown away by that statement. It could be interpreted as just a blow off to the student reporter who was asking questions. Taken at face value however, it is a truly amazing comment. The Dean of the University of Oklahoma's Honors College doesn't know anything about the most important donation to his college by one of the most prominent citizens in Oklahoma?
Huh?
Someone commented that the student who is running the petition this article is about is a black mark on the University for acting like this. What about the Dean? His comments could be seen as immature and damaging to OU's image as well.
I don't have an opinion about the topic of this article because there aren't enough facts in the story. I think that open debate and discussion should be promoted between students and the university. OU is a special place. We all come here to learn and grow. I wish the Dean had been more open, but it is our duty as students to voice our opinions and hopefully we will receive helpful, positive feedback from our Leaders.
ChaseRoberts 3 years, 1 month ago
Really? Is there really a left wing group afraid that the Honors College is manifesting itself with right-wing political agenda? Most buildings on campus are named after donors, and the University thrives off of their donations. The request to have the name changed is nothing less than ignorant and pointless, however I wouldn't expect anything less from the left. We could draw a parallel with the statement, "David L. Boren's name needs to be taken off the Honors College (and PS, it is on it) because he maintains liberal ideals and I'm afraid he is trying to impose them on me." Get a life. Please.
mikedavis 3 years, 1 month ago
If McClendon is indeed on a mission to add political slant to certain endowed chairs...then this is a very real issue.
qwerty 3 years, 1 month ago
In all actuality the Honors College knows very little about the donation process--in fact they know just as much as every other college does that receives a donation. Any donations to the university are handled through a separate office, so it's very likely that the Honors College and Dean Davis truly don't know anything about the donation, as this information is not disclosed to the colleges.
I can understand that people might not like the McClendon name put on the college because of Aubrey McClendon's political views; however, I think it's absolutely ridiculous to posit that Aubrey McClendon would have anything to do with the faculty selection process. I'm pretty sure he has more important things to do with his life than hand select faculty members for the Honors College--which he has actually has no power to do anyway.
joelrhodes 3 years, 1 month ago
It would be unwise for the university to do business - and honestly, who would donate a chunk of money that size with no stipulations attached - with someone who just lost 1.5 billion dollars buying stocks on margin. "Two weeks ago, such market pressure forced Chesapeake Energy (CHK) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Aubrey McClendon to nearly liquidate his 5.5% stake in the natural gas exploration company. Amid the tumbling market, McClendon sold a staggering $570 million in stock, a stake worth over $2 billion in July." -Barron's (http://online.barrons.com/article/SB122454002913451749.html?mod=googlenews_barrons)
Anyone trying to argue that Aubrey McClendon is not a complete scumbag should spend at least a cursory hour reading about where he puts his money. And it's public knowledge that he donated $625,000 to Gary L. Bauer’s "Americans United to Preserve Marriage" (along with Tom Ward; their donations combined equaled in excess of a million dollars). McClendon was also one of the main donors ($250,000) to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, known for slandering and discrediting Kerry's military service in 2004. Yeah, I'm sure his donations to OU will be free of all political intent.
He's a public figure putting his NAME on the Honor's College. He should be held responsible for his actions, and as a student paying tuition I personally don't want any of his money (which might not be coming anyway, he was just forced to sell his prized wine collection) until the university is willing to be up front and fully transparent about how it will be spent.
JJanowiak 3 years, 1 month ago
That's because SDS is a bunch of idiots.
SoonerTexan88 3 years, 1 month ago
Sounds like a bunch of liberal students whining. Look at the Honors College Curriculum--if anything, it is biased to the left. End of story.
EN 3 years, 1 month ago
What an atrocious quote by Dean Davis-Undiano.
I don't agree with the petition entirely, but that comment is hilarious and something I'd expect from an immature, inexperienced and unqualified person in a high position.
As a student whose parents, brother and uncle donate generously to the university, and who plans on doing the same in the future, I am embarrassed and disgusted.
dwalker2006 3 years, 1 month ago
This is just another example of how the radical Left is trying to completely shun and discourage the involvement of Conservatives in public life or their having any kind of role at all in the community.
YukonSooner 3 years, 1 month ago
This is an obvious attempt by a largely irrelevant group of students to get some notoriety at the expense of an individual who has given generously to the university.
I didn't know that the Students for a Democratic Society still existed; nor did I care all that much anyway.
libertarian 3 years, 1 month ago
If McClendon really has an agenda, then the University should kindly turn down the offer. However, I suspect this is nothing more than a wayward student with too much free time and a bone to pick with the establishment. Get a life.
blether 3 years, 1 month ago
I was skeptical too, but I just googled this Aubrey McClendon guy, and honestly, he sounds like pure evil. All of the petition’s claims seem to be true. Political and campaign donations are a matter of public record. You can find the information on any number of websites, including the Federal Election Commission’s website. If the Honors College and the administration have nothing to hide, then why have they been refusing for months to answer any questions about what this money is being used for? Why do they refuse to speak to the press? Why don’t they just come clean, avoid all this embarrassment, and be done with this story?
THINKER 3 years, 1 month ago
The simple fact is this deal has absolutely no transparency. Whether or not you agree with the views of Mcclendon transparency is key in a public institute. The majority of students on this campus are complacent and completely apathatic to the world around them, i give props to the SDS for actually asking questions. The majority of opinions have stated that its okay to put anyones name on a building if they give enough money. Do some research and you'll see that in the eighties the university actually removed the name on one of its buildings because the donor was affliated with the KKK. If we if we leave the McClendon name on the college, then we might as well put the name of the KKK member back its original building.
soonerguy 3 years, 1 month ago
The basis for this entire petition is an attack on somebody's personal beliefs? Do you actually believe the University should screen every donor to see how they spend their free time and extra money? Your personal attack against Mr. McClendon is irrelevant to how the money is being spent. It is laughable to think the University would allow any one donor special treatment (such as hiring professors - give me a break. If you desire more transparency in the spending of donor money, that is different, but your basis is that you disagree with this gentleman's political affiliations! Wake up! This is the real world! Have respect for somebody who may view things differently than you do. Hopefully, by the time you leave this wonderful University you will grow and learn a lot, such as how not to organize a campaign built entirely on hate speech towards another individual.
Michelle323 3 years, 1 month ago
Dean RC is a terrific guy! He has made the Honors College the best it's ever been. I'd like to highlight two things in regard to this article:
1: His record as a student advocate is longstanding.
blether 3 years, 1 month ago
Apparently the SDS isn't the only group concerned about Aubrey McClendon's character. According to the New York Times (March 28, 2009),McClendon is rightfully being investigated by some of his shareholders in Louisiana:
"While Congress whips up outrage over compensation at the American International Group, a shareholder at Chesapeake Energy, whose directors awarded a $75 million bonus to its chief executive even as the company’s stock plummeted, is doing what responsible owners should do: quietly and methodically demanding answers and accountability from directors who awarded the handsome payout." (GRETCHEN MORGENSON)
Read the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/business/29gret.html?ref=business
Jaco99 3 years, 1 month ago
While this petition is kinda silly, I think that they do have a point. If the KKK made a donation to OU, I highly doubt that the university would be keen on accepting that money. The fact is, the university will and should decline donations if they come from people who lack a respect for human rights and fall outside of certain parameters (Are these parameters political? You betcha. Civil rights for blacks, for instance, are definitely political). I just did some digging on this McClendon guy, and while I don't know about you, I wouldn't want someone who gave $1.1million to Gary Baur's Focus on the Family so as to fight against gay marriage to have a building named after him on our campus. Imagine having a building named after a pro-segregationist who made a donation to the college in 1965. In twenty years, when gays can be married in courts and churches across this country, and across Oklahoma, this is going to be pretty embarrassing.
megan 3 years ago
A lot of the comments made by Mr. Hughes that everyone keeps commenting about were not even supposed to be in the paper. It is not his fault that people put quotes not said to the interviewer in the story that make him look like an idiot when in fact in his actual interview he said a lot of intelligent things... SDS is a club looking out for students rights and as students of this University you should be thankful people look into things that are not brought to light. They were only trying to ask them what they intended to do with the money and received no answer... so why is it then bad to start a petition? There is nothing wrong with that. To everyone who calls SDS and Mr. Hughes idiots, you are close minded idiots as well.