Updated: Perry to decline renaming of Academic Building after A&M students protest

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Thu Dec 18, 2014, 02:07 PM - Edit history (1)

The Academic Building on the Texas A&M University campus. (The Battalion)

More than 7,000 signatures have been gathered on a petition circulated by the Texas A&M University student Senate asking the board of regents not to change the name of the historic Academic Building for Gov. Rick Perry.

In addition, the student newspaper, The Battalion, editorialized against the move, saying it would antagonize the student body.

The editorial suggests students should have had some input to the recommendation. It also agreed that Perry – the most famous Aggie “not named Johnny Manziel” – should be recognized. But with any other building.

“The absurdity of the idea goes well beyond the irony of putting Perry (and his well-documented sub-2.5 GPA) on A&M’s academic hub, which in 2014 celebrates its 100th birthday. The regents shouldn’t name the Academic Building after the governor. Not because he’s not qualified, but because no one is,” the editorial stated.

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/12/am-students-protest-renaming-of-academic-building-for-rick-perry.html/

Update: Texas A&M regents expected to cancel today's meeting, Perry to decline proposal to have Academic Building named after him, sources tell The Eagle

Texas A&M's Academic Building will keep its 100-year-old name, according to several sources who told The Eagle that the regents have canceled today's meeting in which they were set to vote on renaming it after Gov. Rick Perry.

Perry, who earlier in the week said through a spokesperson that he'd be honored to have the iconic building with his name on it, is expected to decline the proposal outlined in an agenda. The renaming was the only item on the agenda.

It's unclear if a different building will be named after the governor, who served in the Corps of Cadets and was a yell leader before graduating in 1972.

The cancellation comes two days after current and former A&M students took to social media to express widespread disappointment - and, for some, even disdain - over the suggestion that one of the most beloved buildings would be renamed after a person. Many commenters on news stories, including The Eagle's article, were upset that Perry-appointed regents were positioned to make the decision with little notice and without input from students or former students.

Read more: http://www.theeagle.com/news/a_m/texas-a-m-regents-expected-to-cancel-today-s-meeting/article_4c306ae8-86d7-11e4-9be3-67b4cbff0215.html

Related thread:
Regents to consider renaming Texas A&M's Academic Building for Gov. Rick Perry
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107822544