I think it is fine to have a library you have had built be named after you, but RENAMING the college? No way.
Google Chuck Feeney. He gave away several billion dollars – a substantial proportion of it to educational institutions – and did it anonymously until he was outed. Even after his name became public, he has never allowed a building to be named after him.
Interesting guy.
Reminds me of many years ago when I was in the public library and a woman came to the main desk wanting her $25 donation refunded. Her name had been left off the donors list posted in the front window.
Hey, anybody who doesn’t want the name changed can just come up with 20 million plus 1 dollars, and it won’t be changed.
Most donors probably wouldn’t think of it, but she’s a Weill. The Weill family got a medical school named after them. It’s only a small step up to a whole college.
Everyone is different. I can’t even imagine having that kind of money. I see absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the recognition for giving 20 million to a single college. The Weill Smith College that was first suggested sounds like the best solution, but it doesn’t sound like that would satisfy the Weill family…well I guess they look at it as their legacy the same way Paul Smith did! Hopefully they will donate it to the struggling college and somehow come up with a compromise on the name…not everyone needs or wants the recognition, but if they do, so what. Still awfully generous of them to use their money that way. They don’t have to.
http://www.kotatv.com/college-renamed-after-banking-billionaires-wife-gave-20-million/34782008
Just looked it up on google out of curiousity. It looks like they came to a decision. They will be using both full names:
"Joan Weill-Paul Smith’s college. To me that’s very long. I would have just used last names, but whatever. I guess the decision has been made.
Well now I know what the new Colgate mascot should be, should they ever decide to change it:
Ladies and gents, your Colgate Palmolives! Go Pals! 
The proposed name is long, but it has the virtue of retaining all of the old name.
But it reminds me of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
I think they should have gone with Weill-Smith… but it’s not my millions in their coffers.
Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center will be renamed the David Geffen Hall.
Prezbucky,
I have to say that I admire your enthusiasm for Colgate’s varsity sports teams, the Colgate Raiders, formerly and for many decades the Colgate Red Raiders.
Also, and as many believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity - just look at the current Republican frontrunner’s popularity right now - which might accompany new branding. But I am not sure about “Go Pals”. Just doesn’t inspire or convince, does it. And then there’s that corporate stuff. Oh well.
So for now we will stay with Go Raiders! and my preference, the more pithy Go 'gate!
Go 'gate!
I do not care what people do with there money but I do wish that people donate more to colleges without some political condition attached. I do not see any political condition in this donation , so kudos to Mrs. Joan Weill, just admirable!