Erin’s Blog

Dear Auburn University Board of Trustees,

I find that as a part of the student body, I need to state my opinion on one of your recent decisions to drop the name of James E. Foy on the new student union building.

I find that your decision to ask for a donor to donate $25 million dollars to the university in order to have their name on the building is absurd.  The mere request is an embarrassment to our university.  We are a university built on tradition.  We stand beside those who love Auburn and work hard for the betterment of those at Auburn.  Dean Foy was that man.  He worked hard for the students and was one of the most influential men at Auburn during his time.

I feel that by refusing to put his name on the student center, you have disrespected all of the work that he did to better this university.  It is even more heinous that the old student union will be torn down.  Should that building be torn down, and the new building not hold Dean Foy’s name, then how will he be honored.

When I was a freshman I remember asking why Foy Student Union was named Foy Student Union.  When my camp counselor gave me the answer, I was in awe of his work for Auburn and for what that building stands for.  And now, you are going to keep future students from hearing his good work and honoring him daily by using his building as a hangout, a study place, a place to meet or anything else.

I feel that you have just slapped every student, parent and alumni that gave money to this university straight across the face by ignoring our hopes to see OUR student building become OUR Foy student union.  There have been numerous alumni from decades ago that are pleading with you to keep Dean Foy’s name alive.  By ignoring their requests, you have possibly shrunken the amount of donors you may have in the future.

When the idea of a new student was brought up, and students were asked if they wanted their tuition raised in order to have a new student union, student said yes.  However, they also said they wanted the name of the building to remain the same.  They helped pay for the new student union, so shouldn’t they have a say in the naming of it.  I’m not positive about how much of student’s tuition was designated to the construction of this building, but don’t you think that they gave enough to get a say?

Finally, this university would not be a functioning university without the students.  You need students to come to the school in order to have a university.  You need students to pay tuition in order to have money to work with.  Maybe students should get a little more respect that what you have shown them.

While the building may one day be named something else, please understand that you are shaping the future of Auburn by requesting the money.  You are taking our traditions, or pride and our dedication and turning into strictly financial gain.  It’s not always about the money for everyone, and it shouldn’t be for you either.  Some things are sacred in Auburn, lets not stomp out those things.  Please take that into consideration.