Renaming MSU computing center stirs controversy

After speeches Thrusday in opposition - and two in favor - of renaming the Montana State University compuing college after gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and his wife, the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education this morning in Havre unanimously approved the renaming. Thursday during the public comment period of the board's meeting in Havre, six MSU students and a Havre City Council member - and MSU alumnus - weighed in on the debate over whether the name should be changed for the high-tech entrepreneur and Republican candidate.

It was revealed last week that Gianforte and his wife, Susan, pledged a gift of $8 million to the Montana State School of Computing earlier this month. In return, the university would change the name of the school to the Gianforte School of Computing over the span of five years.

Terms of the proposal say that $5 million of the $8 million would go toward the creation of an endowment for the computing school. Another $2 million would go toward the South Campus Initiative which would, among other things, at least partially subsidize the construction of a 100,000-square-foot building that would house classrooms and an auditorium.

Six student speakers from Bozeman made the drive to the Board of Regents meeting at Northern, five of whom voiced opposition to the proposed agreement.

Five students who opposed the renaming and the gift cited Gianforte's opposition to a 2014 nondiscrimination ordinance adopted by the city of Bozeman that prohibits discrimination in businesses and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity and his donations to the Montana Family Foundation, a socialy conservative group that they said opposes LGBT rights.

"To accept this name change would be to diminish the painful experiences of not only former and current LGBT students at MSU, but LGBT members all across Montana," said Ryan Chauner, a self-described "fourth generation Bobcat" and "fierce advocate of the LGBT community."

"Greg Gianforte does not hold the values of Montana State and his hateful discrimination will not be tolerated on our campus, much less in an entire department title," she said.

She and other opponents said their views were not politically driven by opposition to discrimination.

"To me being anti-LGBT is not a legitimate political view. It's just hatred," she said.

Many said that Gianforte's advocacy and actions on behalf of groups that have opposed LGBT rights are at odds with the campus' efforts to be more inclusive.

"By naming a computer science center after a man who has historically fought these values which MSU as a community has worked so hard to establish, we are going back on our ethics and our values," said Alex Lei, a reporter for the MSU student newspaper, the Exponent.

He said he has investigated discrimination against LGBT students on campus.

Others, however, said that the money from the donation will work to the benefit of all students

Unlike the other students, Garrett Leach, a sophomore studying finance and accounting and the president of the Associated Students of Montana State University, supports the gift and renaming. He said his stance was not politically driven.

"The most important thing to note about this gift is that it will benefit all students at Montana State University," he said.

Leach said the donation will enhance programs by allowing the school to hire additional faculty, create summer internship programs and beef up the curriculum, thereby creating life-changing opportunities for students at Montana State University for years to come.

He said the gift would benefit all students and donors should not be screened for their political beliefs any more than potential students to the university should.

Havre City Council President Andrew Brekke, chair of the Hill County Republican Party and an MSU alum, supported the gift.

He said it gets increasingly difficult with each passing year to meet the needs of higher education using taxpayer dollars both in Montana and around the nation. Private support and donations are crucial for maintaining the quality of higher education.  

"I think if we start using litmus tests we limit ourselves greatly. Whether it be political beliefs, religious beliefs or even candidates for governor," Brekke said.