What's in a name?
Every day, students attend class in the Haley Center, study in RBD, and hear the Fight Song play from the Samford Hall clock tower.
But do students think about what goes into naming the buildings, or why they were named after certain people?
"I know Samford is named after William Samford, who was the 31st governor of Alabama, and Haley was named after Paul Shields Haley to honor his dedication," said Meagan Campbell, a sophomore in business. "But I don't know a lot about the names of other buildings."
As a student recruiter, Campbell gives tours of campus and knows interesting facts about many buildings on campus, but she hasn't wondered about who the buildings are named for.
"Because I've lived on campus for three years, seeing the portraits of all the women that the residence halls are named after, I know they or their families had done something for the university," said Lauren Long, junior in hotel and restaurant management. "But I don't actually take the time to think about the impact they've made on the university or why they were chosen."
"There are a number of ways buildings are named," said Michael Tullier, Manager of Development Communications and Marketing. "Some are named in honor of particular individuals and some are named after people who have made donations to the university."
The process consists of many steps, including a proposal with a funding plan, creating private support goals and a Board of Trustees who hold the ultimate authority to decide how to name a building, Tullier said.
Donations are made in a number of ways, such as through the Auburn University Foundation, a nonprofit that accepts charitable donations and contributions and manages the fundraising process for educational programs and interests, Tullier said.
An example of a well-known building that was made possible by a donation is Ramsay Engineering Hall.
The creation of Ramsay was made possible by the donation of Erskine Ramsay, who himself was interested in and successful in financial, manufacturing and mercantile enterprises, according to Lengthening Shadows.
What students may not always remember when walking through buildings or campus is this donation aspect - someone wanted to support Auburn and its students.
"The ultimate purpose of any building is to meet the needs of the students," Tullier said. "The message behind the name of any building is that we had an alumni or supporter that believed enough in the students and the purpose of the building to provide support."
Tullier pointed out that many buildings were made possible by numerous contributors, and that other components of buildings, such as offices, hallways and libraries are also named after donors.
Campbell said she's never thought about how every building on campus is made possible because of someone's support or donations.
"I think that's really cool when you think about it," Campbell said. "We talk about the Auburn family, and that goes right along with that theme, with people continuing to support the university."
Long said when she takes the time to think about the people behind the buildings, it makes her proud and appreciative that people continue to support Auburn and its students.
"It's amazing that so many different people from all different kinds of backgrounds want to give something back to Auburn," Long said. "It's a true testament to the Auburn spirit."
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