Rapoport says Molecular Biology Building will probably not be changed from Moffett

By Renae Merle
Daily Texan
February 15, 1996

The name of the Louise and James R. Moffett Building will stand regardless of the outcome of a Faculty Council vote Monday on four Freeport-McMoRan-related resolutions, the UT System Board of Regents chairman said.

"My position is that we made an agreement," said Bernard Rapoport, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents. "I doubt that [we] could consider rescinding the name."

One resolution asks UT System Chancellor William Cunningham and the board to discuss with the Moffett the possibility of renaming the building for former UT professor and congresswoman Barbara Jordan or a comparable figure.

The regents named the $26 million molecular biology building in honor of Moffett, chief executive officer of Freeport McMoRan Inc after the UT alumnus donated $2 million to the construction of the building. Freeport donated an additional $1 million.

Protest over the name of the building centers on allegations that Freeport has committed human rights and environmental abuses in its Indonesian mining operations.

"I don't quarrel with any of the resolutions," Rapoport said, adding that he respected the faculty's right to pass the resolutions.

"I would express myself as strongly as they have," Rapoport said. He added that he respected the faculty's opinion.

"The board of regents would always consider the opinions of the faculty; just in this instance it has been discussed widely and it would be unlikely" that the building would be renamed, said regent Lowell Lebermann.

The resolutions are the first distinctive action by faculty members to protest the name of the building and the University's association with Freeport, but the regents are not required to abide by the resolutions.

"The only thing I will do is talk to the chancellor and [Rapoport] about the nature of the resolution," said Reuben McDaniel, council chairman. "Then they can do what they want to do with it."

Naming buildings is the sole responsibility of the board.

Rapoport stressed that he would support naming another building for Jordan, but that a decision had already been made on the molecular biology facility.

Lebermann and Rapoport both said the University should concentrate on other issues.

"It seems to me that we have so many more serious problems at the University," Rapoport said, adding that the focus should be on educating students.

"I understand that they made a commitment," said Gretchen Ritter, sponsor of three of the resolutions and an assistant professor of government. "The idea of this resolution is not to reverse a decision ... this is an opportunity for a voluntary agreement."

Alan Cline, a professor of computer sciences, said he understands the desire of the board not to reverse its decision.

"My hope is that Mr. Moffett will change his mind," said Cline, who sponsored one of the resolutions.

The council also will consider resolutions to create a committee to investigate the naming of the building and the University's procedure for naming buildings.

A third resolution would affirm the right of faculty members to hold open discussions. The resolution was inspired by letters sent to two faculty members by a Freeport executive, threatening a lawsuit if they continued to make false statements about the company.

Faculty members called the letters an attempt by Freeport to silence the professors, which the company has denied.