- Alan Cline, professor of computer sciences

By Renae Merle
Daily Texan
February 19, 1996

Life science faculty members will present to the Faculty Council a petition calling for the renaming of the Louise and James R. Moffett building on Monday.

"We want the Faculty Council to know how we feel," said Mark Kirkpatrick, professor of zoology. More than 40 faculty signatures have been collected.

The name of the building specifically concerns life science professors because they will be working in the building, Kirkpatrick said. The building will house the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology.

"Our professional activities will be associated with the new building and its name will have a direct impact on us and our research," the petition states. "After considerable thought and discussion, it is our opinion that it would be inappropriate for the new molecular biology building to bear the name of Mr. Moffett."

The UT System Board of Regents named the building in honor of Moffett, chief executive officer of Freeport McMoRan Inc., after he donated $2 million of his own money to its construction. Freeport donated an additional $1 million.

The administration and Board of Regents are not required to abide by the resolutions and have already declared that they will not change the name of the building.

Freeport has denied allegations of environmental degradation and human rights violations in its Indonesian mining operation.

The letter is a small part of the Monday meeting, which is becoming a focal point of the debate over the building name.

"I think it may be the most dramatic meeting of the council since I've been a part of it," said Alan Cline, a professor of computer sciences who has been a major player in the debate.

Students for Earth Awareness, a campus organization, will present more than 3,000 signatures protesting the name of the building to UT President Robert Berdahl during the meeting.

"We decided it was important to let them know how we feel," said Hannah Gould, Students for Earth Awareness president.

The group also will hold a West Mall rally Monday. Several faculty members and local leaders are scheduled to speak. Four people who were sent letters by Freeport threatening to sue them if they continue to make false statements against the company will also speak.

"I will be informing students and interested faculty members of Freeport's record here in Austin," said Bill Bunch, the Save Our Springs Legal Defense Fund attorney. The coalition has been fighting the development by Freeport of environmentally sensitive areas in Austin.

The Faculty Council will vote on four Freeport-related issues Monday, including one to rename the building after Barbara Jordan or another comparable figure.

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 faulty members to hold open discussion. The resolution was inspired by the threatening letters sent by Freeport to the faculty members.