Supreme Court rules against Paul Smith's name change

PAUL SMITHS — After a hard fought battle, the petition to rename Paul Smith's College has been denied by state Supreme Court Judge John Ellis. After reviewing what Ellis wrote was a "significant amount of financial information" including the college's tax returns, he found that college trustees had failed to demonstrate that the $20 million donation from benefactor Joan Weill was critical to saving the college financially, and thus a name change is not warranted. Weill had made adding her name to that of the college a condition of the $20 million donation, but standing in the way was a provision in the will of college founder Phelps Smith which states the college should forever be known as Paul Smith's College of Arts and Sciences. College trustees argued that the name change, and corresponding donation from Weill, were crucial to keeping the doors open at Paul Smith's. But Ellis disagreed. Ellis said there is insufficient evidence that Weill's donation — as well as the college's 5-year strategic plan, which includes a $30 million revitalization plan aimed at addressing decreasing enrollment — is the only effective way to "stabilize the college's finances." Therefore, the college failed to prove that the naming restriction in the will of Phelps Smith should be ignored, Ellis wrote. "...the petitioner falls far short of showing that its name is holding the college back from being a shining success both in enrollment and in producing successful college graduates," Ellis wrote. "Significantly, Paul Smith's has failed to demonstrate the college cannot operate effectively within that changing demographic absent the requested relief." President of Paul Smith's College, Cathy Dove, was unavailable for comment, however, Shannon Oborne, chief marketing officer at Paul Smith's, released a written statement. In it, Oborne said, "We are disappointed in the decision of the court. We appreciate the strong support we have received from our elected officials and other members of the community, and are focused on planning for the future of our great college." While it is unknown at this time if Weill will withhold the donation as a result of the court's decision, students at Paul Smith's were lauding the outcome. Maggie Darragh, a sophomore in the Fisheries and Wildlife program, said she was thrilled with the decision of the court. Darragh said she did not believe the name should be changed and said it would have been disrespectful to the founders of the school if it was. When asked what she thought about possibly losing the large donation, Darragh said, "If Ms. Weill really cared about the school she wouldn't need her name on it to donate the money." Scott Van Laer, a New York Forest Ranger and Alumni of Paul Smith's, has been very involved in the effort to prevent the name change of the college. Van Laer said he and his group of supporters of more than 500 members, were happy with the outcome. "We are very pleased that the New York Supreme Court took its time and took their due diligence to look at all the factors before making a decision," he said. Van Laer said his initial reaction was against the name change but said he didn't get involved in fighting against it until about two weeks after the initial report in July. Van Laer said he attended an alumni weekend and started educating himself on the finances of the school and the original viewpoint of the creators of the college. From that point, he was very active in the fight against the change, he said. It is not just alumni who did not want the modification. Local resident, Thomas Sullivan, also agrees with the court ruling. "If you give a donation, you don't put stipulations on it," he said. Sullivan said he didn't attend Paul Smith's, but is a long-time resident of the community and played on the Paul Smith's club hockey team. He said he talks to his friends, who are alumni of the school, every week. He is also a member of the Facebook group: "Alumni and Friends Against Changing the Paul Smith's College's Name" which was created by Van Laer and has more than 3,100 members. Weill is an emeritus trustee today and remains active in college fundraising. Over the last 20 years, Weill and her husband, the retired chairman and CEO of CitiGroup, have given the school nearly $10 million and have helped the college raise almost $30 million from other donors. Weill can count the campus' new library and a refurbished and remodeled student center, as well as the creation of two endowed scholarships, as recent accomplishments. All carry her name. Van Laer said it is now time for both sides to come together to help make sure the college is financially sustainable. Although many have disagreed on this issue, he said it's time to band together for the college and the future of the students.

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Supreme Court rules against Paul Smith's name change

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