Smiley promised in 2004 to donate $1 million and to raise another $1 million for TSU. The school later created the Tavis Smiley School of Communication in his honor. In return, Smiley made one $50,000 donation in mid-2005 and raised $250,000 from three corporate donors.
But he said Friday that he had intended to fulfill his personal $1 million pledge.
“Any institution that turns away a $1 million gift in this economy, I think ought to have good reason for doing that,” he said in a telephone interview.
He also said former university President Priscilla Slade offered to name the school for him before he pledged any money.
“I even made a joke, how much is this decision going to cost me?” he said. “She said, ‘This decision has already been made.'” READ MORE
Monday, October 26, 2009
TSU drops Tavis Smiley's name from communications school
Jeannie Kever of the Houston Chronicle reports that Texas Southern University has dropped the name of PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley from its communications school:
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Indiana University to name SPEA Atrium in honor of alumnus Tavis Smiley
While in town, Smiley to gift students with a financial scholarship, SPEA to match
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 26, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) will name the atrium of its IU Bloomington building for one of the school's best-known and most distinguished alumni: TV and radio host, author, philanthropist, advocate and documentary filmmaker Tavis Smiley.
John D. Graham, the dean of SPEA, contacted Smiley to request his approval for the renaming of the atrium, and Smiley consented. A renaming and dedication ceremony will take place Oct. 30.
"Indiana University empowered me to work towards a better society," said Smiley. "It is my hope that the Tavis Smiley Atrium will be an informal meeting place of ideas, hopes and action."
The School of Public and Environmental Affairs also announced that Smiley is donating $50,000 to the school to establish the Tavis Smiley Scholarship program for SPEA students from groups that are underrepresented in higher education. The school will match the contribution for a total of $100,000.
"If we are to ask the leaders and activists of the next generation to be accountable, we must ensure they have the necessary tools and means to reach their educational goals," said Smiley.
Smiley will give a talk about accountability at 1 p.m. and answer questions from students prior to the Oct. 30 renaming and dedication ceremony, which will begin at 1:45 p.m. A reception will follow.
"It is with great pride that the School of Public and Environmental Affairs has Tavis Smiley as one of our own," Graham said. "Just as he left a special mark on this university, we hope the atrium that will bear his name will be a special place for learning, discovery and collaboration."
In addition to speaking at IU Bloomington, Smiley will be the featured speaker for an empowerment breakfast Oct. 31 during the 19th reunion of the IU Neal-Marshall Alumni Club at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. See http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/12078.html for information.
For more information, see http://www.spea.indiana.edu.
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