A New York judge has denied a college's petition to add benefactor Joan Weill to its name, citing the will of the founding donor.
The Paul Smith’s college board of trustees voted over the summer to rename the college Joan Weill-Paul Smith's College in exchange for a $20 million donation from Weill, wife of Wall Street billionaire Sanford Weill.
The plan drew the ire of alumni who said it set a bad precedent for charitable giving. They also said it violated the will of J. Phelps Smith who stipulated the college be "forever known as Paul Smith's College of Arts and Sciences" to honor his father.
Franklin County state Supreme Court judge John Ellis has ruled the college cannot change its name.
Paul Smith's College Chief Marketing Officer Shannon Oborne says college leaders are disappointed. “We appreciate the strong support that we’ve received from our elected officials, from other members of the community and right now we’re really focused on planning for the future of our college.”
College President Cathy Dove announced the ruling on the Adirondack college's website.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
