Following an extensive community-based process and a decision in November by President Ed Ray to change the names of three buildings, the OSU community and stakeholders are now being asked for naming suggestions to rename Benton Hall, Benton Annex and Avery Lodge.

“The names of buildings and places are very important. They help celebrate and acknowledge the university’s past and describe OSU priorities, such as student success, faculty excellence and research innovation,” said Steve Clark,  chair of the OSU Architectural Naming Committee

And vice president for University Relations and Marketing. “Names recognize the positive contributions of people and communities associated with Oregon State. Building and place names portray OSU’s values and mission, including efforts to foster inclusivity, equity and success for all.”

A community meeting on new names will be held Monday, April 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Horizon Room. The university’s building name website includes a comment tool to submit naming recommendations online. As well, three committees, made up of faculty, staff and students, have been formed to help evaluate the proposed names and prepare a list of top choices to be considered.

These suggestions will be considered in mid-April by the university Architectural Naming Committee, which is responsible for making recommendations to President Ray regarding OSU building and place names. President Ray, who is charged by the OSU Board of Trustees to make such decisions, will announce the new names in late April.

In considering new names for these buildings, President Ray has said that he seeks:

*  A name for Benton Hall that appropriately recognizes the many contributions of Benton County community residents in the 1860s and 70s that supported the founding of this university. This community support for higher education has continued for many years and remains strong today.

*  A name for Benton Annex that appropriately recognizes the building as home to the Women’s Center, a valued student resource center.

In considering a new name for Avery Lodge, please think about names that portray a sense of the geography or place that OSU’s Corvallis campus has in the Willamette Valley; the university’s 150-year history as Oregon’s land grant and statewide university; or the building’s purpose. For example, Avery Lodge is home to the Family Resource Center, a childcare center, the Human Services Resource Center and University Housing and Dining Services administrative offices.

In addition to recommending new names to President Ray for these three buildings, the Architectural Naming Committee and university colleagues, including students, faculty and staff, will take next steps to:

*  Develop and share with the OSU community, information about the history of these three buildings, as well as Arnold Dining Center and Gill Coliseum, whose building names also were reviewed last fall;

*  Lead the university in gathering and documenting the history of all OSU buildings and their namesakes; and

*  Create website information, mobile app information and permanent history displays for all university buildings.