OT-ish: FAU Names Football Stadium After Prison Corporation

Submitted by Edward Khil on

Per Salon, the Florida Atlantic Owls grant naming rights to the GEO Group, a for-profit prison company, for a $6 million donation. The company has faced numerous lawsuits in relation to the deaths of up to ten prisoners.

“It’s like calling something Blackwater Stadium,” Bob Libal, the executive director of Grassroots Leadership, a social justice group that opposes private prison systems, told the Times. “This is a company whose record is marred by human rights abuses, by lawsuits, by unnecessary deaths of people in their custody and a whole series of incidents that really draw into question their ability to successfully manage a prison facility."

It's being called "Owlcatraz." Makes the Trohl Center look good.

Butterfield

February 20th, 2013 at 7:27 PM ^

I saw this yesterday but was extremely let down by the name of the private prison company; I was hoping for something far more prison-y.  

Nobody is going to have any clue about the company when they see "GEO Group Stadium"  Way better if it were Penal Field. 

LSAClassOf2000

February 20th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^

"In a telephone interview, the university’s president, Mary Jane Saunders, noted that GEO’s chairman, George Zoley, had two degrees from Florida Atlantic and once served as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Four members of the board, Saunders added, have also worked for the GEO Group, including two past student government presidents. The company’s corporate headquarters overlook the stadium." - from the NYT article

So, there was no sense of indebtedness that went into this decision at all, if I understand Ms. Saunders correctly. Is it still too soon to call my bank a "Savings And Loan"? 

The $6 million dollar gift that made this possible will be spread over 12 years, according to the Sun-Sentinel, so I imagine that's how long that FAU will be open to relentless jokes about this move. Strangely, the GEO Group CEO called this "community outreach" in an official statement, so I am not sure how Boca Raton is supposed to take that. 

 

j.o.s.e maizenblue

February 20th, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^

in all fairness, what corporation isnt involved in some sort of violation of human rights, abuse, lawsuits... its just too bad that the Canes play in Sun Life... it just seems more fitting to see them play in  stadium named after a prison than anyone

French West Indian

February 21st, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^

Although the intent of the "no politics" policy of Mgoblog is admirable becuase nobody wants these threads to turn into pissing matches between political parties/idealogies (note to Jamaicans, that means no trolling for the PNP or JLP here), it's issues like this stadium name that make it practically impossible to seperate college football from politics.

Frankly, if discussion forums such as these want to host important, worthwhile discussions (and not just he said/she said style twitter rehashings) then we shouldn't be afraid to broach some political issues with questions such as:

-What does it tells us about American democracy that it supports for-profit prisons?

-And why are universities as representatives of tax-paying citizens so willing to accept the largess of such enterprises?

It's probably best if nobody responds to such questions here but they are worth thinking about nonetheless.

mGrowOld

February 20th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^

"in all fairness, what corporation isnt involved in some sort of violation of human rights, abuse, lawsuits.."

Amen brother. This morning we had our weekly "whose human rights can we violate" meeting and decided on the entire country of Indonesia.  Now mind you my company doesnt sell anything into Indonesia but let's face it - that gives a perfect cover!  Now, my Vice President of Abuse suggested a more local target but the rest of us greedy war-mongers insisted on Indonesia cause hey...let's face it.....they kinda look funny now don't they?

Anyways......after a delicious lunch of cavier washed down with Dom P we tried to figure out who to sue and there were SO many choices.  So we settled on our own employees cause as greedy capitalists there's no one we hate more than our own employees right?

Thank you for reminding about The People's Republic of Ann Arbor.  It's been so long since I left I had completely forgotten about the downtrodden proletariat that are so prevelant at my alma mater.

SalvatoreQuattro

February 21st, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^

For all of his stupidity and venality,Terrelle Pryor crudely hit upon an essential aspect of mankind. Everyone at some point in their life does something morally reprehensible. Sure, it may not amount to murder or rape, but they have committed some act or vocalized some hateful words that have brought harm to other people.

Unfortunately, most people are too absorbed in their own self-righteousness to realize this. They much prefer to lash out at faceless monoliths and groups of people than understanding that the root of all evil is people themselves. 

Tater

February 20th, 2013 at 9:18 PM ^

I'm sure that having their stadium named after a prison contractor is really going to help FAU recruit against the "big 3" Florida schools.

snoopblue

February 20th, 2013 at 10:16 PM ^

I think it's more of an issue with trying to keep up with the other guys. Whatever it takes to get that money to put into the facilities. UF, FSU and Miami on the top and then USF, FIU, UCF and themselves. That's a lot of competition in state, not even mentioning all the schools nationally that come in and pluck out players.

It sucks that they have to name it after a private prison company. It sucks they even HAVE private prison companies, but it's the world we live in. Let's hope none of us ever have to learn more about prison.