I Work in a Billboard

The University of Minnesota’s historic Pillsbury Hall shows that donor recognition has long been a part of collegiate building nomenclature. Granted some of that history is tackier than others. The University of Delaware has named MBNA America Hall after a bank – classy, eh? On most college campi, the business school has the most flagrant naming. Coincidentally, they also have the nicest buildings.

Last month, my department moved into a new building we will share with the management school. The building is named after the business executive who funded part of its construction, but what most strikes me is how everything inside the building is named as well. I wouldn’t have thought an academic building to be prime ad space, but corporate sponsors have claimed the atrium, all the classrooms, and all the tiny conference rooms. (The conference rooms are called "breakout rooms", in case the MBA students have to be quarantined I assume.) Yet, workers still are mounting plaques. Every morning I have an urge to sneak breakfast into the General Mills Classroom, but instead I sprint upstairs to check if my desk has a “Your ad here” sign.