A spokesperson for Ohio University says “appropriate decisions will be made” about the future of the Roger E. Ailes newsroom at the university’s Scripps College of Communications. “We want to be clear that we value campus and community feedback, Carly Glick told the Athens News. “We hear you.”
The newsroom was named for the former Fox News chairman in 2007, after Ailes, an alumnus, made a commitment to donate $500,000 to the university. Since Ailes’ departure from Fox and the recently-settled sexual harassment suit filed by former Fox News Channel host Gretchen Carlson, students at the school have petitioned to have the Ailes name removed–an effort they have dubbed “Abandon Ailes.”
The university’s graduate student senate passed a resolution to propose taking Ailes’ name off the newsroom, and OU’s student senate also discussed removing the name. “We need to exercise due diligence before we can act,” said Glick. “Ohio University is carefully evaluating facts surrounding allegations against Roger E. Ailes as they come to light.”
Robert Stewart, director of the Scripps School, told The Post he encourages people to share their concerns with OU president Roderick McDavis. “The School of Journalism was not involved in the naming decision, and has no authority to change the name.”
.@AVWNewstime has some recommendations on what to rename the Roger E. Ailes Newsroom: https://t.co/4mOaYmyMKA pic.twitter.com/dUQe48NGbb
— The New Political (@TheNewPolitical) September 9, 2016