With respect to an undesirable sponsor, I think we might decline such a
donation, however much we'd like the money. We  would not likely, for example,
accept funding from an international arms dealer.

Harry Needham
Canadian War Museum

I couldn't bite my tongue because the irony was just too good.  Harry
(and other) what would you do if you had unknowingly accepted money from an
international arms dealer and his name is carved into your building?

I work at American University.  In the mid 1980s many people
courted Adnan Khashoggi for project funds.  As one of the world's
wealthiest men, he had money to spare and then some.  Well, fate
smiled (or possibly laughed) at American University and Mr. Khashoggi
pledged $5 million dollars for the construction of an new sports
center/office building/parking garage complex.  Yeah!  Wee!

Oops!  Word has it that he's an "international arms dealer".  What to
do?  He did donate the majority of the money (rumor has it he only
coughed up $4 million) and his name is already on the building (yes,
the very same building I am writing this message from).

While there was speculation about his business dealings before he was
approached for the gift, there was no proof.  If AU hadn't gotten the
money some other organization would have.  Once the money is
given and spent, who has pockets deep enough to give it back and say
we don't want it now that the cat is out of the bag?

I'm not passing judgement or making suggestions for any
organization's future acceptance of gifts. Instead, I would like to point out that it is much
easier to determine ethics from a distance --- whether that distance
be time (I'll never do that again.) or personal space (I can't
believe so-and-so did that.  How could he?  Why did she?)

Just a FYI closure to the story of Mr. Khashoggi.  His name still
remains on the building, however all reference to him and his gift
has been sanatized.  The building is known as Butler Pavilion.   The
sanitation has been so complete that many of my office mates could
not even spell his name when I asked for confirmation that I indeed
remembered it correctly.

Jennifer Bransom
Arts Management Graduate Student
American University, Washington DC