Well, isn't the US Gov. an international arms dealer? We want money from
uncle sam too, but who really knows where HIS pockets have been?

On Mon, 12 Aug 1996, Jennifer wrote:

> 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
>