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