The head of the political science department, David Parker, read a statement on behalf of his department objecting to naming the building Gianforte Hall. Parker said while the donation comes form the Gianforte Family Foundation and not the current governor, Greg Gianforte, it unavoidably created the perception of endorsing Gianforte.

Parker also said the Gianforte family and foundation did not represent MSU values, including integrity and inclusion. He cited Gianforte’s assault on a reporter, anti-LGBTQ laws he signed into law and donations the foundation has made to organizations classified as “hate groups” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“Naming this building after Gianforte is antithetical to the university’s own expressed values,” Parker said.