The new residence hall on South Green is beginning to take shape, but as of yet, students cannot put a name to the building.

Beverley Wyatt, director of Housing, said the new residence hall will be called 63 South Green Drive.

“This name is very generic,” she said, adding that other campus buildings have been named this way. Most South Green buildings were numbered and renamed later, she said.

“Historically, buildings are named after prominent people in Ohio University’s history,” said John Kotowski, associate vice president for Facilities.

The School of Music building was named after former OU President Robert Glidden, he said. During his time as president, Glidden saw computers put in every dorm room and increased external funding for OU.

Baker University Center also got its name from an OU president. President Emeritus John Calhoun Baker raised enrollment during post World War II period from 1,500 to more than 8,000 students, according to Ohio University Outlook.

The Old Baker Center’s name shifted to the new building to help preserve the feel of familiarity students had with the old building.

More recently, however, buildings have been have been named for individuals who contribute to OU financially, but no major donors have surfaced for a possible name on the new residence hall, Kotowski said.

Walter Hall was named this way after a $5 million donation from Robert Walter, former chairman of the Ohio University Board of Trustees. The building is named after his wife Margaret. Both are OU alumni.

Occasionally, buildings do get renamed. The Board of Trustees has the power to remove or change the name of a building, though OU’s leadership does have some input.

The Robert W. Ney Center for Health and Physical Education at the Ohio University Eastern campus in St. Clairsville was renamed after Bob Ney plead guilty to charges of corruption and conspiracy. After suggestions from Ney himself, among others, the Board of Trustees decided to rename the building the Ohio University Eastern Campus Health and Education Center.

The new residence hall is scheduled to open for fall 2007 and will serve as a swing dorm as other university residence halls go offline for renovation, according to a Jan. 22 Post story.