Alum gives $20 mil to Union Coll. to demote GLOs
Union College asked to trade greeks for $20M
By Hermes Staff
The Albany (NY) Times-Union reported last month a record $20 million endowment to Union College -- made solely in effort to limit greek life at the school's campus in Schenectady.
John Wold, 86, a Union trustee emeritus who made his fortune in Wyoming oil and minerals, made the donation.
The gift was more than double the previous record-high gift to Union -- $9 million in 1996 -- and is a show of support in favor of Union's controversial plan to reduce the dominance of fraternity and sorority life on campus.
The college said $2 million will be used to create Wold House, one of seven on-campus houses designed to replace a half-dozen prominent fraternities and sororities. The idea is to create a social atmosphere that does not rely on membership in greek organizations.
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