MTSU Board of Trustees clears way for possible naming of new student-athlete center

Alan Thomas, vice president for business and finance at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., addresses the university’s Board of Trustees about institution policies to name its facilities during a special meeting held Tuesday, May 27, at the Miller Education Center. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees, in a special meeting Tuesday, May 27, approved a procedure that could lead to the naming of the new Student-Athlete Performance Center at Floyd Stadium, which is set to open this fall.

Alan Thomas, vice president for business and finance, told trustees at the called meeting that the university received a request from former Gov. Bill Haslam and former U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon recommending that the center be named for Trustees Chairman Stephen B. Smith and his wife, Denise.

Stephen B. “Steve” Smith, alumnus and MTSU Board of Trustees member — Stephen B. Smith

Thomas said such requests must first reviewed by MTSU’s Building Naming Advisory Committee, which will make a recommendation to President Sidney A. McPhee. The president then forwards the committee’s recommendation, along with his own, to the Board of Trustees for its final consideration.

However, Thomas reminded the board that university policy does not allow an individual to have more than one building named in their honor. Since Stephen Smith’s name was already affixed to the MTSU Baseball clubhouse, trustees would have to rescind that honor before the committee could consider the request, he said.

Christine Karbowiak Vanek, left, vice chair of the Board of Trustees at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., presides over a special board meeting about the institution’s policies for naming its facilities related to an external request to name a new facility after Board Chairman Stephen Smith and his wife, Denise. Smith has recused himself from the matter and did not attend the meeting, which was held Tuesday, May 27, at the Miller Education Center. At right is Trustee Bill Jones. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

The board, led Tuesday by Vice Chair Christine Karbowiak Vanek, unanimously approved removing the name. Stephen Smith did not attend the meeting and said he would recuse himself from the board’s consideration of the matter.

The Smiths were recently recognized with the Blue Raider Impact Award for their decades of fundraising and service to the university and its athletics programs. Stephen Smith, who played baseball for MTSU, is a member of the Blue Raiders Athletic Hall of Fame.

— Andrew Oppmann (Andrew.Oppmann@mtsu.edu)