By: Iris A. Febres / Opinion Editor
Hundreds of students are riled up thanks to the renaming of the University Park (UP) to Modesto Maidique Campus (MMC), which was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees on June 12. The move is meant to honor former University president Modesto Maidique for his 23 years of service to the institution.
Surely, renaming a campus is a rarity, right?
It isn’t. According to *The Miami Herald* archives, as far back as 1986, UP was known as Tamiami Park. This isn’t the first time UP had a change of identity.
The point is that it is clear that Maidique spearheaded multiple legacies for the University, including a medical school (slated to open this August), a law school (which held top bar exam scores in 2007 and this year) and entering Division I in the NCAA. He has overseen the University as its population ballooned to more than 34,000 students, presided over the University’s addition of many academic institutions (such as architecture and the Honors College) and has pushed for intense fundraising, securing over $200 million in 2001.
For FIU’s fourth president, Maidique’s done a bang-up job.
It’s not like they’re renaming FIU Modesto Maidique University – but since UP is considered the heart of the institution, where the Graham Center is known as “FIU’s living room,” it doesn’t surprise me to see students take this so personally. Many bring up the point that Charles Perry, FIU’s founding president, merely has a single building named after him (Primera Casa).
While Perry is certainly an extremely pivotal figurehead for the University, we cannot forget that Maidique served longer than Perry did and oversaw FIU’s incredible growth. Before Maidique, we didn’t have an art museum (two, if you count our affiliation with the Wolfsonian in Miami Beach). Or a Marine Sciences building. Or even a renovated library.
For those who cite Maidique’s record involving bonuses and a shady administration: think of FIU as art. We must learn to separate the art from the artist. Regardless of his actions, Maidique made FIU what it is today. And no matter the name, UP/MMC will always be the home for the FIU student body.
