University urged to take Ney's name off building

0 Comments | USA TODAY, November, 2006 | by Dennis Cauchon

First, Bob Ney lost his job as a congressman. Now, he's on his way to losing another classic political honor -- having a building named after him. Ney, a six-term Republican from Ohio, will be sentenced Jan. 7 for his role in providing favors to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Ohio University has begun the process of removing Ney's name from the Robert W.

Ney Center for Health and Physical Education at its campus in St. Clairsville, near the West Virginia border. The building was named after Ney in 1997 because, as a state senator, he helped secure the $5.5 million in state funding to construct it. The building has a 3,300-seat gymnasium, a fitness center, bookstore and cafeteria. It's the meeting place on the small campus of 600 commuter students. "We haven't heard a lot...