Man donates $25,000 to get name on bathroom

BOULDER - College is as much about education, as it is about putting one's name on something: benches, cafes, classrooms. The price is as much or as little as you'd like to give.

"The theater and atrium are million dollar naming opportunities," said John Bennett, director of the ATLAS Institute. "Seats go for $1,000."

Plenty of traditional things have been named at the University of Colorado at Boulder. But Brad Feld has come along and named something completely different.

"He was bemoaning the fact his alma mater MIT wouldn't let him name a bathroom," said Bennett, "(I said) Brad, I'll let you name a bathroom. It's humorous and it's a little outside the box for most of our naming gifts."

So outside one of eight bathrooms serving the Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society building, there is a now a blue sign that reads: "The best ideas often come at inconvenient times - don't ever close your mind to them. Brad Feld."

Feld, a Boulder venture capitalist and a graduate of MIT said, "A bathroom is what I could afford, I wanted to make people smile."

He donated $25,000 to CU for the honor.

"I have to say restrooms weren't originally on our list of naming opportunities," said Bennett. "For many of us, including me, a lot of our best ideas come in a shower, this dates back to Archimedes, who had a great idea sitting in a bathtub."

Not everyone thinks this is funny.

"I think the sign is a little over the top, a little outrageous," said CU sophomore Sean Reilly.

However, Bennett says Feld gets a sign, the university gets much needed funding. He pointed out there are seven other bathrooms in the building up for grabs.

There is also the black-box performance studio for $1 million, the tower for $500,000 and benches for $25,000 each.

If you're interested, contact the university.