What’s in a name? 500 bucks!

In an era when every new construction project seems to include a megabuck deal with a deep-pocketed corporation for the purchase of the “naming rights,” Queens College (QC) has gone in a new direction.
QC is holding a “Naming Contest” for their new residence hall, which is slated to open on the 77-acre campus in Flushing in the fall of 2009. The author of the name chosen will not only have the honor of naming the college’s first residence hall, but will also win a prize, “valued at $500” according to the school.
Before you start racking your brain, take note.
The contest is only open to QC students, and entries will only be accepted if they are posted from the QC-issued Lotus Notes e-mail account. Entries from other email accounts will not be accepted.
The new facility is slated to house between 450 and 550 QC students in residential suites, with two beds to a room, though some single rooms will be available in the suites. QC says that an additional 200 parking spaces will be provided.
Each of the suites will feature kitchenettes with a refrigerator, microwave, sink and stovetop, according to the school. QC is currently anticipating that student rents will range from $900 to $1,400 per person, per month.
Recently, QC was rated one of the “25 Hottest Schools in America” by the 2008 Newsweek-Kaplan “How to Get into College Guide.”
The flyer announcing the contest makes it clear that the school feels the on-campus housing will only enhance QC’s cachet.
“We expect the hall will attract some of New York’s finest students, creating an academically challenging and richly diverse environment,” the notice states.
“The competitive edge provided by our residence hall will further increase the value of our highly respected diploma,” it continues.