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"The GEO Group announced Monday it would withdraw a $6 million donation to Florida Atlantic University for the naming rights of its football stadium.\"What was originally intended as a gesture of GEO's goodwill to financially assist the university's athletic scholarship program has surprisingly evolved into an ongoing distraction to both of our organizations,\" GEO Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer George Zoley said in a news release announcing the decision. \"We employ many FAU graduates and Boca Raton community members. We take pride in running a well-respected company and are proud of our long-term support of the university.\"Controversy regarding the naming of the stadium\u00A0erupted\u00A0when those opposed to the change said they were upset that the stadium would be named after the Boca Raton-based private prison corporation accused of human rights violations.\"This is a victory for FAU,\" said Gonzalo Vizcardo, a student who had organized protests of the naming of the stadium. \"This is a victory for students, faculty, staff, alumni, everyone at FAU.\"University President Mary Jane Saunders expressed gratitude for supporters of the school in a news release announcing the\u00A0withdrawal\u00A0of the donation.\u201CFAU alumnus and trustee emeritus George Zoley and his colleagues have been loyal supporters of this university,\u201D Saunders said. \u201CWe are thankful for all of the companies, organizations and individuals who give to this university to support our mission, our pursuit of academic excellence and valuable contributions to this community.\u201DThe $6 million donation was a 12-year commitment with annual payments of $500,000."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wpbf.com/article/geo-group-withdraws-6-million-donation-for-fau-stadium-naming-rights/1316708>