Adelaide Uni Debates Dropping Santos Building Name

Adelaide University is currently reviewing whether to retain the Santos Petroleum Engineering building name, a decision spurred by student and conservationist protests. The university's vice-chancellor, Nicola Phillips, who began her tenure in January after the merger of UniSA and the University of Adelaide, confirmed that the consideration to drop the name was initiated when a previous sponsorship deal expired.

Phillips stated that the university is examining if the building's name aligns with its current values and reality. While emphasizing a positive ongoing relationship with Santos, the university is actively communicating with the company about the naming debate. The original $25 million sponsorship deal, inked in 1999, funded the School of Petroleum Engineering, which has since been integrated into the broader engineering department.

Conservationists, including the Conservation Council South Australia, have voiced strong opposition, labeling the promotion of Santos as "shameful" given its new gas expansion plans and environmental concerns. They also advocate for the state government to end Santos's sponsorship of the Tour Down Under. Public opinion polls indicate significant agreement among South Australians that gas companies should contribute to environmental damage remediation.

Separately, Vice-Chancellor Phillips addressed controversial comments made by an MP regarding Indigenous language signage at the university, reaffirming that the university does not share such views. She highlighted the university's pride in its Kaurna-gifted name and its commitment to the First Nations community, citing the appointment of Adam Goodes as a First Nations ambassador as a testament to these values.