Campus Center renamed “Marano Campus Center” after woman’s donation

September 4, 2014

The name change to Marano Campus Center confused some upperclassmen returning this fall. (David Armelino | The Oswegonian)

Oswego State’s Campus Center adopted a new name as a ‘thank you’ for Lorraine E. Marano, an Oswego County resident, who provided a $7.5 million donation to the school. The name was, after being approved by the State University Board of Trustees and by the SUNY Oswego College Council, changed to the “The Nunzio and Lorraine Marano Campus Center,” or “The Marano Campus Center” for short.

On Jan. 16, 2014, Oswego State President Deborah F. Stanley announced that the university had received a $7.5 million dollar donation from the Marano estate, the largest private donation in the school’s 153-year history.

Marano was an education activist and her donation created the Nunzio “Nick” C. and Lorraine E. Marano Endowment. This will be used to finance scholarships for students who are struggling financially, particularly those students who are first-generation college students.

Although the name change is not meant to be a bother to any of the Oswego State students, some believe it is.

“I’m not for the name change because everyone knows it as the Campus Center. Why change it now?” Meghan Shelvin, a freshman, said.

Others are not all that concerned about the name change.

Abigail Ellert, a sophomore, had no problem with adding ‘Marano’ to the name but believed that “Saying ‘The Marano Campus Center’ is weird. It should just be ‘The Marano Center.’”

Brianna Ferrera, a freshman, was not bothered by the change.

“I mean, I didn’t know it as anything but the Marano Campus Center, but I think the name change was good because with all the changes they’ve done [to the buildings] a name change was just the right thing to do.”

Both Lorraine and Nunzio Marano had a well-off agricultural business on a muck farm in the town of Scriba. Lorraine Marrano’s occupation consisted of working as a librarian and then working for Resorts International and Tropicana Casinos in New Jersery. Nunzio Marano owned Marano Vacuum Cooling and Sales Inc. Unfortunately, Nunzio Marano passed away in 2002 and Lorraine Marano, 67, passed away last October.

In SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher’s note of support regarding the name change to The Nunzio and Lorraine Marano Campus Center, she explained why Ms. Marano felt the need to make a massive contribution to this school.

“Lorraine Marano considered the establishment of the Nunzio and Lorraine Marano Endowment to be a gift to the entire community.” Chancellor Zimpher also wrote, “She believed in the benefits SUNY College at Oswego accords to students through academic programming, committed faculty and staff and strong imaginative presidential leadership.”

Lorraine and Nunzio “Nick” C. Marano, whose estate donated $7.5 million to university. (Photo provided by Office of Alumni Relations and University Relations)

Furthermore, in Chancellor Zimpher’s note, she explained specifically the reason for changing the name. She noted, “the College Council expressed its view that her gift should be publicly honored with a named facility.”

The Marano Campus Center was equipped with a 2,500 seated Division III Hockey Arena, the College Store and a food and activity court. The Center also contains the student union and serves as the site for the college’s graduation ceremony.

“It [the name change] doesn’t bug me as it does many other returning students. She donated the money for a great cause and it’s something nice to do,” said sophomore Elizabeth Mclachlan. “But many students do feel inconvenienced by it.”