Regents Approve Naming Montana State School After Gianforte

The state Board of Regents has approved renaming Montana State University's computer science department after Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte.

University officials say the Bozeman technology entrepreneur's family foundation pledged a total of $8 million to MSU, $5 million of which will go toward an endowment for the new Gianforte School of Computing.

Another $2 million will go toward construction projects on the university's south campus and $1 million for the current use of the computer science department.

The regents unanimously approved the proposal on Friday during its meeting at MSU-Northern in Havre.

Democrats oppose MSU naming the school after Gianforte. Three legislators say they will introduce a bill next year to bar naming buildings and schools after candidates.