Hill Room 507 Named in Honor of Stingy Donor

All Tim Peterson (C '85) wanted was to be memorialized in Penn history. He held Jon Huntsman, David Rittenhouse, and Ron Perelman in great esteem, and wanted to join them as a part of Penn’s campus. An alum of the University and a successful businessman, Peterson had exhausted all but one item on his bucket list: to have a building at his alma mater named after him.

Unfortunately, Peterson was never quite the "giving" type. As much as he liked the title of "philanthropist," he liked keeping his money in the bank even more. There was no way he was matching the hundreds of millions given by other generous donors, but Peterson was determined to get his name engraved somewhere on Penn’s campus. During his annual benefactor’s meeting, Peterson pledged more than he’d ever given: a whopping $2,301.78 for the University of Pennsylvania.

“They say three hour’s salary is pretty much good,” explained Peterson.

While grateful for the contribution, Penn’s building-naming committee found it difficult with such a small donation. After much deliberation, the board decided to put the Peterson name on Hill College House Room 507, now officially designated "the T. Peterson Hill Room." Students say they will continue to call it Hill 507, because it's "faster and less dumb".

Peterson says that he feels cheated. “I get it. I really do. I know I may not have donated as much as some of the other big guys, but I mean, what the hell? After all I’ve done for this school?” he asked. “The nerve of this school. It used to be you give some money, and you get a building. A fucking dorm room? Are you kidding me?”

“I mean, I just wish they'd at least give me a double,” added Peterson.