Namesake benefactor for Dhaliwal Hall says allegations 'not even 1 percent true'
BY STEPHANIE BRIEN
Journal Times | Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:00 am
Dhaliwal Hall, the expanded Communication Arts Building at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, is still planned for construction, despite questions about donor Darshan Dhaliwal's business practices.
In 2006, Dhaliwal donated $4.5 million to Parkside, but he is Monday accused in a federal civil suit of selling generic gasoline nationwide as though it were brand-name.
Dhaliwal owns Bulk Petroleum and hundreds of gas stations nationwide. He is accused of selling generic gas under the BP trademark. The lawsuit also alleges Dhaliwal's company swindled customers by selling them gas that lacks additives designed to prolong cars' lives.
BP Products North America Inc., the Illinois-based oil
company, is seeking $17
million in reimbursement
from Bulk Petroleum.
"It's a sad thing I have litigations with BP," Dhaliwal said. "I feel pretty frustrated … it's not even 1 percent true."
Despite litigations with BP, Dhaliwal said he is dedicated to his commitment to help
students.
"If I can help any students that is the best you can do," Dhaliwal said. "When I first came here (from India) a lot of people helped me so the best way is to help others."
Parkside spokesman Dave Buchanan said the $4.5 million donation "is committed" to the project, but does not know if the university has actually received the check for the money.
The donation is the largest private donation in the university's history. When Dhaliwal Hall is completed in 2011, it will be the first new or expanded academic building on
campus since 1979.
The donation covers 10 percent of the expenses for the expanded Communication Arts Building. The 10 percent is required by the state and ensures Parkside can eventually break ground.
The money was acquired through the UW-Parkside Benevolent Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization separate from the university.
Mark Bradley, chairman of the statewide University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, said if the donation is related to an unethical transaction it would be a problem, but that is not known.
"People who donate money are involved in a lot of things," Bradley said. "If I gave $1,000 to a UW school, that is one transaction. If, a month later, I am accused of racketeering it's the same person but there is no connection."
The Board of Regents only controls the decision of naming rights. The Parkside foundation will ultimately decide what to do with the money. The UW System already approved the name Dhaliwal Hall, but legally they could change the name "if there is a compelling reason," Bradley said.
For instance, the stadium of Major League Baseball's Houston Astros was known as Enron Field but was later changed to Minute Maid Park after the Enron scandal broke, Bradley said.
In an interview last week with Chancellor John Keating before the controversy was announced, he was enthusiastic about the $4.5 million dollar donation. Keating, however, was not available on Monday to comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.