Marywood, Lackawanna to consider removing Mellow name
The name of former Sen. Robert J. Mellow will remain at Marywood University and Lackawanna College - for now.
One day after Blakely Borough Council voted to change the name of Mellow Park to Blakely Borough Recreation Complex, representatives from the schools said their boards will consider whether they should also remove his name.
The former Senate Democratic leader is serving a 16-month sentence for federal corruption charges. Last week, he was charged with bribery, bid-rigging and conspiracy for his involvement in what investigators are calling a pay-to-play scandal in which he and state turnpike commissioners required vendors to make political contributions to win bids.
Lackawanna College's Mellow Theater was named after Mr. Mellow, after he and his now ex-wife led the capital campaign. College President Mark Volk said the school's board of trustees would consider removing Mr. Mellow's name from the theater.
The Mellow Center for Athletics and Wellness at Marywood University was named for the senator after he secured nearly $2 million in state grants for the project.
University spokeswoman Juneann Greco said the trustees will discuss the issue at their April meeting.
"I'm sure they will take the whole situation under consideration," she said.