Who is Greg Gianforte, and what is he doing in office?

In recent weeks, many Stevens students have turned to social media platforms to call for Stevens to rename Gianforte Family Hall (GFH). The uproar of student voices is credited to recent legislative actions of Greg Gianforte, Governor of Montana and donor of a $20 million gift to Stevens—of which $10 million was used to fund GFH.

Gianforte graduated from Stevens in 1983 with a B.E. in Electrical Engineering and M.S. in Computer Science. While at Stevens, Gianforte was involved with many Stevens organizations such as Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and the Stevens Entrepreneurs Club. Upon graduation, Gianforte became a young alumni trustee on the Board of Trustees as well as a member of the Edwin A. Stevens Society. 

In 1995, Gianforte and his wife, Susan Gianforte, founded RightNow Technologies, which was later sold to Oracle for $1.8 billion, allowing the Gianfortes to shift their focus and found the Gianforte Family Foundation. While the Gianforte family’s philanthropic efforts aim to “support organizations that equip people to improve their lives in a sustainable way,” Stevens students believe that Gianforte’s backing of “anti-transgender sports ban and limitations on abortion rights,” as the newly elected Governor of Montana is inexcusable, and warrants the renaming of GFH. 

Some recent news about Gianforte includes: 

• Donated portion of salary to a facility treating substance abuse
• Signing a bill that bans sanctuary cities in Montana
• “Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed a bill into law that aims to protect religious freedom. Opponents say the policy will harm LGBTQ people.” Read more here. 
• Signed three bills restricting abortion access 
• Disbursed $14 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to 34 towns and cities across Montana
• “Ended extended unemployment benefits in accommodation with the coronavirus pandemic as worker shortages surge nationwide.” Read more here.
• “Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill Friday requiring a person to have gender reassignment surgery before changing the sex marker on their birth certificate, despite outcry from opponents who say it targets already marginalized transgender people in Montana.” Read more here. 
• “Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill Friday banning transgender athletes from participating in school and university sports according to the gender with which they identify.” Read more here. 
• “Signed off on the Montana Legislature’s final plan for implementing recreational marijuana in the state.” Read more here.

In following our ethics code, The Stute reached out to Governor Gianforte to provide him the option of commenting or contesting criticism leveled against him and is awaiting a reply.