Some departing presidents worry about the legacies they’ll leave behind.

ISU President Martin Jischke doesn’t have to worry — he already knows his name will adorn the new ISU honors building.

University guidelines on naming buildings require that an individual has left Iowa State for five years, but Jischke’s dedication was announced even prior to his last day as president, Aug. 13.

The Martin C. Jischke Honors Building was approved unanimously by the Board of Regents at its meeting last week.

Regent Roger L. Lande said the usual waiting period did not factor into the board’s decision to approve the building’s name.

“The university has its only internal rules,” he said. “It’s not a rule of the regents; it’s a rule of Iowa State University. They’re the ones that are waiving the rule.”

Since the ISU Advisory Committee on the Naming of Buildings and Streets chose to sidestep the naming criterion, the regents followed suit, Lande said.

“They believe it is important, and they’ve asked us to approve it, so we have,” he said.

The committee wanted special recognition of Jischke’s achievements, Lande said.

“I think it’s a decision that is driven by the feelings of the university,” he said. “I think that Martin has done an excellent job of being the president. I think the school is better off than when he came.”

Regent David J. Fisher said he trusts the committee made the right choice.

“I think the people who are on that committee are certainly intelligent and knew the circumstances, and I certainly support their decision,” he said.

Bending Iowa State’s rule doesn’t bother him, Fisher said.

“I don’t have a problem with that,” he said. “I support the committee. They felt it was important, and I based my decision on their good judgment.”

Jischke said he won’t offer an opinion on the five-year rule.

“That’s for others to comment on. I know it has been done before, that exceptions to the five-year policy have been made,” he said.

Although all regents voted to name the building for Jischke, Lisa Ahrens was the only board member to vote against the schematic design.

“I had some concerns as far as the placement of the building and the design of the building,” said Ahrens, junior in agronomy.

She said she had some further questions as to the location of the building, near the center of campus.

“I just wanted to have some more information as far as how that spot was decided upon and what other spots were looked at,” Ahrens said.

Some faculty members have complained that the honors building will be an eyesore amidst the open central campus area, but Jischke said he thinks it is a great place for his dedication.

“I think it is a lovely location, an appropriate location,” he said. “I think it will blend very well into that part of campus — it’s a very lovely building from the photographs I’ve seen.”

Jischke said he is “humbled” to be the namesake of the honors building.

“We have made a special effort at Iowa State to expand the opportunities for students in general, but especially, or including, I should say, honors students,” he said. “It pleases me enormously that people recognize the opportunities we’ve created here at Iowa State.”

Ahrens agreed that the honors building is appropriate for Jischke’s dedication.

“I think it’s a great building, especially the honors building, with all the work he’s done with the recruitment of students at Iowa State,” she said.

According to statistics from the ISU Foundation, since Jischke came to Iowa State in 1991, the number of honors graduates has doubled, and participation in the Freshman Honors Program has tripled.