Dive Brief:

• Purdue University is allowing a donor's plaque to refer to "God’s physical laws" despite its earlier concerns that the reference to the higher power might spark a legal battle.
• An engineering alum gave $12,500 to commemorate his parents and was told a plaque would hang in a conference room at the university, but the language became a sticking point.
• The donor says despite the kerfuffle, he plans to continue to give to the school.

Dive Insight:

Here's what is ending up on the plaque: "Dr. Michael McCracken: 'To all those who seek to better the world through the understanding of God’s physical laws and innovation of practical solutions.' Dr. Michael and Mrs. Cindy McCracken present this plaque in honor of Dr. William 'Ed' and Glenda McCracken and all those similarly inspired to make the world a better place."

The university had originally feared an expensive legal battle over the First Amendment — and specifically, the separation of church and state, since some would probably disagree with the language being on a plaque at a public institution. That stance would be a bit extreme, though, as the plaque isn't espousing one religion over another and, as McCracken's lawyers ultimately pointed out, would be considered the "private speech" of the donor.