Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, a world renowned research facility located in Fort Pierce, Florida and Florida Atlantic University have worked in close partnership for over 9 years. Marine Biology students at FAU often spend a semester by the sea, researching and taking classes at Harbor Branch. As a student who went to high school at Harbor Branch and a current student at FAU's Honors College in Jupiter, Florida, the news of the rocky relationship is quite unsettling.

Harbor Branch has filed a lawsuit against FAU accusing the university of trying to gain control of the research institutes $68 million endowment. Distributions from the Harbor Branch Foundation's endowment were to go to the oceanographic institution, but remain under sole control of the private, nonprofit Harbor Branch Foundation board. Most of the money granted from the foundation comes from the purchase of "Protect Wild Dolphins" and "Save Our Seas" license plates.

Harbor Branch is worried about what FAU would do with the money considering the university has violated the deal before, using money for purposes not approved by the endowment’s independent board. There is also a complaint that “Harbor Branch’s grant functions would be controlled by the very entity that receives Harbor Branch’s grants, raising inevitable conflicts of interest and the appearance of self-dealing.”

As a student and alumni of both facilities, I sincerely hope this is something that is resolved quickly and fairly for both parties. FAU spokesperson Lisa Metcalf, has said that the Harbor Branch Foundation board “has misinterpreted our commitment to our partnership and to our shared responsibility for efficient and proper stewardship of our resources.”