Should Universities Rename Buildings Based on Racist History?
Background
One key point in the ongoing battle against the legacy of racial inequality in the United States has been the significance of university buildings named after historical figures associated with slavery or white supremacy.
On July 29th, 2020, the board of trustees at UNC-Chapel Hill voted 11-2 to remove the names of Charles Aycock, Josephus Daniels, Julian Carr and Thomas Ruffin Sr. from UNC campus buildings because of their ties to white supremacy in North Carolina.
Many protesters, alumni, faculty and students at universities across the country have argued that buildings should be renamed in light of the views and actions of their original namesakes, while others have contended that these facts should not result in renaming the buildings.
Discussion Questions
1. As task forces across the country continue to deliberate about the best way forward, what principles should guide their decision about whether to remove names?
2. Is it fair to say that building names are a matter of psychological or emotional “safety” for students on campus? Why or why not?
3. Are building names analogous to public monuments or memorials? How about other ‘named’ features of the academic world, such as fellowships, endowed chairs, labs and prizes?
Recent Maps
Do human beings have souls?
Is water wet?
Should we get rid of Daylight Saving Time?
Can our society delete Facebook?
Would it be good to live forever?
Should the US government pay ransom money for American hostages held overseas?
Should the government tax soda?
Can American democracy survive 2024?
Should all students be required to take humanities classes?
Should the government cancel student loan debt?
Should kids be required to do chores?
iPhone or Android?
Should schools teach “Critical Race Theory”?
Should schools and businesses require the COVID vaccine?
Is binge-watching TV good for you?
Should we end the practice of tipping in the US?
Should you invest in Bitcoin?
Is a hot dog a sandwich?
Should universities spy on students to prevent cheating?
Should students be required to take standardized tests?
Is the internet “making us stupid”?
Is it ethical to support Amazon?
Are cats better pets than dogs?
Is drinking milk good for humans?
Should the US raise the minimum wage to $15?
Should we embrace self-driving cars?
Is ‘Cancel Culture’ Bad For Society?
Should Social Media Companies Be Regulated?
Background The U.S. has a law called Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which states "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."...
Should Democrats “Pack” the Supreme Court?
Background To counter what they view as Republicans’ unfair and hypocritical tactics, some Democrats have revived the idea of adding more justices to the Supreme Court. This would be possible only if Democrats manage to regain control of the Senate by winning both of...
Should Colleges Use Racial Preferences in Admissions?
Background Even though discrimination based on race is technically illegal in the US, many people of color still face the effects of centuries of systemic racism. Universities like Harvard have implemented affirmative action programs to accept more Black, Hispanic,...
Should the US Implement a Carbon Tax?
Background As wildfires burn, glaciers melt, and extreme weather becomes more frequent, Americans have grown increasingly concerned over climate change. While it still remains a controversial issue in the US, most scientists agree that humans are to blame. They argue...
Should the US Ban TikTok?
Background Chinese-made apps like TikTok and WeChat are rapidly becoming more popular in the US. Unlike similar apps, the Chinese government has almost complete control over these applications and the data they store in China. While TikTok claims that it does not give...
Should the US Implement Universal Mail-In Voting?
Background US elections can be crazy in any year, but this year they're occurring during a pandemic. Social distancing - one of the best ways to combat the pandemic - is difficult to implement at polling places. Many people want to expand mail-in voting policies to...
Should the Government Defund The Police?
Background Ever since the video of George Floyd’s murder by police officers in Minneapolis circulated across the US, protests against police violence and racial injustice have erupted around the world. Most calls to “Defund the Police” seek redistribution of funding...