One thing at a time; pick your battles; don’t judge the battles other people have chosen when they have nothing to do with you.
What’s more, outrage isn’t particularly fungible–we’re all capable of being outraged about many, many things at any given time.
Because Yale is full of admin and academics who helped foster this sort of mess, so no surprise re its actions to take painting down. Yale actually understands what the students are doing and even taught them that “to choose to be offended” is a proper way to intellectually behave - pretty low bar set there by an elite university.
Remember the halloween costume fiasco? Yale understood a student protest about fictitious/hypothetical costumes, which did not exist and no one had an clue if the costumes would have ever existed. However, a hissy fit was in order by students, and Yale placated to the students with a great teacher and a house leader taking the hit.
Yale, though, is not alone. Remember some Harvard students upset over a soda machine? Palestinian students were offended by having their soda in the dining hall served to them by a soda machine made by an Israeli company. See, the soda machine name was symbol of oppression. Harvard understood this offense and agreed to stop buying and remove the machines.
Alums led the way and Harvard came to its senses and the soda machines returned. The facts that Harvard even “understood” the students’ offense and said offense then being validated by Harvard’s actions are pretty much all one needs to know that these schools no longer have logical, working backbones. Basically, any claimed offense is grounds for corrective action.
Therefore, I kind of see this Calhoun and Yale name issue no differently than the above where students find things to be offended about. Kind of seems more like an intellectual game of finding something to be offended by, than actual offenses and really tough to take most of these “offense” claims seriously.
Don’t forget the Princeton hummus! When my nephew was there, there was some kind of brouhaha over the fact that the dining hall offered Sabra brand hummus, which is an Israeli company.
If there are any kids at Yale who feel that they are being controlled by an anonymous poster on an internet message board, they have serious issues and should immediately seek an appointment with a trained medical professional.
@dstark has it occurred to you that when people are told that theIr communities are going to have their names changed because other people say so and that they’re enabling “more crap to be done to black people” if they don’t support it, they might feel that those other people are attempting to assert control over them? Did you go to Yale? Did you live in Calhoun College? How many 'Hounies have you actually talked to? Are you so certain that you have the standing to tell them that their home is now to be renamed because you’ve decided it’s an"easy, positive gesture"? Do you really “have a dog in this fight”, when you assert that other commenters with different views from you don’t?
I know a lot of 'Hounies - who clearly do have a dog in this fight - and I will tell you that opinion’s far from unanimous on what to do here. It ranges from “of course you should change the name” to “hell no”, with a lot of nuanced positions in between (e.g., keep the name but hyphenate it with that of an African-American alumnus).
I thinks it’s reasonable to ask, given how our society’s views have evolved, whether a name change might be warranted and, in any case, whether much more should be done to ensure that Calhoun College becomes a means to increase the understanding of the Yale community and society as a whole about the pernicious and ongoing effects of slavery and racism, which John C. Calhoun certainly supported and enabled, his public service notwithstanding.
There could be many ways to do that, some of which could include keeping his name on the college while renaming parts of it, adding explanatory signage as to why and seeking to ensure that there’s an ongoing discussion about Calhoun, racism, slavery and Yale’s role and responsibility in enabling them all.
It’s also important to consider the precedent being created by renaming the college, or the other actions that might be taken, and the manner in which the decision is made.
Personally, I think Yale should take steps to educate all who want to participate in this debate on who Calhoun was, what he did, what he believed, the implications and results of his actions and beliefs, the historical context, how Yale came to name a college after him and Yale’s historical role with regard to racism and slavery. Suitably informed, the community could then have a meaningful discussion, consider the various alternatives and decide the right thing to do.
Meanwhile, in other news, Nero fiddles while Rome burns. This is helping the overall black community how again? Oh yeah, it’s helping a handful of already-privileged students feel better. That’ll sure make the next black guy at a traffic stop feel better. Or the next black class of youngsters at a school without appropriate resources.
Questions like “This is helping the overall black community how again?” or "What do you have to lose?” may be better answered by our black friends. They know what they feel better than others. As for the name change all associated with Yale have a say. Someone might say, “If you change the name I’m not giving you the $M a year any more!”
@DeepBlue86, I was addressing those who don’t have a dog in the fight.
I was reading your post and really? Hounies want to keep that name knowing the history? I will answer those questions. I am sure some do want to keep that name.
You don’t think the Yale community is informed?
People are worried about precedents. Yeah…getting rid of racist symbols is a very bad thing. 
@pizzagirl, do you like non jews telling jews what they should do? How jews should think? Do you like people telling you what to do? I don’t get that from your posts.
Whoa. I liked it better when we were talking about Yale jazz musicians. But alas… that was n. So back to arguing about racism.
“DeepBlue86, I was addressing those who don’t have a dog in the fight.”
Dstark, you didn’t go to Yale and AFAIK you don’t have any more connection than I do (which is none).
“@pizzagirl, do you like non jews telling jews what they should do? How jews should think? Do you like people telling you what to do? I don’t get that from your posts.”
First off, I’m only half Jewish and was raised without any religion. My affiliation is loose and secular.
Second, “Jews” are not a monolithic group who all think, feel and do the same things. So I don’t speak for Jews - but neither do you.
Dstark, who are you to know what “blacks as a whole” think in this issue? I’m sure there are those who are outraged and those who think “eh, bigger fish to fry.”
@awcntdb “Therefore, I kind of see this Calhoun and Yale name issue no differently than the above where students find things to be offended about. Kind of seems more like an intellectual game of finding something to be offended by, than actual offenses and really tough to take most of these “offense” claims seriously.”
Except its NOT just STUDENTS finding something to be offended about… over 400 faculty, at least one ex-cafeteria worker, the entire New Haven POC community, writers for major publications like The New York Post, CNN, The Atlantic, Hartford Courant… and many many more are also offended and weighing in…
“At Yale, a Right That Doesn’t Outweigh a Wrong”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/30/opinion/at-yale-a-right-that-doesnt-outweigh-a-wrong.html
“Yale’s Mistake on John Calhoun”
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/28/opinions/yales-mistake-on-john-calhoun-opinion-mcwhorter/
“Yale Must Take John C. Calhoun’s Name Down”
http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-yale-slave-advocate-name-must-go-20150921-story.html
“Let Nat Turner Join John C. Calhoun At Yale”
http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-harris-yale-calhoun-college-0519-20160518-column.html
“The White-Supremacist Lineage of a Yale College”
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/the-cause-to-rename-calhoun-college/408682/
IMO, Its time to take the black community and their outrage seriously, even if you find it tough to do so…
@Pizzagirl, Thanks. I know I didn’t go to Yale. 
I am also jewish. I think you are, right? I don’t like non jews telling jews what to do and how to think about a situation. Do you like being told what to do?
I try to put myself in somebody else’s shoes. What if this was a situation about jews instead of blacks? This isn’t just a hypothetical. Naming is an issue for jews. Symbolism is important.
Then I look at people who associate with Yale. Some do want to keep the name. My high school has a pretty long history. My school’s name was changed but that was way before my time. We did go from the Indians to the Cardinals like Stanford did. I was fine with it. But i guess that is not the same thing.
I have been reading the arguments. Reading what the Yale president wrote. Professors. Students. I am not going to decide. Yale is going to decide.
You didn’t answer my questions. You don’t have to if you don’t want to…
Edit: I see you did answer my questions.
@dstark as far as I can tell, you don’t have a dog in the fight. Some of those you’re addressing in this forum might.
Yes indeed, some 'Hounies want to keep the name. They have a variety of motives for this, including, among other things - whether you agree with them or not - respect for history and tradition, believing that taking the name off whitewashes history, sweeps discussion of John C. Calhoun under the rug and actually inhibits progress against racism, and feeling like they’re being bullied by people who know little about John C. Calhoun other than that he had views about black people that are unacceptable today.
And yes, in that sense, I believe large segments of the Yale community are uninformed, or at least under-informed. I think if you asked the participants in an anti-Calhoun demonstration to tell you some things about John C. Calhoun other than that he was a racist politician who lived a long time ago, many wouldn’t have a lot to say. Some people don’t feel that’s an acceptable basis to make a decision like this, particularly when it’s going to be seen as a precedent and influence discussion in other areas.
You call it a racist symbol. Many other people, who aren’t racist and want to do the right thing, call it home and want to make a thoughtful decision about whether and how to rename it. There’s an opportunity to educate many people, inside and outside of Calhoun College and Yale, about the legacy of John C. Calhoun, slavery, racism and Yale’s complicity, and some of those who are most directly concerned here don’t want to waste it.
Reposting what I posted in post # 670. As was reiterated in # 692, Yale’s president said that it was reportedly in response to and email and letters from over 400 faculty from the Arts and Sciences Senate that he is revisiting the discussion of the name of Calhoun.
Personally, I think the analogies to religion are misplaced.
@Pizzagirl, I am sure there are some in the black community who are not outraged.
Jews are not a monolithic group but there are jews who care about naming.
A guy wanted to name a vessel after his father…who happened to be a nazi.
http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/vessel-named-after-dutch-nazi-renamed-after-protests
@DeepBlue86, the name of the school is called a racist symbol and I do understand people call the place home. Some people want to keep the name.
I understand what you wrote. I listen. I listen to both sides. I think I listened better than the Yale president. The president is listening now.
Thats a bit simplistic, IMO. IT is more than just a matter of a person listening. Last year the Yale Corporation had the decision making power. They are now making it easier for.the bylaws to be changed so they can handle these issues and decisions differently.
I take a slightly different/larger view re this “dog in the fight” position.
This involves american history and, in my view, all one has to be to have "a dog in this fight’ is an American and to be concerned about letting a very few cast a light on american history that is skewed toward the negative and not fully balancing with the positive. The rewriting of american history or, better said, the possible jading of american history is (well, at least, should be) a concern of all Americans.
I do agree the best outcome would be to make use of this:
Yes, but if we suggest “don’t waste money changing the name, but put up plaques, etc giving a broader perspective” we are apparently “not listening.” Only dstark can listen, apparently.