@Pizzagirl
I hope you were just imagining what some person with some serious ignorance of the circumstances “take” is on your “B” and you don’t actually believe that…
Otherwise, Houston we have a problem…
If its not that big of a deal to have black students walk by, live and study in buildings named after those who took steps to oppress them -because “that won’t solve todays ills… and the names are merely symbolic” … why is it such a big deal to change the names of the buildings? Changing the names would be a symbolic start to show Black Americans our country and our brightest citizens are committed to solving these ills created by enslaving and oppressing an entire race of people.
We are not eradicating Calhoun’s place in history… we are choosing to highlight others who are more in line with our country’s values as our country evolves. If there is no harm in leaving the name up- surely there is no harm in changing the name either…
Also I think its un-empathetic to assume just bc you don’t remember the name of some white guy who oppressed a population in history …to assume that the name holds the same un-interested response from those in the race that were oppressed by him
How about we mandate that colleges that have buildings named after people post Huge, and I mean Enormous, billboards outside the building with that person’s entire life story and opinions from cradle to grave? That way everyone can read it and become educated?
If someone tells you it improves their life to rename Calhoun college, why not just accept that as their truth?
adding: that 99.9% you wrote bothers me a whole lot, PG
As a Yale alumni of color and a parent of a current student, I am reading these comments with great interest. But just like I am staying out of the current political fray with my friends, I believe I will stay out of this or risk the ire of the moderators.
Yale is a private institution. If students are offended by aspects of its existence they should go elsewhere. Yalemis not a classically democratc institution in which a majority mob can rule. An adaptive approach for a Yale student would be to get to work and then donate a new building named after himself/herself.
I wonder if the complainants would be as passionate about renaming places like Mecca or the Vatican or Germany? Micro-focus on buildings seems puerile. But idleness has the luxury of time. We could run through the entirety of civilization and rename some elements of the periodic table, rename cities lakes and bridges, and keep going until the last man can rest unoffended. Meanwhile, we can petition Norway for reparations from their Vikings’ mischief.
Do you seriously believe this?
Why would one chose to go to a school that does not reflect one’s values? Yes, I believe that. A student does not need to agree with everything about a school, but these protestors reportedly feel “trauma” from the experience.
That is unfortunate, as I believe you could offer a useful perspective on whether Calhoun College or Yale itself should be renamed. My nephew, a Yale grad from a few years ago, wants to stay out of this as well.
“adding: that 99.9% you wrote bothers me a whole lot, PG”
99.9% of people in the US don’t devote one minute’s thought to Yale (insert any elite college of your choice, Yale’s just the one in the hot seat right now). They’ll never set foot on the campus, they won’t know anybody who went there. They aren’t looking to Yale to set the tone for how things are done. Do you disagree with that? Again, this isn’t about Yale specifically.
“If someone tells you it improves their life to rename Calhoun college, why not just accept that as their truth?”
I don’t doubt it does. It’s relative focus here that is my issue. I think it’s well-intentioned but I also think it’s myopic since no one outside Yale’s campus is really going to pay attention. I think there are bigger racial issues and inequalities to address first. That’s all.
What happened to one’s ancestors 200 years ago has little bearing on the quality of life today. What matters are the opportunities available today.
Tony mom, I specifically said “let’s take the average relatively ignorant person.” Which do you think will galvanize them to take action? Seeing the Castile video (or similar), or hearing that some dorm at some college they’re vaguely aware of and will never see is changing its name?
I don’t even know how to respond to this, really.
What if you get to a place and find that the values there are bad? Do you leave or try and make it better?
It’s a big world and we all don’t live at 704 Hauser Street. In America if we don’t like something we get busy and change it. And THAT is something that if you don’t like it, well… 
Is the value - they thoughtfully debated changing the name - or is the value - they changed the name?
“don’t think it’s about erasing history, it’s about trying to determine whether historical figures did enough good given the context of their time - of course, that does not resolve the debate.”
Is there any historical figure who owned slaves who can be seen as doing enough good given the context of their time?
OR
B) Some smart-aleck college students on some fancy-schmancy campus full of rich snobs have so much time on their hands that they are “offended” by the name on a building of some dead white guy I myself haven’t ever heard of, just because a zillion years ago he owned slaves.
@Pizzagirl I’d be a bit more convinced of this if you hadn’t chosen to portray these students as “smart-aleck, rich snobs, who have too much time on their hands”…
I think it speaks to a stereotype and does nothing to enhance this discussion…
I don’t think PG was calling Yale students that, but referring to what the general public thinks of Yale students.
Sigh. Tony mom, I was portraying what the average schleb might think of this debate/controversy. THEY will perceive this as rich spoiled whiny kids. I thought that was clear.
So then why would that “average ignorant person” care what yale students and faculty decide to do…
Why is it anyone’s business EXCEPT the folks who actually are on that campus.
They live and work there. It’s their call.
And, I don’t think you necessarily have to choose between small acts, such as renaming a hall, to larger acts such as holding inequitable housing/lending practices etc accountable. Are we incapable of dealing with a multitude of issues at many levels?
If we are then we are certainly in a sorry state of affairs.