NEW HAVEN — Yale University says it might revisit its decision to keep the name of a residential college named for 19th century alumnus John C. Calhoun, who was an ardent supporter of slavery.
Yale President Peter Salovey said in April that the Ivy League university was preserving the name of Calhoun College, defying protesters who railed against it.
But Salovey announced to the campus community on Monday that he appointed a new committee to develop guidelines for proposals to remove historical names from university buildings or spaces, including for Calhoun College.
“We are fortunate to have faculty members with relevant expertise that can be brought to bear on the renaming question. This new committee will draw upon their knowledge in a more systematic way,” he wrote, adding that the committee will take into account staff, alumni and student opinions onthe topic as well.
He says many faculty, students and alumni have raised “significant and moving concerns” about keeping Calhoun’s name on the college. He says requests to remove the name will be reconsidered after the committee’s work is completed.
Recently, a Yale dining room employee destroyed a stained class window in Calhoun College because it depicted slaves in a cotton field. He was given his job back after a 5-week suspension because of the “unique circumstances of this matter.”
“It’s the 21st century, shouldn’t have to see that,” Corey Menafee said to FOX 61 after the incident.
Calhoun was a U.S. vice president and senator from South Carolina.
