Duke Renaming Aycock Dormitory

This morning's Washington Post brings news that Duke University has  renamed a dormitory on its campus that was named for North Carolina Governor Charles Aycock.  Cribbing now from the Post article:

Aycock, who served as governor from 1901 to 1905, has had his name affixed to the building for more than 100 years. But that is coming to an end after the university’s Board of Trustees voted to revert the building to its original name, East Residence Hall, after petitions from the student body urged the school to re-evaluate the former governor’s legacy.

Long-time readers of faculty lounge may recall that I'm not generally a fan of renaming,  But I do think this alters the environment in which my own institution, the University of North Carolina, will judge buildings on our campus named for noted white supremacists (in the case of Saunders Hall or actually the Aycock Dormitory on UNC's campus) or proslavery zealots (in the case of Ruffin Hall).  I suppose I need to add here that while this was completely unintentional on his part, Justice Thomas Ruffin was one of the most important people in our country in bringing about an end to slavery -- because his 1830 opinion in State v. Mann inspired abolitionists and held up the brutality of the system of slavery to ridicule.

And I guess we'll be hearing soon what the adminstration has decided about the Confederate flags in the Lee Chapel on Washington and Lee's campus.

Update: Here is the Duke Chronicle article on the renaming.

Update 2: My colleague Harry Watson -- who is a distinguished historian of nineteenth century America -- has a letter to the editor of the Chapel Hill News about the controversy over Saunders Hall on UNC's campus.  Here's part of it: 

The fundamental question is not about the past, however, but about the future and how the university should present itself to coming generations. Even if we interpret Saunders in the most positive light possible, a building named for him will always need a footnote to explain why UNC doesn’t really endorse racial terrorism. Why should the university shoulder that awkward and self-defeating chore, when there are far more effective ways to teach historical complexity? Far better to put this endless controversy behind us with a name that accurately represents the Carolina of today and unifies the campus and its friends.

As for Saunders personally, his name will always be inseparable from the Colonial Records series that Dr. Price mentioned. That should be monument enough for anybody.

My guess is that Harry's letter will be a turning point in the discussion of Saunders Hall.  When someone as distinguished as Harry, who works in the field related to the honoree, and who is as generally moderate (or in Chapel Hill terms conservative) as Harry says it's time for a name change, it's probably time for a name change.

(H/T Bill Turnier).

Comments

[Brad Smith]

Hey Al,

I agree with you that renaming is a complicated issue and as a general rule it's best to let things be (with some room for exceptions). I lack the knowledge to voice an opinion in most specific cases, including this one.

I've wondered, though, why some mischievous Republican Senator doesn't propose to rename the Russell Senate Office Building, named for the (in most ways extremely admirable but) ardently segregationist Georgia Democratic Senator Richard Russell. They could propose to rename it for Hiram Revels, the first African American Senator and a reconstruction Republican from Mississippi. You would think some Republican would decide that would be a clever ploy - maybe if they retake the Senate this year so they can force Democrats to actually vote on it. A divisive stunt? Sure. But not above where we are politically in 2014. Always enjoy your posts.

[Alfred L. Brophy]

Thanks for the kind words, Brad -- won't surprise me *in the least* if what you're suggesting comes to pass.

[Bill Turnier]

It is just as likely that the Tea Party contingent in Congress will want to rename the Hart Office Building because of his strong advocacy of gun control and his equally strong support of labor unions.