Building Renaming Discussion: University of Alabama Edition

Tonight I'm going to be part of a discussion about building renaming on the University of Alabama campus.  If you're around Tuscaloosa, I hope you'll stop by Gorgas Library at 6:30. The discussion is focused around Nott Hall, though the issues are certainly relevant to a lot of campus buildings, including Manly Hall and Morgan Hall.  I'll be cribbing my usual comments on the law and morality of building renaming, with a few thoughts that are drawn from the University of Alabama's pre-War intellectual history.

Comments

[Derek Tokaz]

This is sure to stir up all sorts of controversy at Bama. There are the fairly moderate, middle of the road folks who'd rename it Bryant-Saban Hall, and then the radicals (who sadly might have enough numbers to get their way) who'd rename it Saban-Bryant Hall.

[Mary Ellen Maatman]

Thank you for the link to the piece on antebellum thought. I'm looking forward to reading it.

[twbb]

There are plenty of alternative Civil War heroes of whom to name southern buildings after. May I suggest William Tecumseh Sherman? Or maybe Benjamin Butler?

[Alyssa DiRusso]

Just fascinating. Similar issues are arising at high schools in Alabama. There was recently a movement to get rid of the Rebel (clearly a Confederate Rebel, mustache and all) as the Vestavia Hills High mascot. In the end, it was decided to keep the name but have no mascot at all. I guess we're pretending it's a Revolutionary War Rebel? Other local schools have changed from the Rebels to the Red Bulls so that cheers don't need much modification (I am sure you recall how important cheerleading is in Alabama). Thanks for the thoughtful post.