The tyranny of PC'ism ... isn't it just wonderful how stupid Americans have become.
Posted on 09/18/2002 1:35:37 PM PDT by Rebeleye
Peabody Dorm is Gone with the Wind
Concluding a three-year debate, Vanderbilt University administrators finalize plans to rename Confederate Memorial Hall.
The Daughters (UDC) donated money to build Confederate Hall in an attempt to improve economic and educational problems in the South. Female ancestors of Confederate veterans were offered a rent-free stay at the residence hall, provided they studied education and brought their talents back to better the South.
Despite the positive intentions of the Daughters, in recent years Vanderbilt residents have expressed concern with the reference to the Confederacy in the name of the dormitory.
Vanderbilt's Student Government Association passed a resolution three years ago to change the name of the hall. The administration finally accepted the proposal last May and have since decided to take action. After an entire summer of negotiations and reprinting Vanderbilt brochures and maps, the decision will most likely be finalized by next week.
Several administrators and student leaders have been heavily involved in the process. One of these people, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Life Steve Caldwell, expressed hope that Vanderbilt students will support the change.
"The word Confederate makes many people uncomfortable. This is the right thing and it needs to be done," he said.
Many students, however, fail to see the problem with the name.
"I understand the reluctance to keep the name 'Confederate' because of its racist connotations, but... the Confederacy will always be a part of the south's history," said sophomore Freddy Ford.
Although "Confederate" will officially be removed from the title of the residence hall, many students expect to hear it referred to the same way for years.
"Even if the name is officially changed it will still be referred to as Confederate Hall, so if they want to make the school look better that's fine, but the change will only be superficial at least until everyone in my class graduates," said sophomore Brad Wallace.
As Vanderbilt takes steps to become a more diverse and accepting university, it seems that changing the name of Confederate is an important step in the right direction.
"I think it's about time they changed it because it is the 21st century," said freshman Shantell Hinton. The decision shows Vanderbilt's intentions to separate itself from its old racist image.
"The word Confederate has a racial connotation and racism does still exist. This is Nashville and it's about time we changed it. It starts here," said freshman Sharon Taylor.
Students and administrators hope that "Confederate" ultimately loses its place in Vanderbilt vocabulary, but one thing they agree should never be forgotten is the gift from the Daughters of the Confederacy. Their generosity helped change the lives of many young women and will forever be a part of our history.
Confederate Memorial Hall is located on Peabody campus and houses mostly sophomores. It has been a part of Vanderbilt's scenery since 1935, when it was built with help from the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
OK. I'm a Yankee and I rarely weigh in on these Southern heritage threads, but I must say I find this bizarre.
Rename it? Maybe there's a good reason. But rename it simply Memorial Hall? It's a memorial, but of nothing in particular?
I think we need to let them know how we feel. Anyone up for a letter writing campaign?
And in an unrelated incident, Vanderbilt will consider dropping all History classes due to the obvious sexist undertones that only men achieved anything of significance. (/sarcasm)
Of course. What marrons.
Horowitz’s summation of how money is spent at Vanderbilt for speakers brought to campus applies to the vast majority of colleges in the country: "At Vanderbilt, the university annually provides roughly $130,000 for left-wing agitations, including the visits of left-wing speakers. This is balanced by $0 for conservative groups and speakers."
The tyranny of PC'ism ... isn't it just wonderful how stupid Americans have become.
The alumni should be writing letters to condemn this foolishness. Actually, I suspect annual giving may drop. Probably a good thing, as the endowment at Vandy is so high the leftists feel too insulated from the real (Southern) world.
I believe the old guard (financial) leadership ought to reduce admissions emphasis on the northeast - part of the problem IMHO.
This once great institution of regional heritage would make its storied notables gasp with actions such as this.
And VMI will have to remove the battle streamer that the Corps earned on May 15, 1864 when they beat the damnyankees at the Battle of New Market.
Back in the Old Corps, when I was a cadet, the Corps still stood for Dixie, now it's banned because the black cadets' sensibilities were offended.
The war's over, and the damnyankees won. ok. But that doesn't mean we can't revere the heroes of the Cause and its sounds and symbols. My very Southern greatgrandfather freed his slaves before The War because, as a Christian minister, he didn't believe in slavery, but he was as unreconstucted as they come after The War, until his death in the 1930s. I say keep all of the symbols of the Old South, and tarnation take anyone who doesn't like it!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.