‘This is a great move’: UO students respond to potential renaming of Dunn Hall
History is to be made if former KKK leader’s name is removed from campus building
On September 2nd, University of Oregon President Michael Schill announced he was considering renaming two buildings on campus.
Dunn Hall, one of the dorms on campus, is currently named after Frederic Dunn who was a former faculty member and notorious leader of the Eugene chapter of the Klu Klux Klan.
Schill reported to the Register Guard, “Dunn, as the head of an organization that supported racism and violence against African-Americans, Catholics and Jews, is not a man for whom a building should be named on the University of Oregon campus.”
A similar call for the renaming of Deady Hall has been presented as well. While Deady was a man with, “harsh views that were racist and proslavery,” he still made good contributions to the university. According to Schill, the change for this building’s name is still debatable.
Both of these demands have especially been brought to attention by the Oregon’s Black Student Task Force in 2015. As the school awaits a final decision for social justice to take place, many students and school donors have not objected to this decision.
I asked some of the Oregon students what they think about the change.
Malia Thomas, 19, Product Design
“As a young African American woman, it means a great deal to the African American community and me to have these names removed from the buildings. I already live in a state where I am constantly reminded by the stares and glances that I am a woman of color, which is unacceptable.
“I appreciate the concerns of the University and its efforts of trying to make our community on campus more diverse and accepting of all students. However, the name changes to these buildings is only the beginning of change. Many people have disagreed with the name change and have stated it is uncalled for. However, for other students of color and myself it is a haunting reminder of not only how we are different by our skin tone but also a reminder that racism is still upon us. It is said in our own Pledge of Allegiance that we are a country of “liberty and justice for all.”
“In my heart I truly believe if we allow this hatred and injustice to live on our campus, then are we really for liberty and justice for all? We should have the right not only for African American students, but for all of our students to remove anything that is discriminating and inhumane.”
Kylan Carlson, 20, Anthropology
“I was in RHA when I heard about this initiative freshman year. I am very happy to hear that Dunn’s name has a high potential of being taken off of a Resident Hall. There are many other UO Alum that deserve to have a hall named after them.”
Amanda Galvin, 19, Business
“I’m glad they are changing the name of the building because the legacy of Dunn shouldn’t be what represents our school. Diversity and acceptance should be one of the school’s main priorities. I hope they change it to someone who represents African American or female empowerment.”
Josh Silva, 19, Business and Psychology
“I’m in favor of changing Dunn’s name one hundred percent just by understanding what he stood for and has. For Deady, I’m not too sure. I personally wouldn’t be outraged if a change happened but I also wouldn’t be outraged if a change did not happen.”
Nick Pyle, 19, Economics
“I think the Dunn name should be changed for sure. That one seems like pretty common sense to me. The Deady name is a bit more flexible since he was one of the more important figures in the history of UO.
“Plus he may have had the bad thoughts at one point, but he saw the light and dismissed the confederacy so I think his name should stay on the building.”
Erik Hogg, 20, Psychology
“I originally wasn’t sure if I wanted them to change the name of Deady Hall but I believe now that they are in the process of changing Dunn they should do the same to Deady. It’s a very progressive move that will look good on the University as well as just be a good way of getting rid of this hateful part of history in modern society.
“Both these men were excellent scholars and had big impacts on the University and should be remembered as some of the big founders and creators of the university but because of their connections to the KKK there should be no actual buildings named after them, maybe a plaque that talks about their history at the University and how they affected it. I think this is a great move by the University of Oregon.”
The renaming of the two buildings has been well-received by the students and other UO supporters so far. According to the Register Guard, President Schill intends to make a final decision by October of this coming Fall term.
Taking this step would allow the university to move towards a more diverse and accepting community for all who attend.