More on Confederate Place

I finally received a response back from the VP of Student Affairs Office on the name change of Confederate Place:

As the university worked with students to develop plans for Community Park, which may include a residence hall and revitalized housing for Greek organizations, we learned that we had the opportunity to work with the city to rename the street to something more closely aligned with the Community Park concept. "Confederate Place" has negative connotations to many who associate it with the pro-slavery position taken during the Civil War. A number of students and others on campus have suggested that we should consider an alternative name that better represents the university and our goals of inclusiveness. We're seeking feedback on possible street names to replace Confederate Place, and we will work to assist organizations affected by this change.

This puts it exactly where I thought it would be. It's all about "diversity" and "inclusiveness" and honestly, that's just sad. The next thing they'll be ripping down the monument to the dead at the end of the street because it offends someone.

There's a history behind the current name and in the rush to be P.C. they're trampling on that history, both good and bad. I know if they asked the residents that would be living on this street; they would find opposition to the whole process from the proposal itself to how it was proposed. Additionally, a university's goal should not be that of inclusiveness. It should be one of debate and academic challenge and progress. However, due to the administration of UofL I have rarely seen true debate and the focus has been money, not academics more often then it should have been at the school. I hope the rumblings out of the Greek community on campus are successful at quashing this whole thing.

Posted by Chris Short at November 22, 2002 11:06 AM