Saunders Kkrk Case Study

After years of deliberation, Saunders Hall at UNC-Chapel Hill has become “Carolina Hall” (Stancill). Saunders was a leader of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) during the 19th century. The board of trustees voted 10-3 to change the name; however, many questioned if their vote was going to be seen as changing history. Inevitably, it was seen as an act of righting a wrong of history given the board of trustees from 1920 used Saunders’ leadership in the KKK as a qualifier for naming the building. “We’re not changing history, we’re not rewriting it. We’re shining a bright light on it,” said trustee Alston Gardner. Gardner congratulated student activists for their perseverance, but added, “Now I hope you direct your passion on more substantial issues.” Trustee
Nussbaum’s two-prong affiliation capability treats those who wish to harbor the legacy of the confederacy and racism and the experiences of the Black students protesting the existence of these relics. First, individuals who wish to maintain the legacy of oppressive symbols would need to learn to live amongst those who are different and be able to show concern for their well being. For example, in the case of Ole Miss, Nussbaum would call for Sidle and Nelm to empathize with students who feel oppressed by the symbols and traditions in order to create a campus culture that is affirming. Second, Nussbaum would believe that Black students at the campuses previewed in this paper should have the ability to exist within an environment that supports their identities and allows them to be treated as equals versus having traditions that symbolize historical inequality. Therefore, Nussbaum states that justice demands that we go to the end to pursue the elements needed to create a space for individuals to have their dignity and
Campus Pride has a nice tool for allowing schools to detail what policies, structures, traditions, and resources are in place for queer and trans* students. Students also use this as they make their college selections. We need to create a similar tool for Black and Brown students to be able to research what institutions have systems and structures that wholly welcome them to campus. Schools would have an opt-in, public face to their inclusion. Again, this is within the realm of senior administrations’ leadership and perhaps that of NASPA and ACPA and other higher education