The faculty of Washington and Lee University in Lexington Virginia has voted by an overwhelming majority of 79% to drop the name of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from the school’s name. The faculty recommendation was sent to the Board of Trustees but that does not mean they will adopt the name change.
From CBS17.com,
A school spokesperson says “there are no current plans to change” the name.
Lee’s name was added to the name of the university in 1870 because of contributions Lee made as President of the school.
From the WashingtonPost.com:
Seventy-nine percent voted in favor of a formal resolution: “The Faculty of Washington and Lee calls for the removal of Robert E. Lee from the name of the University.”
In 1870, “Lee was a symbol of who that faculty wanted to be, and who they were,” said Alison Bell, who leads the faculty affairs committee. “The faculty is back 150 years later, asking the university for a name change because Lee does not represent who we are and who we want to be. … Lee just cannot symbolize our community any more.”
More of our history being expunged. How long will President Washington’s name remain on the university?
