President Eric Kaler is recommending the names of four past University of Minnesota leaders be removed from buildings on the Twin Cities campus.
Kaler will present his recommendation to the Board of Regents next week, but the board is not expected to take action till at least May.
“I entered this process with an open mind, and at this stage I believe that changing the names is the right path for the University of Minnesota,” Kaler wrote in an open letter Friday.
“However, I describe my recommendations as preliminary because I would like to continue hearing from the University community and engaging with the descendants of the individuals after whom the buildings were named.”
Kaler wants to temporarily place generic names on four buildings named for presidents and administrators who endorsed anti-Semitism or racism on campus.
His proposal follows the advice of a task force he appointed to study the matter. That group issued a 125-page report last month that said the four building names should be changed.
Another committee would be tasked with coming up with permanent names for the buildings. In the meantime, Kaler is suggesting new temporary names:
- Coffman Memorial Union, named for 1920-1938 president Lotus Coffman, would be called Student Union.
- Coffey Hall, named for 1941-45 president Walter Coffey, would be called Agricultural Administration Building.
- Middlebrook Hall, named for William Middlebrook, who was comptroller and a vice president from 1929-59, would be called West Bank Residence Hall.
- Nicholson Hall, named for 1917-41 dean of student affairs Edward Nicholson, would be called 216 Pillsbury Drive.