By Karen Smith
Last year, as a measure of respect for its diverse student community, Vanderbilt University took measures to try and remove the word “Confederate” from a dormitory building called, “Confederate Memorial Hall.”
The United Daughters of the Confederacy organization took them to court saying that the word, “confederate” should remain because the organization made a $50,000 contribution to the university in 1933 in return for naming rights.
The courts stepped in and ruled that the only way Vanderbilt could change the building name is if it paid the Daughters of the Confederacy organisation, $700,000, because that is what $50,000 in 1933 would be worth today. In other words, Vanderbilt would have to pay a refund, but with interest.
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| Confederate Memorial Hall |
After receiving a $5 million donation from Mr. Sorenson of Sorenson VRS, Gallaudet University will soon be breaking ground on the James Lee Sorenson Language and Communication Center, the future home of Gallaudet’s Linguistics and ASL and Deaf Studies departments.
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| James Lee Sorenson Language and Communication Center |
In honor of I. King Jordan and his hearing wife, Linda’s contributions to the university, Gallaudet has christened the Student Academic Center as the I. King Jordan Student Academic Center and the new art gallery inside the Washburn Arts Center, the Linda K. Jordan Art Gallery.
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| I. King Jordan Student Academic Center |
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| Linda K. Jordan Art Gallery |
The naming of building structures after individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to society is an honored tradition of higher education. These privileges are also usually granted by a university’s Board.
There is cultural significance to Gallaudet University. Should policy dictate that individuals or groups for whom buildings are named after be deaf or have somehow made significant contributions to the field of deafness or Deaf culture?
Or does money talk?
Karen Smith is a deaf alumnus of Vanderbilt University and presently works for a major healthcare company in Rockville, MD. She, her husband Michael and her family of three children and three golden retrievers live in Gaithersburg, MD.
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2 Comments
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You’ve raised good questions and I understand you want to create dialogue but you’ve stopped short stating your position. I’d like to know what you think. :)
Sorensen made hundreds of millions from the Deaf using his service. Yes, its about money. After the protest ends then the Deaf will work hard to remove Jordan’s name on campus. Jordan is a very bad memory for most of us. I.King Jordan, Jr. collects titles, awards, honoraium, off Deaf people who got him elected’s backs.
Dr. Jordan is a vanity addict.