Middle Tennessee State University students, faculty and alumni gathered on Tuesday afternoon to protest the name of Forrest Hall. The ROTC building named after Confederate general and alleged Klu Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest has received a resurge of controversy this summer after the recent shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.
Though the name has been protested several times in the university’s history, this most recent movement has been deemed the most “pervasive,” by MTSU philosophy professor Michael Principe.
Principe was among faculty, students and alumni present at today’s march that began with speeches at the Student Union and ended with university president \Sidney McPhee announcing the beginning of a student/faculty committee to determine whether or not the name should be changed in front of Forrest Hall.
The university administration will be creating a committee to determine whether there will or will not be changes to Forrest Hall. The committee will be headed by professor Derek Frisby. Frisby is an MTSU glob studies and cultural geography professor who specializes in Civil War and has appeared on the National Geographic Channel’s Civil War series, “Civil Warriors,” and was the recipient of the 2009 MTSU Outstanding Teaching Award.
Although McPhee said he was “extremely pleased,” by seeing MTSU students, faculty and alumni rally together to make a change happen, he declined to comment on his stance on the issue.
Keep an eye out for our video coverage of the March to Change the Name of Forrest Hall here.
For more information on the Forrest Hall protests and history, see our article here or visit Change the Name of Forrest Hall Facebook page.
For more updates on the debate, follow us at www.mtsusidelines.com, on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on Twitter at @Sidelines_News
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU president Dr. Sidney McPhee joins students, faculty and alumni at rally against the name of Forrest Hall to announce a committee designed to determine the fate of the ROTC building’s name. (MTSU Sidelines/ Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU president Dr. Sidney McPhee joins students, faculty and alumni at rally against the name of Forrest Hall to announce a committee designed to determine the fate of the ROTC building’s name. (MTSU Sidelines/ Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU students, faculty and alumni join hands outside of Forrest Hall and recite a black lives matter call to action on Aug. 27, 2015 (MTSU Sidelines/ Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU history professor Pippa Holloway speaks against the name of Forrest Hall at a protest led by MTSU students, faculty and alumni on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/ Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU Philosophy Professor Dr. Michael Principe leads discussion at March to Change the Name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015 (MTSU Sidelines/ Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU Philosophy Professor Dr. Michael Principe leads discussion at March to Change the Name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015 (MTSU Sidelines/ Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU Philosophy Professor Dr. Michael Principe leads discussion at March to Change the Name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015 (MTSU Sidelines/ Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
MTSU faculty, students and alumni gather to march to change the name of Forrest Hall on Aug. 27, 2015. (MTSU Sidelines/Sarah Grace Taylor)
Solution suggestion : Add III to the name. General Nathan Bedford Forrest III was an Air Force general and Tennessee native who was awarded the Flying Cross. We can still call it Forrest hall and the family connection is there but NBFIII was not the Grand Wizard of the KKK.
I think when issues keep coming up that something needs to be done about it. I agree with this protest because it shows the respect not only for blacks that are offended by the history of this building, but also other ethnic groups that also may also feel certain ways. President McPhee and his committee should change the name of this building because Nathan Bedford Forrest Hall wasn’t a “good” person. He contributed to a hate-group. So why should we have a building on our campus and give this man recognition for his evil works.
[…] violence committed by Forrest and in Forrest’s name both during and after the Civil War. A campus protest organized by the group in late August was well-attended by students, faculty, alumni, and members of the […]
Solution suggestion : Add III to the name. General Nathan Bedford Forrest III was an Air Force general and Tennessee native who was awarded the Flying Cross. We can still call it Forrest hall and the family connection is there but NBFIII was not the Grand Wizard of the KKK.
I think when issues keep coming up that something needs to be done about it. I agree with this protest because it shows the respect not only for blacks that are offended by the history of this building, but also other ethnic groups that also may also feel certain ways. President McPhee and his committee should change the name of this building because Nathan Bedford Forrest Hall wasn’t a “good” person. He contributed to a hate-group. So why should we have a building on our campus and give this man recognition for his evil works.
[…] violence committed by Forrest and in Forrest’s name both during and after the Civil War. A campus protest organized by the group in late August was well-attended by students, faculty, alumni, and members of the […]