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.
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To contact News Editor Sarah Grace Taylor, email [email protected]