Oregon State debates buildings with controversial namesakes

OregonLive
By Special to the Oregonian
July 22, 2017

Editor's note: This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration aong The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. Read this post for more information about the training program.

By Emily Mena-Rangel and Desirea Pierce

A debate about buildings named for people accused of holding racist ideas has called into question how Oregon State University's past aligns with its values today.

Four buildings -- Arnold Dining Center, Avery Lodge, Benton Hall and Gill Coliseum -- might be renamed after research suggested that the buildings' namesakes may have held segregationist or pro-slavery views.  Though some say removing the names would erase campus history, others argue the names honor people with white supremacist backgrounds, making students of color feel unwelcome.

Read the full article at the OregonLive website here.