With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Yale president says decision to stick with Calhoun College name is not final

Three months after the University announced that it would retain the namesake of Calhoun College, the future of the name is again uncertain. 

Amidst continued opposition to the decision to maintain the name Calhoun College, Yale has formed a Committee to Establish Principles on Renaming that will this fall establish principles by which renaming decisions are to be made. Once those principles are established, Salovey said he will “efficiently” — and with final authority — evaluate requests from the Yale community to change certain names, including Calhoun and other college names, in consultation with the Yale Corporation, the University cabinet and relevant experts. 

That marks a significant departure from last year’s decision-making model, under which Salovey described himself as “just one member of the Corporation” debating renaming issues and that the body would consider various options and reach a consensus at its own pace.

Read entire article at Yale Daily News