Clemson Removes John C. Calhoun's Name from Honors College, Asks to Rename Tillman Hall

The Clemson University Board of Trustees has voted to remove John C. Calhoun's name from the Honors College and has requested the state Legislature to empower the school to rename Tillman Hall to its original name, Old Main.

In a Friday morning vote, the board unanimously voted to remove Calhoun from the Honors College as recommended by Provost Bob Jones. The college was immediately rebranded The Clemson University Honors College.

All 13 trustees voted in favor and five emeritus trustees who are former board members supported the changes, board Chairman Smythe McKissick said. 

"Clemson must also recognize that there are central figures in Clemson's history whose beliefs and actions do not represent the university's core values ... and as our values guide us, we are listening," McKissick said.

The vote came on the heels of a petition and revived fight to remove the name of Calhoun — a slave owner and secessionist whose plantation became Clemson University — that drew nearly 20,000 signatures and the support of Clemson football alumni Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins.