George Washington University Is Reconsidering ‘Colonial’ Moniker

George Washington University’s moniker may not be a Colonial for much longer.

On Monday, GW President Thomas LeBlanc announced in a letter that the school will be reviewing the moniker “Colonial,” after the Board of Trustees’ Naming Task Force concluded that the name “stood apart as an issue of great concern.”

The university is forming a committee specifically tasked with determining if the school should move forward with renaming efforts. Headed up by GW law professor and Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh, the committee will feature students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The letter also notes that this review does not mean that there’s a guarantee of a name change.

A spokesperson for the university told DCist over email that the review comes after “the Colonials moniker has been raised several times during recent years by students, including at recent community town halls held this spring.” The spokesperson declined to provide a concrete timeline for the review, instead saying that the “committee will be expected to work expeditiously.”