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I Have To Post This

Lauren

Welcome to my hometown:

Get over what happened long ago

On Purdue renaming Butz Auditorium (J&C, July 30): It’s about time the black community gets over it. Earl Butz has contributed to Purdue University in more ways than most alumni. What a shame to take his name from a lecture hall named for him. I don’t hear any complaints from the black community when Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson make remarks about white people. I think it is time for blacks to forget about things that happened 30 years ago or longer and just try to get along with everyone.

Jon Sexson
Lafayette

In regards to the new Butz Auditorium to be named on campus (no puns please) and the contributor whose funds go to the production of this project. Not only was Butz a patent racist, but he was also convicted of tax evasion and only served thirty days of a five year sentence.

9 thoughts on I Have To Post This

  1. I am actually very impressed that Purdue was willing to listen to their students and rename the auditorium. I believe it was the right decision, and that they are setting an example for other universities who refuse to remove/rename certain aspects of their universities despite their offensive natures. What I’m thinking of in particular is the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and their “mascot” Chief Illiniwek. If you read up on Butz he’s a real prick, and if you believe that buildings and rooms should be names after people/entities that have left a positive legacy than he is so not deserving of the honor.

  3. “things that happened 30 years ago or longer”

    This guy is living in his own bubbled world if he thinks race issues aren’t still a reality. What a fucknut.

  4. Lauren, I grew up about twenty miles south of you — I wish I could say I was surprised by that letter, but I’d be lying.

    Leaving aside the preposterous notion that “thirty years ago” is ancient history and should be forgotten by now, I might point out that when I attended high school in rural Indiana, just fifteen years ago, I more than once heard teachers use racial slurs in front of my (all-white) class; had classmates who passed around photos of themselves wearing Klan robes; and witnessed two white teenagers go after a black kid with a baseball bat for having the temerity to date a white girl. The racism was widely prevalent and truly noxious, and I doubt it has changed much.

    On the other hand, good for Purdue, and may they rename the building for someone who, as Sydney says, has contributed a positive legacy to the university and the community.

  5. I’ve had similar experiences even within the last ten years, though none as obvious as what you’ve detailed. Most of my experiences range from the subtle to the outright bigoted, but not violent.

    And yes, good for Purdue. Unfortunately events like this bring out the bigots and the insensitive in the community, like the letter written above.

  6. This is crap. People, black and white alike, not only have the freedom, but also the responsibility to point out when any organization or entity, governmental or otherwise, is making a mockery of past racial, environmental or social struggles.

    Especially when these struggles are still taking place today. Nothing ended thirty years ago, it continues. The pursuits and struggles of years past should never be forgotton. If they think that because it’s in the past, we should all forgive and forget, then they have learned nothing. They have gained nothing. And the simple fact that this is taking place in an institution touting higher learning, is rediculous at best.

  7. really pathetic what institutions will sell out to when given grants, etc. I can see forgiving the founding fathers like jefferson for holding slaves, but 30 years does not excuse butz.

  8. Just to add onto Lauren and Jazzbird’s comments (not really directly related to the topic, but that’s okay), I actually experienced a fair amount of racial harassment (and occasional assault) while I was at Purdue between 1999 and 2004. I once went to one of the Associate Deans about it and he told me to “expect” to be treated that way everywhere I go, so there’s no point in getting upset about it. I ended up moving in with three white males, not just because they were my friends but because I knew it would provide me the best layer of protection after my first three years of school, and it did. There were many times after I moved in with them where questionable activities were about to occur but were chased away.

    No one ever wants to believe that their precious Purdue is still like this, but it is.

  9. Thanks for this, Lauren. I am doing a lesson plan for my class tonight on modern examples of racial controversies, and this is a good example that my students won’t be familiar with, being on the East Coast. I’m planning to use the Fighting Illini too, which will hit closer to home since we’re near the Washington Redskins as well!

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