<p>[Univ</a>. of Texas to mull taking Klansman off dorm - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100714/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_dorm_kkk]Univ”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100714/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_dorm_kkk)</p>
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<p>My opinion is to leave Simkins alone! Just like the second quote said, of course there are plenty of people in history that we honor who were racists and even owned slaves. Lincoln, correct? I think it’s silly to rename it now. </p>
<p>One day, somebody’s going to complain about the White House and wonder why it isn’t the Black House. Long ago, it was named that. It would be a little late to change that too. :/</p>
<p>On a second note, this is atm just about buildings. ‘‘Not changing’’ is just towards that. I’m not talking about racism in society today; totally against, but we shouldn’t blind ourselves by etching out every racist’s name on a plaque or building. It is what it is at this point in time.</p>
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It is hard for me to understand why people want to continue to honor him with a UT dormitory named after him. I don’t know my Texas history, but I bet there is a more worthy Texan to name that dorm for - perhaps someone who taught law for 30 years who wasn’t a Klan organizer.</p>
<p>thats like saying you should name a dorm after hitler in a military academy because of his achievements and ignore the fact that he was a big racist too. just sayin :P</p>
<p>@the guy with the white house comment, the white house is called the white house because it is a white colored house. if they decided to paint it black, then it would be called the black house.</p>
<p>There were a lot of racists back in the day and it would be wrong to condone a person’s accomplishments due to his affiliations with groups that have grown to depict a negative and racist image. He is honored for his work in Texas, not his work with the KKK or his personal opinion on civil rights. He is not a criminal either, just a person who went through a time when the KKK were wrapped into the culture of a caucasian America.</p>
<p>With that said, it would be difficult to keep honoring someone who you know had intentions to hurt innocent individuals.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t know all his accomplishments so I couldn’t judge him. But, if someone found the cure for cancer, and was a violent racist— I don’t think their greater contribution should be disregarded, but nor their flaws.</p>
<p>I think he hit the spot:
“(If) a perfect character record is a requisite for honoring an individual then our campus would likely be composed of nameless buildings.”</p>
<p>They should change the name, nothing wrong about it. Honoring him with this dorm is like saying its okay do be racist as long as you do a little good.</p>
<p>I don’t think they should change the name. By naming the dorm after him, they are honoring his achievements, not necessarily his racism. Just my opinion it though.</p>
<p>When they remove the sign from the building, they should burn it at the stake. No doubt, take his name off the building. No place for his views and past on campus</p>
<p>Renaming things is just confusing. We can get into a whole “Jefferson owned slaves… blah blah” discussion, but it doesn’t matter. Once a name is chosen, stick with it. It was named for a person with some accomplishments. Who cares what else he did, it’s not the point.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t see what the researcher’s point was to uncover the “truth” behind Simkins and to publish it. All it caused was controversy. But nontheless, it is a major topic that the university needs to address now. I am all for history by keeping the name Simkins. Unfortunantly, once it gets to become a national topic, it needs to be a addressed. I don’t see the name Simkins being around much longer. Sooner or later they will be going after old confederate names on signs such as Robert E. Lee Road. Hey maybe in the distant future they will be going after names whom were associated with driving a gasoline truck because they were poisioning the earth. Back then it wasn’t that uncommon to be racist. I didn’t know the man or anything but I would think that that part of his life was a blip compared to his contributions to the university. These things are better left in the past, but like I said earlier this is now a major issue and it needs to be addressed.</p>
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<p>Hitler wasn’t much of a military genius at all… his generals were master minds and he was just a cancer. He pretty much ruined Germany’s chances of winning the war by attacking Poland when France and Britain were neutral but said they would goto to war with Germany if it happened. Not to mention that he broke the treaty with Russia and also declared war on the United States. I can go on for days about other more specific reasons… I think what you meant to say is removing the name of a miltary general such as General Georgy Zhukov whom was a pretty controversial figure but is still honored by the Russians as being the most decorated general in the history of both Russia and the Soviet Union.</p>
<p>Back then it wasn’t abnormal to be racist. Even many abolitionists were racist - they were simply against the idea of slavery. It was a rare, rare person back then that advocated equal rights, judgment, and standing; people just weren’t educated back then about equality and tolerance to the degree they are today.</p>
<p>You have to look at the time period and the culture of that era. I mean, if Simkins were a law professor ~-<em>today</em>-~ that advocated stopping the “darkies,” then rip his name off that building, it really doesn’t belong there.</p>
<p>The simple fact is this: Now that they have discovered his past and it is public, they will change the name. Whether it is right or wrong doesn’t matter, it is politics now.</p>
<p>I agree, QueenofEverythin. I knew about Simkins’ affiliation with the KKK back when I was a freshman at UT in 1982. It was not a big secret. When I entered law school, his legal accomplishments were discussed and he was considered an extremely gifted lawyer and legal scholar. </p>
<p>Now that this issue has become a political hot potato, his legal legacy will fall by the wayside. That’s a shame. </p>
<p>What’s interesting is that there are others who helped to form UT and contributed a great deal of money that were Confederate officers such as George Littlefield. This could become a slippery slope.</p>
<p>The UT Board of Regents officially changed the name of Simkins Hall and the adjoining park to Creekside Hall/park.</p>
<p>[Austin</a> news, sports, weather, Longhorns, business | Statesman.com](<a href=“http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/highereducation/entries/2010/07/15/ut_regents_approve_renaming_do.html?srcTrk=RTR_729919]Austin”>http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/highereducation/entries/2010/07/15/ut_regents_approve_renaming_do.html?srcTrk=RTR_729919)</p>
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I couldn’t agree more.</p>
<p>As of today, the dorm is officially renamed Creekside dormitory. Other statues of confederate soldiers may soon be discussed as well, such as the Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee statues in the main mall.</p>
<p>It really is a shame. I saw a news crew there while I was on the bus going to class. Many buildings around Texas were named after racist men. This is the biggest southern state, what do you expect - at least from back then? I strongly disagree in keeping any continuity in renaming historical buildings.</p>
<p>Im Glad they handled this situation.</p>
<p>I too am glad that they handled this situation. Its unfortunant that it had to become a situation in the first place…</p>