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Poll results

Like a growing number of schools, research institutions and businesses, the University of Maine this week tried to distance itself from a historical figure connected to racism. UMaine System trustees voted to strip the name of Clarence Cook Little Hall, a building on the Orono campus dedicated to the school's former president and an outspoken proponent of eugenics.

The Jackson Laboratory, in Bar Harbor, has taken a similar step; Little, a highly regarded biologist, founded the lab in 1929. The University of Michigan, where he also served as president, removed his name from a building two years ago.

While changes like these are intended to express disapproval for racism, they have also drawn criticism as "cancel culture" actions that cannot undo history.

In general, are institutions doing the right thing in removing the names of individuals connected to racism?
Yes, they're taking overdue steps to express disapproval for racist beliefs (44%, 52 VOTES)
No, they're often overreacting or merely trying to be politically correct (56%, 67 VOTES)
Poll Description

Like a growing number of schools, research institutions and businesses, the University of Maine this week tried to distance itself from a historical figure connected to racism. UMaine System trustees voted to strip the name of Clarence Cook Little Hall, a building on the Orono campus dedicated to the school's former president and an outspoken proponent of eugenics.

The Jackson Laboratory, in Bar Harbor, has taken a similar step; Little, a highly regarded biologist, founded the lab in 1929. The University of Michigan, where he also served as president, removed his name from a building two years ago.

While changes like these are intended to express disapproval for racism, they have also drawn criticism as "cancel culture" actions that cannot undo history.

  • 119 Votes
  • 7 Comments
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7 Comments

  • October 1, 2020

    Naming the building after Little was presumably recognition of his contributions to the field of biology and perhaps to the University and was unlikely an endorsement of his personal beliefs. Many of our most revered historical figures most assuredly had some unfavorable qualities. Let's not forget the darkest chapters in our history were written about the punishment of those with differing beliefs.

  • September 30, 2020

    I think it’s important to educate the public. It may be better to add an addendum rather than remove the name totally. Or, if the name is removed, then there should be a plaque explaining and educating the public as to why this happened And why it would be justified.

  • September 30, 2020

    Changing a building's name doesn't change the history. It's up to us to educate those about our mistakes and try to avoid them. It's not about being politically correct, it's about who our society honors. Buildings, roads, bridges, and other long lasting parts of our culture are named to honor the person's name given to the item. We should not be honoring people not worthy of it.

  • September 30, 2020

    Just because you take a name off of a building or tear down a statue doesn't change the past. Erasing the past only accomplishes erasing it, it doesn't mean it didn't happen. We should learn our true history, good and bad so we can learn from it. Sadly, I heard a statistic lately that says 70+% of millennials and GenXer's do not know about the Holocaust. Does this mean that this travesty didn't happen, of course not. So why are we not teaching kids about it? Rewriting history is wrong and very dangerous. We will never be one America until we all call ourselves Americans. Not Spanish or Asian or African Americans, we are all just Americans. Then we will be united. So stop with the them and us and use WE. Stop separating people based on skin color and just see people, just like us!! I am proud to be an American and would like to see everyone referred to as such.

  • Robert Feller
    September 30, 2020

    We are currently controlled by overly politically correct and identity driven politics instead of looking at the actual contributions of the individual[s] regardless of their political leanings. History is what history is and no amount of removal of someone's name from a building [extremely childish in my opinion] will ever change what has already happened. The culture in general needs to stop looking at everything as a victimization let the snowflakes that are offended go melt somewhere else.