Washington Post mocked for op-ed calling to rename George Washington University: 'Maybe rename the paper?'
Categories: US Education News
The author, identified as a senior at George Washington University, penned a piece on Monday arguing the school's actions last year renaming the student center that once honored segregationist Cloyd Heck Marvin don't go far enough, writing it "falls short in addressing the main issues of systemic racism and inequality still present on campus." "Racism has always been a problem at GW. At the university’s founding in 1821, enrollment was restricted to White men. In 1954, then-university president Marvin employed numerous efforts to preserve segregation, arguing for a ‘homogenous’ group of White students," the student wrote. "In 1987, Black students organized to demand more visibility in a predominantly Black city where Black students were outnumbered by huge majorities. Today, with Black enrollment at about 10 percent, Black students on campus continue to struggle for community. Despite alleged efforts by administration to enhance diversity, the admissions office continues to fail to ensure a student body with adequate minority representation." "An African American at the helm would reflect a new chapter in university politics. Such a decision would demonstrate the university’s commitment to strength through diversity and serve as a reflection of the university’s pledge to racial justice," he wrote, noting GW University has never had a Black president in its 200-year history.In addition to renaming the university, the student insisted its main campus, Mount Vernon Campus, needs to be stripped of its name since it's named after Washington's former slave plantation and that the Winston Churchill Library "must go" as well as the school's moniker, mascot and "Hail Thee George Washington" motto. "The work of this university to uplift the ideals of universal humanism and break its ties with white supremacy and systemic racism must be done with effort, dedication and painstaking excellence," he wrote."In better times, this kind of adolescent silliness was confined to campus, rather than being in the @WashingtonPost. Of course, in those times, the author would also have grown out of it. Now, the commanding heights share his views," Substack writer Kyle Orton tweeted."Maybe rename the paper before running this?" National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin suggested.