In response to a recent Diverse blog by Dr. Ibram Rogers, I would like to elaborate on the recent decision by The University of Texas System Board of Regents to change the name of Simkins Residence Hall at The University of Texas at Austin. Rogers wrote that the move to erase Simkins name from the residence hall was admirable. However, it was clear in the blog that he is not aware of the commitment this university has to diversity.
Under the leadership of President William Powers Jr., the university has made significant progress in creating a more welcoming, a more intellectually and culturally diverse campus, which is one of his four strategic priorities. It is Powers’ goal that the university reflects Texas’ diverse population.
When the residence hall named for former UT law professor William S. Simkins became a focus of conversation in the community in early May after an article by Thomas Russell was published by Social Science Research Network, Powers asked that I convene an advisory group to examine the issue and make recommendations to him. Powers could have made a decision on his own but he felt it imperative to gather input from a diverse group of faculty, staff, student, alumni and community representatives.
To some observers, it seemed the process was unnecessary. Russell had brought up details regarding Simkins’ Klan involvement and many commented that we should change the name. However, process matters, especially at UT where we value ideas and history. And, indeed, we heard from a number of alumni, students and community members that considered changing the name as whitewashing history. Those who felt this way included several African-American alumni who believed the name should remain as a reminder to all of the struggles of African-Americans endured to integrate the University of Texas.
Another factor that influenced the way we went about the renaming process was that the residence hall had been named through a sanctioned process that was in place in the 1950s. We believed that going through the process that is presently in place for renaming buildings was the correct course to take.
In May 1954, the Faculty Council had voted the all-male residence hall being built next to the law school should be named for Simkins. The hall was to house only law and graduate students.
Former law school Dean W. Page Keeton, who graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1931, suggested naming the dorm for Simkins. Keeton was a fan of Simkins, who had been a popular professor among the largely White male student body of that time. There is no evidence, that as Rogers wrote, UT leaders named the residence hall in defiance of the 1954 Brown ruling. Russell posed the idea in his paper, but more research is needed to determine the veracity of that position. Longtime law professor Sanford Levinson believes Keeton only wanted to honor Simkins who taught for 30 years, published six textbooks and began a number of traditions in the UT Law School.
