UPDATE: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has responded to our request for reaction to a local man's petition to change the names of three UL buildings.
Here's what the school has to say:
"The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is conducting a historical and scholarly assessment of campus building names. Historically, buildings on the campus of UL Lafayette were named for people or families who made significant contributions to the University. Buildings are also named to commemorate people whose achievements espouse the University’s values, ideals, and academic mission, and whose commitment to success embodies the University’s commitment to its students, faculty and staff members."
As we reported earlier, a Lafayette man has started a petition aimed at changing the names on some buildings at UL.
"Images and symbols of racism and white supremacy have no place in our Lafayette community, and only serve as symbols of hate and and a reminder of violence against POC. It is time for UL Lafayette to take a greater stand against systemic racism than simply posting on social media in support of the BLM movement by removing the names of white supremacists from our campus buildings," Paul Richard writes on his Change.Org petition.
Richard's petition, which so far has 593 signatures, names three buildings in particular:
"Mouton Hall: named after Alexandre Mouton, 9th governor of Louisiana, financial supporter of the Confederacy, and father of General Alfred Mouton," the petition states.
"DeClouet Hall: named after Paul DeClouet, prominent Louisiana state legislator, sergeant in the confederacy," the petition states.
"Foster Hall: named after Murphy Foster, 31st governor of Louisiana, supported the disenfranchisement of black Americans in Louisiana," the petition states.
In addition to requesting signatures, Richard also asks supporters to send a message to the SGA via an online form. His petition also suggests that there are other buildings that should be re-named.
