Debating C.C. Little Past and Present at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

As an alum and retired science teacher, I agree that the C.C. Little Science Building should be renamed. Just the history of eugenics and the effect those practices had on women, minorities, and the mentally disabled warrants the renaming. It's time to retire building names that are associated with practices such as these that certainly do not uphold our "leaders and best" motto. Find a true leader in the field of science. Rename it.

As a historian of science, my stomach turns every time I enter the C.C. Little Building. Little was on the wrong side of so many issues. He left a pernicious legacy we are still struggling to overcome. UM has plenty of heroes to choose from.

We put up signs and start initiatives with platitudes about diversity, acceptance, and inclusion. What do those efforts mean if, at our fundamental core, we still celebrate Eugenics? If every time a person of color walks into a building they are forced to view this kind of bigotry as acceptable in campus life, what does that say about what we really value? How can we be the leaders and the best, yet we are still stuck in a horrid past! Move us forward!

In addition to long standing support for the eugenics movement, Little played an important role in establishing the use of paid scientific experts to undermine widespread consensus, helping to establish the "Merchants of Doubt" in service of the tobacco industry. The same methods are now creating global risks through climate denial. It is past time to rename this building to honor one of the many other remarkable figures from the University of Michigan's history.

The renaming of his building and others on campus should not require 10,000 signatures on a petition. If this university truly supported diversity, equity, and inclusion as they say they do, they would acknowledge the deep pain students of color feel everyday attending classes in these buildings, named after individuals that have oppressed them and their families for generations, and change them as soon as possible. WHEN this name is changed, it should be to a woman of color that has contributed to society or the university.

Do this for the future of this university

Laura Geneseo

I agree with the commenter proposing a monument for those involuntarily sterilized at UM. The university must be a self-reflective institution, and own up to its history instead of ignoring it. Thank you to the creators of this petition.

I strongly agree that removing the name without some highly visible text/plaque explaining why will do the opposite of what we intend. I would go further, and also advocate a prominent monument on campus in remembrance of those involuntarily sterilized at UM. Victor Vaughan. former Dean of the UM Med School, is no less a perpetrator than Little. And so was the "liberal" SCOTUS Justice Holmes and his (in)famous "three imbeciles" decision. Along with some other states, Michigan has offered some "compensation" to families of victims, but--by definition--it has had little meaning and been mostly too late. In any case, without knowing this history--racism as in white supremacy, race theory (not quite the same thing), and the way even "progressives" got caught up in these initiatives--we will not have taught anything just by removing a name. On the contrary, we will have disappeared this part of UM's past. I don't think we want to do that.

Our university should take a clear stance and disassociate itself from any eugenic thought!

Briana Sealey

Anuska Shrestha

Maybe don't memorialize eugenicists? Just a thought!

The University of Michigan stands for diversity, equity and inclusiveness and it's a key reason I'm proud to work at the university. Walking the talk means not honoring CC Little, given his racism, anti-immigrants stance and his active work promoting eugenics. Thank you to the authors of this petition for their thoughtful work.

The organizers of this petition present a careful, thoughtful analysis of C.C. Little's role at Michigan and his contributions to science. He never should have been memorialized in this way; correction of this mistake is overdue.

MA Sociology 1975 MA Statistics 1976

Mark Higbee, Ypsilanti, MI No university building should have a name that honors an active racist & eugenicist like CC Little. I applaud the UofM people who've created this petition, and the University for setting up a process to consider what it wishes, in this century, to honor on its campus. Every time I walk by the building, I am appalled. -- Mark Higbee, Professor of History, Eastern Michigan U.

Associate Professor of History, UC Riverside

This seriously shouldn't even be a debate

It is to honor, not degrade, the past and the present of the University of Michigan to revisit its values and commitments. When a thoughtful examination, such as the one that informs this petition, concludes the past commitments are inconsistent with our real values, it's necessary to make changes. We should teach and learn from the legacy of Little; our buildings should not bear his name.