Minnesota Regents Vote Against Changing Names of Buildings

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The University of Minnesota's governing board has rejected a
recommendation by the school president and a faculty task force to change the
names of four campus buildings named after controversial figures.

The Board of Regents voted 10-1 during an often heated meeting Friday to keep
the names and unanimously supported exploring permanent exhibits and educational
events in one or more of the buildings to acknowledge the former leaders'
complicated legacies.

Regent Abdul Omari was the lone dissenting vote.

President Eric Kaler and the faculty group want to change the names of Coffman
Memorial Union and three halls named after administrators who backed campus
segregation and spying on black and Jewish students.

Angry students and faculty often interjected during the meeting, calling for
more support for faculty from the governing board.