FSU to move the statue of the owner of the slaves, but not to take his name from the building

Florida State University will relocate a statue from the campus of a former slave owner and ask for permission to remove the name of a Supreme Court justice pro-segregation of property. 39, a law school building, announced Tuesday the president of the university, John Thrasher. Thrasher said in a letter to the FSU community, after reviewing the recommendations made by a group of students, professors and other people who reviewed the controversial names and commemorative monuments of the # 39; school.

"When we look around our beautiful campus, there is evidence of our rich heritage all around us, we can see it in the names of our buildings and the statues of our ancestors," Thrasher writes. our history is not without flaws, and some of the people who have contributed to the growth of this eminent institution are not left out, "he added. "How we choose to recognize that truth is important."

M. Thrasher has appointed a committee of 15 members last fall to review the names of academic buildings, statues and other memorials and review the process of designating future buildings. the committee recommended that the statue of Francis Eppes, a grandson of Thomas Jefferson and a former mayor of Tallahassee, be removed from his privileged position near the east entrance of the campus next to the main administrative building.

The committee's recommendation to move the statue of Eppes, which has only existed since 2002, to another location on the campus and to give more context to Eppes' past.

He said that his decision was based on the Committee's findings concerning Eppes. the role of a former owner of slaves and a justice of the peace who helped capture escaped slaves. Thrasher also agrees with the committee's conclusion that Eppes played an important role in the development of the institution that became FSU, describing it as the "founder" of the school was overestimated .

Thrasher decided to keep the name of Eppes College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, while adding a marker to more fully explain the biography of Eppes. The committee recommended renaming the building.

million. Thrasher concurred with the committee's recommendation to remove the name of B.K. Roberts from a law school, a change that will require the approval of the state legislature.

Thrasher, former Speaker and Solicitor of the House, cited Roberts' role as a member of the Florida Supreme Court in support of pro-segregationist views. the 1950s, including a decision defying an order of the US Supreme Court to admit a black student to the law faculty of the University of Florida

"Keeping the name of BK Roberts in law school "This honor is a painful reminder of the segregationist history of this state, and it is very offensive to many in our community, including many current FSU students who do not abide by the rules of the law. l & # 39; State. " They attended a forum to formally express their objections, "he added.

Thrasher said that Roberts' role in creating the law school and efforts to improve the justice system from Florida will be recognized Mr. Thrasher also stated that a set of principles recommended by the committee would be incorporated into the university procedure to name buildings, erect statues or otherwise honor supporters of the university. 39, school and the distinguished elders.