University of Wisconsin moves Chamberlin Rock, seen as symbol of racism

The University of Wisconsin removed a 70-ton boulder from its Madison campus at the behest of minority students who viewed the boulder – which has been called an insult to blacks – as a symbol of racism.

Chamberlin Rock atop Observatory Hill – named after Thomas Crowder Chamberlin, a 19th century geologist and former university president – was at least once referred to as an “n-head” rock in a 1925 Wisconsin article State Journal.

Minority students have complained that the rock represents a story of discrimination. The derogatory term was commonly used in the 1920s to describe any large dark rock.

University historians couldn’t find any other time the term was used, but said the Ku Klux Klan was active on campus at that time, according to the newspaper.

University Chancellor Rebecca Blank approved Chamberlin Rock’s removal in January, but the Wisconsin Historical Society had to approve because it was located within 15 feet of a Native American burial site.

The massive rock – a rare example of an erratic Precambrian-era ice block that experts say is probably over 2 billion years old – will be placed on university land southeast of Madison, near the lake Kegonsa, where it will continue to be used for educational purposes. purposes.

“Removing the rock as a monument in a prominent location avoids further harm to our community while preserving the rock’s educational research value for our current and future students,” said Gary Brown, director of campus planning and landscape architecture, in the Wisconsin State Journal.

The rock was transported by glaciers from as far north as Canada and dumped on Observatory Hill along with billions of tonnes of other debris when the ice receded from the state about 12,000 years ago.

It was previously estimated to weigh up to 70 tonnes, but an updated measurement shows it to weigh 42 tonnes.

The school plans to erect a plaque in Chamberlin Hall in honor of the former president of the university, according to school spokeswoman Meredith McGlone.

Last summer, the Black Student Union launched the call to remove the rock. On Friday morning, crews lifted him up with a crane and put him on a flatbed truck at an estimated cost of $ 50,000, which was covered by private donations.

Juliana Bennett, senior and campus representative to Madison City Council, said the rock removal was a small step towards a more inclusive campus.

“This moment concerns the students, past and present, who have advocated tirelessly for the removal of this racist monument,” she said. “Now is the time for all of us BIPOC students to breathe a sigh of relief, to be proud of our endurance and to begin to heal. “

Local resident Kenneth Owens said he was happy to see him go missing.

“It’s not the rock’s fault that he received this terrible and unfortunate nickname,” he said. “But the fact that he’s … out of place shows the world is getting a little better today.”

With post wires