University of Maryland president recommends changing name of Byrd Stadium
By Susan Svrluga and Ovetta Wiggins
December 7 at 10:32 PM
The president of the University of Maryland is recommending that Byrd Stadium be renamed, saying the segregationist legacy of the long-honored alumnus and former college leader does not align with the university’s mission ...
Loh’s decision comes after months of student complaints that Harry Clifton “Curley” Byrd, who was president of the state university from 1936 to 1954, barred black students from enrolling until forced to do so by court order. When Byrd ran for governor, he did so as an ardent advocate for segregation ...
Colin Byrd, a senior at Maryland, has led the most recent push to change the stadium’s name, for personal and historical reasons. He and his father, a 1978 alumnus, would not have been allowed to attend the school in Curley Byrd’s day. The Terrapins should not honor bigotry and racial discrimination, he has said. A coalition of groups including the campus’ Black Student Union, NAACP and several Greek organizations pushed the issue and were joined in April by the student government ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/12/07/university-of-maryland-president-recommends-changing-name-of-byrd-stadium-citing-legacy-of-racism/
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