1997 February
February, 1997
Catt Hall sparks controversy
SU President Martin Jischke says he will not support a campus
group's efforts to rename Carrie Chapman Catt Hall. In the fall of
1995, a newly renovated Botany Hall was renamed Catt Hall in honor
of the ISU alumna who led the successful campaign to give American
women the vote.
In the ensuing months, a campus group called the September 29th
Movement has led a campaign to revoke the name. Movement leaders
say Catt does not deserve the honor because she used racist and
xenophobic arguments in the campaign to secure the vote for women.
Catt supporters disagree, maintaining that Catt fought a move to
exclude black women from the vote and worked for world peace.
The campus debate has resulted in several forums, protest rallies by the September 29th Movement and media attention. Jischke said his readings on Catt have led him to conclude that "her motives were honorable, she was not a racist and her accomplishments are worthy of recognition."
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Revised: February 1997