The time has now come to officially change the name of John C. Calhoun Community College.

John C. Calhoun was the 7 th U.S. Vice-President and former Senator of South Carolina who held a staunch pro-slavery position, had a strong influence on the secession of the South during the American Civil War, and steadied a rigid defense of oppressive Southern beliefs and practices. The school today is branded only as Calhoun Community College, but it only takes a quick click and a Google search to remind ourselves about its current namesake. With the current waves of social change sweeping the nation, Clemson University trustees in South Carolina have already voted to change the name of its honors college that was named after Calhoun. Following the wake of the precedent they’ve set, it is imperative that we petition Dr. Joe Burke and the Calhoun Foundation Board of Directors to officially change the name of this institution as well.

With the school’s student population currently 15% Black/African-American, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two Races or more, and 9% other who altogether make a minor 37%, the institution should not honor a man who, during his time, believed in rights for minorities in the Senate and politics but not in rights for minorities when it came to social change and human dignity. This does not honor and respect the students that attend the school in the way I know the school intends.

As an alumnus of Calhoun Community College, my time as a student there was positive. I learned from passionate professors and transitioned into a college environment that suited me perfectly. I gained valuable skills that helped me succeed as I sought a degree from a four-year university. I have become a teacher myself who consistently advocates for attendance at community colleges.

It is important that past, current, and future students of the college have a school in their community they can be proud to have chosen. It is important that we can continue to acknowledge the school for the great opportunities it provides as the largest of 24 institutions in the Alabama Community College System. Let us see to it that the changing of the school’s official name be yet another thing we can be proud of. 

In an effort to be part of the solution, here are some proposed options that include important figures from the North Alabama area and appropriately honor the legacy of our community:

• Mae Jemison Community College
• Sonnie Hereford IV Community College
• Jesse Owens Community College
• Rocket City Community College