After Princeton University refused to name themselves after Paul Tulane despite his generous donation offer, Tulane set his attention on the small medical college, University of Louisiana. Recently reopened after the Civil War, the school was on the brink of bankruptcy, and wealthy real-estate investor Paul Tulane sought to preserve his legacy. Tulane donated more than a million dollars to the school for the “intellectual, moral, and industrial education of white young persons.” He worked with Confederate General and Congressperson Randall Lee Gibson to turn the university into a private institution named "Tulane University of Louisiana."

Prior, Paul Tulane engaged in other philanthropic behavior. A vehement anti-abolitionist, Tulane donated more than other New Orleans citizen to the Confederacy. He also used his wealth to establish Confederate monuments across the city, honoring those who sought to preserve the enslavement of Black Americans. Simply put, Tulane was a despicable human who founded the university with the intention of creating an all-white school. Continuing to bear his name is a direct insult to the minorities that make-up Tulane’s students and faculty. It sends the message the administration cares more about the costs of rebranding themselves than the humanity of many who make up the school. 

It is time for students, faculty, and the administration to take action and advocate for the renaming of Tulane University. 

But isn’t everyone back then racist by today’s standards?

Paul Tulane was not a mere product of his time; he was an active advocate who advanced the racist and white supremacists roots in America’s past. Our society may celebrate some historical figures in spite of their participation in immoral institutions, but by branding themselves through his name, Paul Tulane is honored for revitalizing a college into an explicitly white-only university. 

Tulane would never rename themselves, It would cost too much money.

Schools, cities, corporations, and countries around the world have changed their names; no institution is beyond renaming. In fact, the school has already changed its name twice since its founding.  

The serious financial interests the university has in keeping its name is why we should fight for its change. If there were no financial interests, there wouldn’t be any hard decision to be made, and we wouldn’t need this petition. Changing its name sends the message the school cares about racial justice because of the financial costs, not in spite of them.

As sensibilities continue to change, we believe the question is not if the university will change their name, but when. The sooner we fight for it, the sooner Tulane’s efforts to become inclusive become genuine. 

You’re trying to erase history.

Tulane’s website recounts the founder’s intention of creating the college "for the promotion and encouragement of intellectual, moral and industrial education." If they finished the quote, it would have read that the university was created “for the promotion and encouragement of intellectual, moral and industrial education of white young persons.”

By branding themselves with the name of a white nationalist, Tulane cannot properly address the ugly details of its founding. The school is forced to hide from them, for publicizing the truth about Paul Tulane without taking action would severely hurt their image and alienate minorities. Changing the name would allow the school to come to terms with its history with evidence they properly addressed the past.

Sources:

www.neworleanshistorical.org/items/show/1183​

www.nola.com/news/politics/article_2bf1ac4c-e26b-11ea-b9b7-47d7092466e4.html​

www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/tulanepast_box.htm​

www.thetab.com/us/tulane/2016/12/13/paul-tulane-confederacy-2243​

www.tulane.edu​

www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=4859