Whereas the Virginia Community College System Governing Board in Richmond, VA mandated the board of Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA to change the name of the school;

Whereas the LFCC board has voted to change the name of LFCC without adequate input from local residents, former students, local governing bodies, and other stakeholders;

And whereas the LFCC board has chosen a name that has virtually no significance to its local constituency,

We,  the undersigned, respectfully ask the following things: 1. That the board either does not approve the name change to Laurel Ridge Community College pending a more inclusive naming procress, including going through steps to put a local referendum to ballot, or 2. Reaffirms the name Lord Fairfax Community College due to the consideration of the material facts that Thomas, Lord Fairfax 9 (1762-1846) manumitted all the slaves held by the Fairfax family at a time when the popular national attitude was pro-slavery, paid for their education, and paid for passage to Liberia if requested. Lord Fairfax 9 was a social justice warrior before it was ever a concept and deserves to be remembered. We propose the college be rededicated to him because he upheld the American Constitutional ideals of liberty and equality. At the same time, the college does not break faith with its constituency.  Many students who attended were the first people in their families to attend college (as there was a dearth of affordable secondary education in the area prior to its start in 1970). Careers have been built, further education been sought, and lives materially changed for the better due to LFCC. Lord Fairfax 9 is a more worthy namesake than the current namesake, Lord Fairfax 6.  A rededication to Lord Fairfax 9 allows former graduates to retain their identities as graduates of LFCC, while celebrating an unprecedented example of early social justice.

Respectfully, we are: