Yale President Peter Salovey announced today that the university would retain the name of Calhoun College, one of 12 undergraduate residential colleges, to encourage the campus community to confront the history of slavery, and to teach that history and its legacy. He also announced that the university’s two new undergraduate residential colleges, slated to open in 2017, will be named for exemplary American leaders Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin, and that Yale will change the title of “master” to “head of college” in all of the residential colleges.
“We are a university whose motto is ‘light and truth.’ Our core mission is to educate and discover. These ideals guided our decisions. Through teaching and learning about the most troubling aspects of our past, our community will be better prepared to challenge their legacies,” Salovey said. “More than a decision about a name, we must focus on understanding the past and present, and preparing our students for the future.”
Read President Salovey’s message to the community
Related Information
Biography of Anna Pauline (Pauli) Murray, Yale 1965 J.S.D., 1979 Hon. D.Div.
Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Yale 1743 Hon. M.A.
Video: Yale Law School honors Pauli Murray at Alumni Weekend (2007)
New residential colleges information & video
About Yale’s residential college system
“Launching a Difficult Conversation”
President Peter Salovey, Freshman Address, August 29, 2015
“Yale’s Narrative, and Yours”
Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway, Freshman Address, August 29, 2015
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| Pauli Murray Image from Carolina Digital Library and Archives. “Murray, Pauli, 1910-1985.” Online image. UNC University Library. |
Bust of Benjamin Franklin On display at the Papers of Benjamin Franklin collection, Yale Sterling Memorial Library |
Construction site of new residential colleges | ||
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| Calhoun College |