The University of Alabama votes for new names for 2 buildings, bringing the total to 5

Following a unanimous vote on Friday, September 17 by The University of Alabama’s Board of Trustees, two buildings on UA’s campus will soon be renamed.

According to The Crimson White, the Ferguson Student Center will become the UA Student Center and A.B. Moore Hall will become Wade Hall. 

Why these two buildings?

Ferguson Hall was named after former University of Alabama trustee William Hill Ferguson, who opposed desegregation. Moore Hall was named after A.B. Moore, who served as executive director of the Civil War Centennial Commission in the state. 

Board of Trustee Chair John England told The Crimson White that though William Hill Ferguson was an involved student on UA’s campus, his racist views were at odds with the current views of the UA system. 

“We have been in contact with Mr. Ferguson’s family, a delightful group of individuals who I had the pleasure of getting to know. They recognize Mr. Ferguson’s past views are inconsistent with our system’s shared values and respect our recommendation to rename the building. Mr. Ferguson’s substantial contributions will be honored in a more appropriate way.”

John England, Chair, UA’s Board of Trustees

Along with the change of Ferguson Student Center, A.B. Moore Hall will be renamed to Archie Wade Hall.

In 1970, Archie Wade was UA’s very first African American faculty member. During his 30-year career in UA’s department of kinesiology, Wade became founding member of the Black Faculty and Staff Association as well as a driving force behind the integration of Denny Stadium. 

“This bold move, on his part, paved the way for the integration of minority faculty members across our system.”

John England, Chair, UA’s Board of Trustees

Wade currently still resides in Tuscaloosa. 

The decision to rename

During the surge of the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020, UA students led a call for change. Through protests and petitions, UA students urge for a change to academic buildings whose names held racist origins. 

Their voices were heard, which led to the formation of the Building Names Review Committee in June 2020. 

More name changes on UA’s campus

Since 2020, three other buildings have had names removed on UA’s campus since the formation of the Building Names Review Committee. Other buildings include:

• Morgan Hall to English Building
• Nott Hall to Honor Hall
• Manly Hall to Presidents Building

Stay tuned to The Bama Buzz while we follow this story.

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