Review of Building and Structure Names at IUPUI

Continuing IUPUI’s work of being a welcoming and inclusive campus

In July 2020, Chancellor Nasser H. Paydar appointed a campus-wide committee titled the IUPUI Committee on the Review of Building and Structure Names. The purpose of this committee is to assist the IUPUI campus in researching and analyzing information about our named buildings and structures for the purpose of ensuring that those for whom such entities are named reflect the values held by the IUPUI campus community.

IUPUI’s strategic plan calls for us to “develop and maintain an unapologetically equitable and inclusive campus culture that ensures the academic and professional success of historically minoritized and marginalized students, staff, and faculty, and actively promote the benefits of such a culture.” While considerable strides have been made toward this goal—through efforts such as the Welcoming Campus Initiative and programs led by the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office for Women—there is considerably more work to do. Engaging in a review of IUPUI’s named buildings and structures is a natural, appropriate evolution of this work.

  1. Identify named buildings and structures at IUPUI;
  2. Develop plans for broad, transparent public input/feedback into the review process, including through a website and Town Hall meeting (watch the Town Hall recording);
  3. Research and analyze the individual(s) for whom entities are named, ensuring they reflect values held by the IUPUI campus community;
  4. Use various IU and IUPUI policies and documents to inform the review process; and
  5. Submit reports documenting the review process and outlining recommendations and provide updates to the IUPUI campus community on its findings.

Logistics

Committee Co-Chairs

  • Karen Dace, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Professor of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts
  • Stephen Hundley, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Planning and Institutional Improvement; and Professor of Organizational Leadership, School of Engineering and Technology

Committee Members

  • Rafael Bahamonde, Founding Dean and Professor, School of Health & Human Sciences
  • Christina Eggenberger, Director of Campus Programming, Graduate and Professional Student Government
  • Gina Sánchez Gibau, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Academic Affairs; and Associate Professor of Anthropology, School of Liberal Arts
  • Kathy Grove, Director, Office for Women
  • Sha-Nel Henderson, President, Black Student Union
  • Crystal Jones, Director of Development, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
  • Khadija Khaja, Associate Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work
  • Mari Luna, President, Undergraduate Student Government
  • Willie Miller, Associate Dean for Communication and Technology, IUPUI University Library
  • Monica Medina, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Education
  • Paul Mullins, Professor of Anthropology, School of Liberal Arts
  • Jeff Plawecki, Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Facility Services, Division of Finance and Administration
  • Kylee Sutton, Director of Administration, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute
  • Stephen Towne, Associate University Archivist, IUPUI University Library
  • Matthew Treadwell, Gift Planning Attorney, IU Foundation
  • Regina Turner, Associate Faculty, University College, Division of Undergraduate Education; and Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts
  • Eric Weldy, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
  • Marianne Wokeck, President, IUPUI Senior Academy; and Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus of History, School of Liberal Arts

Ex Officio Committee Members and Liaisons to Other IU Committees

  • James Capshew, University Historian and Professor of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine, The College of Arts and Sciences, IU Bloomington
  • Kelly Kish, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Indiana University

Committee Support

  • Linda Durr, Administrative Assistant, Planning and Institutional Improvement
  • Shirley Yorger, Senior Administrative Secretary, Planning and Institutional Improvement

MonthPlanned Activities
July 2020
  • Committee formed and letters of appointment sent to committee members
August 2020
  • Initial committee meeting held, including charge by Chancellor Paydar
  • Discussion with James Capshew and Kelly Kish, ex officio members, and liaisons to other IU committees
  • Review of IU policies and specific questions guiding scope of work and planning for specific tasks to be undertaken by subcommittees
September 2020
  • Inventory and initial review of named buildings and structures at IUPUI
  • Finalize committee working structure, form subcommittees, and prepare for approaches to gather input/receive feedback from IUPUI community
  • Develop web presence, to be hosted on the Office of the Chancellor’s website, to explain committee purpose/scope and provide electronic venue for input/feedback from IUPUI community
October 2020
  • Research and analysis work by subcommittees
November 2020
  • Research and analysis work by subcommittees
  • Develop interim report
December 2020
  • Submit interim report for AY 2020-21 to Chancellor Paydar and President McRobbie
  • Provide updates to IUPUI Community (Council of Deans, IFC, Staff Council, Board of Advisors, USG/GPSG, etc.)
January 2021
  • Research and analysis work by subcommittees
February 2021
  • Spring Semester Town Hall meeting held to update campus community and seek input/feedback on work
  • Research and analysis work by subcommittees
March 2021
  • Research and analysis work by subcommittees
  • Develop final report
April 2021
  • Submit final report for AY 2020-21 to Chancellor Paydar and President McRobbie
  • Provide updates to IUPUI Community (Council of Deans, IFC, Staff Council, Board of Advisors, USG/GPSG, etc.)
Future
  • As determined by Chancellor Paydar, continue committee engagement in order to complete or update scope of work related to a review of IUPUI building and structure names

The IU Policy on Institutional Naming (UA-06) governs our consideration of this review. In cases where questions arise about individuals who may have possessed values inimical to the fundamental values of the university, the standard of evaluation should reference established Indiana University statements of values, including, but not limited to:

  1. IU Mission, Core Values, and Vision Statements as approved by the IU Board of Trustees in 2014
  2. IU Policy on Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
  3. IU Policy on Academic Freedom
  4. IU Policy on Institutional Naming
  5. Campus mission statements, values statements, and additional references as needed for local contextual consideration.

  1. Who was this individual? Basic biographical information including birth, death, family history.
  2. What was their IU connection? Professional years of service and titles; alumni degrees.
  3. What are the known professional achievements and/or connections to the specific facility?
  4. Are there any clearly known IU associates?
  5. Is there any indication that this individual officially, publicly, and/or systematically held values inimical to the values of IU?
  6. Why was the facility named for this person? Who named the facility for this person? What were the institutional naming standards at that time? What were the university’s published values when the building was named? Is there a mission statement from that time that alludes to IU’s values?
  7. Was there a Trustee resolution connected to the naming approval? What does it say?
  8. What were the person’s financial ties to the university? Was he/she a donor? Was this considered when the facility was named?
  9. Is there evidence that the individual’s private opinions and values influenced or interfered with their role at IU or with the educational mission of IU? Was this someone who merely held such values privately or also acted on them?
  10. What were the prevailing and relevant historical contexts of his/her life and times? Was he/she a product of their time? Was he/she ahead or behind their time?
  11. Is there a transcript or other records related to the dedication of the building or the ceremony?
  12. Is there any evidence that the person recanted or changed his/her views at any point?
  13. Would a building be named for this person today?

Have feedback or input for the committee?

Please email Committee Co-Chairs Vice Chancellor Karen Dace at kdace@iupui.edu and Stephen Hundley at shundley@iupui.edu.