University of Texas Weighs Whether to Rename Dorm Honoring a Klansman
University of Texas Weighs Whether to Rename Dorm Honoring a Klansman
ABC’s Xorje Olivares reports from New York:
As many begin to reflect upon Sen. Robert Byrd’s political legacy, some linger on certain aspects of the late senator’s past, namely his association with the Ku Klux Klan.
In 1942, at the age of 24, Byrd joined the extremist organization, which to this day advocates a nationalist agenda. After quickly rising to the top ranks of his local chapter, Byrd reportedly left the group after losing interest.
And while his association with the Klan may not have defined his reputation over the past 51 years, one Texas university is worried that another Klansman will define theirs.
Officials at the University of Texas at Austin are currently debating whether to rename an all-male dormitory dedicated to William Simkins, a former law professor and proud Klansman.