Washington and Lee to keep its name

Washington and Lee University will maintain its name after a nearly yearlong review of whether to reconsider its linkage to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

The Board of Trustees announced that Friday as well as that there was no consensus regarding a name change. The board, acknowledging that having the university named after Lee can be painful for people who experience racism, voted 22-6 to keep the name. How each board member voted was not disclosed.

And at the same time, the board announced it would expand diversity and inclusion initiatives and a series of changes to campus buildings and symbols, practices and governance.

“We are confident that W&L will emerge stronger as a result of our active engagement on these issues, the work we have done together, and the actions and commitments we are taking,” the board said in its written statement. “We look forward to continuing to engage our community on these critical issues as we execute on our strategic plan in support of our mission.”

Read more: https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/washington-and-lee-to-keep-its-name/article_ab37ccfc-c546-11eb-829e-3368f7b12f37.html