California s oldest law school to scrub founder s name over ties to Native American killings | The College Fix
Leaders of UC Hastings College of the Law recently voted to remove the name of its founder, citing his links to the killings of Native Americans in the 1850s.
The law school, the oldest in California, was founded in 1878 by Serranus Clinton Hastings, who board leaders say perpetrated genocidal acts against Native Californians.
It is time to change the name of the law school, prominent alumnus Joseph Cotchett told The College Fix in an interview.
&I clearly think, and I ve talked to many many alumni, both judges and lawyers, that are absolutely delighted that we are changing the name, he said. Because look, we re living in a time now when you can t recognize and promote someone that did the atrocities that were done.
If Hastings did actually foment genocide then he should not have a law school named after him, unless of course he endowed it on the condition that it bear his name. But what are these accusations and are they true? Even if he is just a dead white male, one wants to be fair.