Cabrillo College Renaming Exploration Events

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4 years ago

In July 2020, Cabrillo College received a request consider renaming the college in response to widespread social unrest in the United States and critical analysis of the namesake of the college, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.

The request came at an important historical moment, with many in society beginning to question the historical legacy of slavery, colonial exploitation, and the naming of institutions after individuals with historical ties to those immoral practices.

Cabrillo College is not alone. Other institutions of higher education like Yale, Princeton, University of California at Berkeley, and George Washington University are and have been struggling with the same issues: who and how they were named, what names are appropriate for college buildings, and what impact can the legacy of a name have on students who are served by our institutions.

The Cabrillo College Governing Board’s Name Change Exploration Subcommittee established a process to assist the board with its decision of reviewing and potentially renaming the college.

The subcommittee, established by the board on July 20, is composed of Trustees Christina Cuevas (chair) and Adam Spickler, and student Trustee Amidia Frederick. In September, the subcommittee called for the creation of a Name Exploration Advisory Task Force to help the subcommittee solicit widespread community stakeholder input; develop community education and engagement strategies; and examine the costs and resource implications of changing the college’s name.

Appointments to the Advisory Task Force included a faculty member, classified staff member, management representative, student members, Cabrillo College retirees, and a representative of the Cabrillo College Foundation. In the fall, the Advisory Task Force met several times, reviewing naming principles and guidelines from other institutions.

Throughout November, the Advisory Task Force reviewed guiding principles developed at colleges that undertook a name change consideration process, then compiled a list of thoughtful guiding principles recommended to the Name Exploration Subcommittee in determining whether the name of the college should be changed or not.

The Advisory Task Force recommends that decisions related to renaming the college or campus facilities should be undertaken in exceptional circumstances, where reasons are substantive and are justified through a comprehensive and inclusive community vetting process.

The process should consider the impact of renaming on the communities the college serves and should acknowledge and assess the complexity of the relevant history and historical context. It should be centered on a research-based approach that distinguishes fact from opinion and should protect free and open inquiry.

Mission and Values

The college should align the processes and actions for considering a name change with its mission and vision, including:

° Empowering students to be responsible world citizens
° Promoting a commitment to quality and equity
° Fostering diversity and equal opportunity

Emphasize historically underrepresented and emerging student populations and maintain responsibility to serving a diverse group of students as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Approach

Maintain an education-driven process that centers on faculty and students, and strives to educate the internal campus community as well as the broader community within the entire district.
Undertake the work with intellectual rigor and compassion for the individuals who will be affected by the decisions of the change requested.
The process should be transparent and encourage the free exchange of ideas during all deliberations.
Consider the benefits and/or harms of how a decision to keep or to change the name of the college might impact the college’s reputation, student enrollment, employee/faculty hiring, donor contributions, while acknowledging that differences may arise.
Model the behaviors of listening, truth-seeking and respect.
Be committed to finding and highlighting the shared values at the core of all perspectives.
Demonstrate a commitment to equity by guarding against any stakeholder group using their influence to overpower the viewpoints of other stakeholder groups.
Strive for consensus wherever possible and to rise above opinion-based or shortsighted positions.

The community is invited to listen to the discussion at a series of events this spring.

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The Dates
Thursdays at 6 p.m. via Zoom
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