For at least the past nine years, the MTSU community has repeatedly pleaded to change the name of the Reserve Officer Training Corps Building on its campus.

It’s named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a slave trader, Confederate Army general, and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

MTSU has now filed its second petition for waiver to the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) to be given the right to rename Forrest Hall, as a 2013 state law gives the THC the exclusive right to rename any “public monument relating to a ‘historical conflict.’” The THC will consider the petition on April 26th

The last time MTSU administration filed a petition for waiver, the THC denied its request, arguing “that Petitioners failed to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that a material or substantial need for a waiver based on historical or other compelling public interest exists.”

MTSU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America condemn white supremacy and the glorification of its prominent advocates. Motivated by this principle, we want to ensure that the THC has no excuse to reason that a “compelling public interest” does not exist for changing the name of Forrest Hall.

If you’re an MTSU community member, and if you don’t want to see your university glorify a slave trader, Confederate general, and the first Grand Wizard of the KKK, we ask you to do a few things:

1. SIGN THIS PETITION!!!!!!

2. Share the link to this petition with at least three of your friends at MTSU.

3. When they open up registration, sign up to make an in-person or written public comment at the meeting on April 26th. It’s taking place in the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower (312 Rosa L. Parks Ave. Nashville, TN 37243) at 9 A.M.