Clemson drops pro-slavery Calhoun’s name from honors program

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Clemson will drop the name of slavery proponent John C. Calhoun from its honors college, university trustees announced Friday.

This morning, our Clemson Board of Trustees approved two important actions on the name of the Honors College and Tillman Hall.
— Clemson University (@ClemsonUniv) June 12, 2020

The honors college was named after Calhoun -- a slave owner and secessionist whose plantation became the university.

Nearly 20,000 people, including former football players DeShaun Watson and Deandre Hopkins signed a petition to change the name.

Possible deal in the works to remove Confederate statue from downtown Salisbury Possible deal in the works to remove Confederate statue from downtown Salisbury

The board is also requesting permission from the state legislature to rename an iconic campus building currently honoring “Pitchfork” Ben Tillman, the governor and U.S. senator who led a white mob that killed several black men at the end of Reconstruction.

Trustees cited the recent death of Minneapolis man George Floyd as an impetus for the renaming.