The battle over the name of Forrest Hall at Middle Tennessee State University rattles on as the Tennessee Historical Commission has rejected a proposal to rename the building for the second time. Named after Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was also the Ku Klux Klan's first grand wizard, the ROTC hall's moniker continues to stir discontent among the university community. MTSU has been pursuing a name change since 2015, but their latest attempt was thwarted by an 11-6 vote, as reported by WKRN.
Following the decision, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee expressed that the name is "inappropriate for such display on our campus and that he is best remembered and evaluated in our classrooms and the University’s archives," a sentiment he shared in an official MTSU release. Meanwhile, disheartened by the recent vote, the school's student government president, Michai Mosby, emphasized the impact of the building's name on the student body. Mosby believes, "What this building signifies is that we are okay with having a slave trader being a figment on our campus," he told WKRN.
Arguments during the hearing emphasized the opposing views on General Forrest's legacy. Lee Millar, a representative from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, described Forrest as a hero and an inspirational figure, according to MTSU Sidelines. However, Dr. Kyriakoudes, Director of the Albert Gore Research Center, and MTSU’s expert witness at the hearing, maintained that Forrest’s values do not align with the university, the same source reports.
Forrest Hall, built in 1954 and officially named in 1958, contains ties to Middle Tennessee due to Forrest's supposed military brilliance—a reason cited by defenders of the name. Yet, MTSU leadership has proposed relocating Forrest’s memorabilia to the Al Gore Center, where historical artifacts are placed for educational purposes, a plan outlined by Mosby in an interview with News Nation.
The sentiment of resilience echoes through the student body, with students and faculty galvanized by the latest setback. “This is not the end of our efforts but rather a call to action to intensify them,” Mosby said, as obtained by MTSU Sidelines, echoing President McPhee's frustrations, as they both underscore their commitment to change. The name, for the time being, remains unchanged. But, as the tides of student dissent keep pushing against the historical commission's decision, it seems this is not the last we've heard of the controversy surrounding Forrest Hall at Middle Tennessee State University.
