Statues? What Statues?
The University of Texas' ongoing battle against homogeny continues next semester with the decision of university president
William Powers to create an advisory committee in order to tackle the controversy of the
South Mall statues of Confederate icons, an issue that has plagued the college community for years. The
Statesman reminded us
yesterday that this is a debate that will surely hang around for sometime, until
something is done.
The South Mall is the most iconic area on campus, popular with students for its plush grass and post-adolescent, idealistic feel and frequented by tourists because of great views of both the Tower and the Capitol. If you haven't been there lately, the lawn is framed by seven statues, most with links to the South:
- Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States
- Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S.
- Albert Sidney Johnston, General of the Confederate Army
- James Stephen Hogg, First Native Governor of Texas
- Robert E. Lee, Chief General of the Confederate Military
- John H. Reagan, Postmaster General of the Confederate States
- George Washington, Cherry Tree Lumberjack
Even the Littlefield Fountain, just south of the mall has an inscription reading, "To the men and women of the Confederacy who fought with valor and suffered with fortitude that states rights be maintained."
"Links to the OLD South..."
