AUSTIN, Texas – University of Texas regents agreed Thursday to strip the name of a former law school professor and early organizer of the Ku Klux Klan from a campus dormitory.
The dorm named after William Stewart Simkins will now be known as Creekside Residence Hall. The two-story brick building was constructed in the 1950s near Waller Creek.
The unanimous vote came after a motion from regent Printice Gary, who is African-American, to make the change.
“From time to time we are reminded of ugly periods in our nation’s history regarding civil rights,” Gary said. “The history behind the name is not in line with today’s University of Texas and its core values.”
Simkins, who was a Confederate colonel, helped organize the Klan in Florida after the Civil War. He taught law at Texas from 1899-1929 and gave speeches and wrote papers promoting the Klan and terrorizing blacks.
Regents also voted to change the name of Simkins Park, a small green space next to the dorm that had been named after Simkins’ brother, Eldred Simkins, who also was involved with the Klan and served on the university board from 1882-1896.
Dr. Gregory Vincent, Texas vice president for diversity and community engagement, said the Simkins Hall sign outside the building would likely be removed by the end of Friday.
