A committee of Rhodes College trustees, alumni, faculty, students, and friends of the college will begin meeting this fall to consider whether to change or retain the name of Palmer Hall.
“Like many other colleges, Rhodes is prepared to grapple with its own history. I appreciate the inclusive process the board has established,” President Marjorie Hass says.
Last spring, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution approving a policy and principles regarding contested building names.
Rhodes Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Cary Fowler ’71 has asked former board chairman Bill Michaelcheck ’69 and trustee Meri Armour, to co-chair the committee. Michaelcheck is the founder, current chairman, and CIO of Mariner Investment Group, and Armour is president and CEO of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. The newly formed committee will use the principles adopted by the board to guide the process.
“The naming principals adopted by the board are in keeping with the best traditions and values of Rhodes College. I appreciate Meri and Bill agreeing to lead this committee through the discernment process,” Fowler says.
The formation of this committee is the next step in an ongoing process. President Bill Troutt formed a campus committee in the spring of 2017 charged with making an initial review of Benjamin Palmer’s legacy. The Board of Trustees expanded that work last fall, charging a committee with establishing principles for making decisions about contested names.
The Palmer Hall Discernment Committee will forward its recommendation to the Board of Trustees within the year. The board governs all naming decisions.
Committee Members:
Meri Armour, co-chair, Board of Trustees
Bill Michaelcheck ’69, co-chair, former Chair of the Board of Trustees
Johnny Moore ’88, former member Board of Trustees
Stratton Bull ’74, Board of Trustees
Beth Simpson ’58, alumni representative
Chris Cardwell ’94, alumni representative
Prof. Terry Hill, faculty representative, Biology Department
Prof. Esen Kirdis, faculty representative, International Studies Department
Maggie Palopoli ’20, student representative
Tony Eskridge ’20, student representative
Milton Moreland, Provost, will be serving as an administrative convener for the committee this year