Dive Brief:
- Washington and Lee University President Kenneth Ruscio issued a written statement Tuesday calling the school’s ownership of slaves in the 1800s “a regrettable chapter in our history.”
- Ruscio also said that the school would remove Confederate flags from display in the Lee Chapel.
- The announcement is seen as a response to black law students who called the Lexington, VA, school unwelcoming to minorities and sought a series changes.
Dive Insight:
According to the Washington Post, the announcement was a surprising move because the college has a long history of celebrating its Southern heritage. While the media has portrayed Ruscio’s statement as an apology, it doesn’t come off as a full-fledged mea culpa. The Confederate flags won’t disappear entirely — some originals will be displayed on a rotating basis in the Lee Chapel museum. Also, Ruscio argues against taking Martin Luther King Jr. Day off. He doesn’t rule out the possibility, but his comments make him somewhat tone-deaf on the subject.