By [email protected]

Having learned about the petition by the InPDUM to remove the statue of Thomas Jefferson I was rather taken aback. Why would anyone want to remove a statue of the man who authored the Declaration of Independence? However I am aware of the issue that is truly at hand; Jefferson’s views of African Americans. Yes Jefferson held slaves and a low opinion of African Americans which is wrong. I personally do not agree with Jefferson’s views on slavery, however I do feel that he is an important person in our American History. The statue is on campus to remind us of our independence. I do not feel that removing the statue will erase time or ease racial tensions on campus. Perhaps a better solution would be to petition for raising funds to commission a statue of Martin Luther King Jr., an American who I feel is sadly overlooked on this campus. Dr. King did wonderful things during the Civil Rights movement and I feel that the real tragedy is that this school does not commemorate his memory, not that there is a statue of Jefferson. Putting up a statue that would reinforce Jefferson’s message for all people, including African Americans would have a positive effect on this campus. InPDUM has their hearts in the right place; racism and slavery are very wrong and should not be condoned. Jefferson stood for things that all Americans enjoy today and without his ideas we would not even have the freedom to protest the statue of his likeness. His memory is just as important to us as a people as is Dr. King or Ben Franklin or anyone else who fought for freedom. I would rather see the Jefferson statue remain and donate money towards a statue of Dr. King than just walk past an empty space as I walk to class.