Kudos to the board of trustees of Cleveland State University that voted this week to remove the name Cleveland-Marshall from the College of Law. The college will now be known as the CSU College of Law.
Both university President Laura Bloomberg and law school Dean Lee Fisher should be congratulated for their leadership. While listening to all sides and taking flak from those strongly opposed to the change, they conducted an extensive and comprehensive process that allowed for all sides to be heard.
Last January I wrote a commentary adding my voice to groups of students, alumni, faculty and staff members that thought it appropriate to consider this change. As I said then, Chief Justice John Marshall made significant contributions to American jurisprudence, but there was no nexus between Cleveland State’s Law School and Marshall. As CSU Law School Dean Lee Fisher stated in his announcement of the change.
We cannot ignore the reality that Chief Justice John Marshall bought and sold hundreds of slaves throughout his adult life, and unlike many of his contemporaries like George Washington, did not free any of his slaves; nor can we ignore his troubling beliefs, statements and actions relating to slavery. His actions and views are contrary to our unwavering commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
This is a good example of a democratic process that allowed all voices to be heard and a university board of trustees that was willing to listen. I congratulate the trustees and all those advocates for change who worked diligently to make their voices heard. While there will be dissident voices raising objections, in the long run I believe that Cleveland and Cleveland State University will be a better place because of this historic decision.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she serves on the Board of the Ohio History Connection, is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission and president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
One Response to “Kudos to Cleveland State Trustees by C. Ellen Connally”
Mel Maurer
I agree.