Should Woodrow Wilson's Name be Removed from Monmouth University?

West Long Branch, NJ - On Friday, hundreds of furious Yale students protested the school's decision not to rename Calhoun College, named after John C. Calhoun, an 18th century slavery supporter.

In November, Princeton University students held a 32-hour sit in, demanding the school remove Woodrow Wilson's name from its buildings and school of international studies. So far, Princeton has refused.

Here in Monmouth County, the region's local university is trying a different tactic. Monmouth University president, Paul Brown, started the conversation with students himself last fall: Do you think we should rename Woodrow Wilson Hall?

Wilson Hall, named after the controversial 28th president, sits right in the middle of campus. The grand building is acknowledged by students and faculty alike as the centerpiece of Monmouth University.

As president, Wilson re-instituted segregation in federal offices. Wilson Hall is built on the site of what used to be his Jersey Shore summer home. The original building was destroyed by a fire.

"In response to what happened on Princeton's campus and on campuses throughout the country, Monmouth University has had specific meetings with student groups to discuss the name of Wilson Hall on our campus," Tara Peters, a university spokeswoman, told Patch.

On June 23, there will be a meeting of the university Board of Trustees, and they will be asked if they should rename the building, she said.

"The decision regarding the name of Wilson Hall is expected to be decided by the Board of Trustees at its June meeting," Peters told Patch.

Senior MU student shares her views

Monmouth University student Arianna Gordon, who is black and president of school's African-American Student Union, talked to Patch about her thoughts:

"I think it's a good debate to be having. Whether we change the name or not, it's good to learn about and recognize things that happened in the past," Gordon, 21, and a graduating senior, said. "Yes, Woodrow Wilson was our president, but he also did things that were not so great for a lot of people, and that hurt the American civil rights movement."

Gordon said she's talked to students on campus who support the name change; students who don't think it should be changed and a lot of students who don't have an opinion yet, or are perhaps nervous to voice an opinion, she said.

"I would personally support changing the name," she said. "To me, Woodrow Wilson stands for something different than what Monmouth University stands for. In the past four years I've been here, I've seen the school work to become more diverse, and to be inclusive of all races and ethnicities, not just black and white."

"And if they do not decide to change the name, I would definitely like to know why," she added.

Either way, Gordon said she was glad President Brown started the conversation.

"Princeton is a great school, but what makes Monmouth University great is we are a place where the students don't have to protest or do anything ridiculous to be heard," she said. "I would be proud to say I went to a university where my opinion matters."

The first photo is Wilson Hall, and the second photo shows the 2015 racial breakdown of students at Monmouth University, provided by the school.

Starting in December, and continuing through January and February, Brown held a series of open "listening sessions" on campus, where students could come and voice their opinions on the topic in a public forum. He met privately with students who may not have felt comfortable speaking in public, and met with faculty and Monmouth University alums and donors.

There have also been faculty presentations on who Woodrow Wilson was.

Patch will keep you updated if the school decides to rename Wilson Hall.

Photos: Woodrow Wilson Hall at Monmouth University; racial breakdown of student body at Monmouth University.