Possible Name Change for RUHS Auditorium Stirs Controversy

When the Redondo Union High School auditorium was reopened in early March after major renovations, it didn't enjoy the reception that school and district officials had expected.

A suggested name change, along with the removal of historical items previously housed at the school facility, has unleashed an outpouring of opposition from alumni.

"They should leave tradition and history alone," said Kristine Frith, who graduated from RUHS in 2000.

Frith created a Facebook group called RUHS Student/Faculty Against Changing the School's History that has grown to more than 400 members.

Prinipal Mary Little said that RUHS and district officials discussed that a new name would perhaps be appropriate to celebrate the rebirth of the facility, but that no names have been officially proposed.

"The conversation was, 'Hey, maybe we should think about a new name that would reflect some of the upgrades in the facility, rather than just auditorium because that doesn't really capture all of the things that it has to offer,' " she said.

Nonetheless, members of the RUHS Alumni Association acted swiftly and May 10, citing the historical significance, voted unanimously against renaming the auditorium. The group has also voiced its concerns about the condition and location of school artifacts, including a war memorial plaque listing RUHS graduates who have died in American wars since WWI and a 20-foot-long metal sculpture.   

"It's been virtually 100 percent in opposition to the renaming and the removal of historical aspects," said Tom Shortridge, president of the alumni association, based on feedback received from hundreds of alumni.

Seven concerned alumni spoke to the board of education and Supt. Dr. Steven Keller at the meeting last week.

"There's no agenda by anybody to absolutely change [the name] unless there is a strong voice, a collective voice," he said. "Plenty of conversations need to take place before anything happens, if at all."

Little said that current RUHS students should also have a say in whether to rename the school auditorium.

"It's important to hear what the alumni have to say, but I think it's also important to look beyond that to current and future students," she said. "We're still debating on how we want to move forward."

Using approximately $6 million from Measure C bond funds, the auditorium's lobby, music and band rooms, seating, stage flooring, sound equipment and orchestra pit were upgraded.

"I don't believe that the remodeling of the interior, no matter how much it was remodeled, constitutes for being renamed," Frith said. 

She said the facility was not renamed after it was rebuilt in the early 1970s.

"Most of the moves that have been proposed are aimed at making it less school oriented and more public oriented," Shortridge said, pointing out that the school district regularly rents out the auditorium to theater and ballet companies.

"Its primary focus should remain as a school auditorium and not as a civic cultural arts center," he said.

As far as the artifacts that were removed from the auditorium during construction, Keller said that all plaques will be either returned to the facility or placed in an alternate location on the school campus.

"Let me just put to rest any rumors-—those are going back. The auditorium was just reopened," he said.

The superintendent also said that the metal sculpture does not fit in the newly configured entryway of the auditorium and will be relocated to a space that "meets the needs of alumni and our learning community."

Keller and district staff plan to meet next week with alumni leaders, including Shortridge, to discuss the renaming of the auditorium.

"Obviously I want to help facilitate conversations, but ultimately it will be a site decision," Keller said.

"What we'd really like is to be part of the process when they make changes," Shortridge said. "We don't want to vote, we don't want to veto, but we'd love to give you our input before it happens."