Towson University convenes committee to review two residence hall names

June 5, 2020

President Kim Schatzel on Friday announced that Towson University would convene a committee, at the formal request from the Student Government Association, to review the naming of Paca House and Carroll Hall, two TU residence halls located in West Village.

TU’s Policy on Naming of Facilities and Academic Programs calls for the universities facilities, buildings and programs to be “named consistently with the University’s principles, ideals and values.”

Paca House and Carroll Hall are named after William Paca and Charles Carroll —  both signers of the Declaration of Independence, but both owned slaves. Both halls opened prior to President Schatzel’s arrival in 2016.

Through the SGA and TU’s shared governance process, the TU community’s voices have brought about this moment, President Schatzel said.

“I ask that everyone join me in supporting the committee as they begin their work deliberating this issue and preparing their recommendation,” President Schatzel said. “I can assure everyone that this process will be inclusive and transparent and that the recommendation of the committee will be made public when completed.”

Members of that committee, including representatives of Academic Senate, Staff Senate, Student Government Association and the Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity, will be finalized and announced in coming weeks.

President Schatzel said the process would be marked by transparency and inclusivity.

“Towson SGA is excited to hear that our formal request was not only reviewed but accepted and a committee is being convened,” SGA President Deguene Ndiong said. “This has been an effort that has gone through several administrations and student groups. We are committed to ensuring that our actions reflect the values of Towson and the wider community.”

Vice President for Student Affairs Vernon Hurte applauded the SGA’s work during the process.

“A core aspect of the TU experience is supporting students in finding ways to exercise their leadership on campus in productive ways to impact change around issues of importance to them,” Hurte said. “Our Student Government Association leaders are passionate about enhancing the experiences of students at TU, and their leadership in advocating for the review of these residence hall names should be applauded.”

Paca House opened in 2008 and Carroll House opened in 2015, combining with other halls in a West Village complex that is home to half of the 6,000 students that live on campus at TU.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland and Diverse and Inclusive Campus.