6 Hudson Valley Buildings Named After Slave Owners to be Renamed

Six buildings in the Hudson Valley will be renamed because they are currently named after slave owners.

On Thursday, the SUNY New Paltz College Council voted by a 4-3 margin to approve the resolution to rename six campus buildings, named after the first European settlers in New Paltz who also owned enslaved people.

“I’m so pleased with this forward-looking outcome,” SUNY New Paltz President Donald P. Christian said on the college's website. “It is the right move for the campus at this time, as we strive to be a leader in meeting the educational needs of all New Yorkers. Indeed, I regard this as a historic moment for the College, and I am grateful to the College Council for their support.”

The buildings that will be renamed are currently named Bevier Hall, Crispell Hall, Deyo Hall, DuBois Hall, Hasbrouck Dining Hall and Lefevre Hall.

Recently, Christian started a dialogue regarding the names of the Hasbrouck Dining Hall and residence halls at the college.

Christian asked the SUNY New Paltz Diversity and Inclusion Council to research the names and report back with recommendations by April 2018.

Following what's described as "extensive research, data review, and conversations with students, faculty, staff, community members, representatives of Historic Huguenot Street, descendants of Huguenot families, and alumni," the Diversity and Inclusion Council ruled the Hasbrouck Complex buildings should be renamed, according to a college report on the renaming obtained by Hudson Valley Post.

In November 2018, the SUNY New Paltz College Council voted to postpone a resolution on renaming campus buildings until the spring semester. Some member of the council wanted more time to consider the name change.

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The SUNY New Paltz College Council will now consider new names, based off recommendations from a study group on replacement names.

Once a decision on new names is approved by the SUNY New Paltz College Council the SUNY Board of Trustees will finalize.