A New Lincoln-Douglas Debate At Eastern Illinois University

Inside Higher Ed:

Stephen A. Douglas, the "Little Giant" who served in the U.S. Senate and debated Abraham Lincoln, is still much-honored in some quarters. Douglas, Wyo., and Douglas County, Nev., are among a number of localities that boast of being named for the "noted statesman from Illinois." A 96-foot statue marks his grave, at a park in Chicago, with ceremonies held on his birthday and the anniversary of his death. And a residence hall is named for him at Eastern Illinois University -- at least for now.

Following much campus discussion, the Faculty Senate at Eastern Illinois last week adopted a resolution to change the name of the building, arguing that Douglas "bears a dishonorable record of public service and is hence undeserving of public acclaim and honor." The discussion is taking place in Charleston, Ill., the home of Eastern Illinois and also the site of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, which are suddenly being debated anew.

Read the whole story: Inside Higher Ed

Comments

[Spock]

01:52 AM on 11/18/2010

The one redeeming thing Douglas did after Lincoln was elected president was urge the Southern states NOT to secede. He remained loyal to the country.

[shastaman]

01:48 AM on 11/17/2010

Those debates are representative of the true nature of the democracy we alledgedly live in
The historic significance of their history and Lincoln's stature in our social fabric and his place of honor suggest to this citizen that it would be folly to change the name
Or as has been the case in so many examples of the past 30 years; why not just get some corpotaion to put their name and logo on the place
I don't know maybe Haliburton hall would do! BP Place
Yeah ! that's it! Corporate sponsorship for everything and everyone

[jcabowers]

08:57 PM on 11/16/2010

It was a long, long time ago. The world has moved on. Let it go.

[FilmCriticOne]

06:20 PM on 11/16/2010

Im all for taking Douglas name off everything. Better yet, just ad an S for Douglass - Frederick Douglass, who was pivotal in getting Lincoln to issue the EP, and accepting black soldiers.

In fact, you could argue that the US would not have survived, without Frederick Douglass.

Stephen A Douglas was very much a sell out to slave owners, did their bidding, and helped the advance of slavery, and was trying to help it even more.