Colleges Back Away From César Chávez

Allegations that labor activist and civil rights icon César Chávez sexually abused women and children have left colleges scrambling to scrub his name from campus buildings, programs and events.

Some institutions took action immediately to rebrand events or otherwise distance themselves from Chávez, whose name dots campus plazas, student centers and academic programs all over the country. But in a sector where name-change processes can drag on for months or even years, many colleges are still deliberating how to respond to damning revelations about the once-revered activist.

A cursory scan by Inside Higher Ed found that Chávez is recognized on dozens of campuses. While buildings, programs and events honoring the late labor activist span from coast to coast, they are heavily concentrated in California, home base of the United Farm Workers, the organization Chávez led from its founding in 1962 until his death in 1993 at age 66.

Inside Higher Ed reached out to more than two dozen institutions to understand what actions they are taking or considering. Officials at multiple institutions said they are only beginning to review their options in the wake of the allegations, but some have acted quickly to distance themselves from Chávez. Here is a look at how colleges are responding to the Chávez controversy.

California State University, Fresno

Following the revelations published Wednesday in The New York Times, Fresno State officials quickly took action to cover up a statue of Chávez erected in 1996. President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval noted the statue was intended to “honor the spirit of peaceful assembly and the broader labor movement that has shaped this region.” Fresno State now plans to remove it, the president wrote in a message to campus.

“I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the allegations being reported about César Chávez; this reporting is compounded by the painful statement made by Dolores Huerta [Wednesday]. These profoundly troubling claims about the rape of women and minors call for our full attention and moral reckoning by removing his statue from our campus,” Jiménez-Sandoval wrote.

Sonoma State University

Chávez’s visage appears in multiple places on the Sonoma State campus: as part of a mural with an accompanying plaque and in portraits hung in its library and another academic building.

But those images are coming down.

A Sonoma State spokesperson told Inside Higher Ed by email that in the wake of the allegations, the “mural will be covered and the portrait and photo will be removed as the university considers further thoughtful and appropriate courses of action as developments warrant.”

Santa Ana College

The Southern California community college has a building named for Chávez on its campus as well as two murals and other artwork that feature him. Santa Ana College is now in the process of removing or covering up tributes to the labor activist, Public Information Officer Ethereal Violet Reyes said.

Reyes said she expects the college to discuss changing the building name at a later date.

Eastern Connecticut State University

President Karim Ismaili announced Thursday that the university would rename its César Chávez Award, which is given annually to students who act as “an empathetic leader for underserved groups,” according to a university press release announcing last year’s recipient.

“This information is deeply troubling and stands in direct conflict with the values we uphold at Eastern,” Ismaili wrote in a message to the campus community. “The individuals we choose to honor should reflect the character and commitment to the public good that we seek to instill in our students.”

Michigan State University

Spokesperson Amber McCann told Inside Higher Ed by email that MSU is changing the name of an upcoming event. Originally titled the César Chávez and Dolores Huerta Commemorative Celebration, it will now be dubbed the Farmworker Appreciation Commemorative Celebration.

“This name change reflects the university’s gratitude for farmworkers as valued, contributing members of our community, and better aligns with the spirit of appreciation and recognition around which the event is organized,” McCann wrote in response to emailed questions.

University of California, Davis

UC Davis quickly renamed a youth leadership conference scheduled for May, rebranding its 25th annual César Chávez Leadership Conference as the Avanza Rising Scholars Conference.

“We are aware of troubling reports concerning alleged behavior by César Chávez during his life as a labor leader and activist,” a spokesperson wrote to Inside Higher Ed by email. “In light of this, UC Davis is removing Chávez’s name from the conference, which will now be known as the Avanza Rising Scholars Conference. We remain committed to offering leadership opportunities and mentorship to youth and families through the conference and other programming.”

Western Oregon University

Western Oregon also struck Chávez’s name from an annual student leadership conference.

“Our priority is the safety, dignity and trust of the students and communities we serve,” Dominique Vargas, executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion, said in a statement. “The leadership conference exists to empower Oregon students and cultivate leaders. Given the seriousness of the allegations, continuing to use Cesar Chavez’s name would undermine that mission and the mission of our university. Removing the name and rebranding the conference ensures the event remains focused on student voices, building community, and leadership development.”

University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA quickly deleted the organizer’s name from its César Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies and scrubbed mentions from its website. The move followed a Wednesday vote at an emergency department meeting to remove Chávez’s name.

But the move is mostly cosmetic, since power to change the name lies with University of California system officials. Some members of the UCLA community have urged officials to rename the department in honor of Huerta, a fellow labor activist who stated Wednesday that she was abused by Chávez.

A university spokesperson noted the controversy but offered little on a potential name change.

“UCLA is aware of the serious allegations that have been reported and is deeply troubled by them. We stand with survivors of sexual assault,” they wrote. “Questions related to departmental naming or other institutional decisions are addressed through established university processes.”

California State University San Marcos

Like Fresno State, Cal State San Marcos has a statue of Chávez on campus.

Now the university plans to “convene a campus group on the removal of the statue and what replaces it, keeping our values at the center of this process and the decisions ahead,” according to a statement from President Ellen Neufeldt shared with Inside Higher Ed. She emphasized that the university still wants to honor farmworkers despite the fall of their most prominent activist.

“The legacy of the farmworker movement is not about one man, and we are committed to honoring the history and significance of the movement as we move forward,” she wrote.

San José State University

SJSU has multiple spaces and programs named in honor of Chávez. Now the university will begin the process of determining “how these spaces reflect our values and impact our community,” President Cynthia Teniente-Matson wrote in a Thursday afternoon statement.

She laid out a plan for weighing changes to spaces and programs named for Chávez that will include efforts to engage the community via campuswide meetings, university dialogues and a teach-in. SJSU will also consider how to contextualize or remove images of Chávez and work with its Art Collection Committee, students and others on campus to enact possible changes.

“We will be thoughtful and intentional. We will uphold the inspiration from the farmworker movement. As many in our community have noted, the movement itself, the workers, the marchers, and the women who stood on the front lines must continue to be celebrated,” Teniente-Matson wrote. “Their contributions cannot be dimmed by the actions of one person. As we look ahead, we will remain centered on the truth and respect the dignity of survivors.”

San Diego Community College District

SDCCD officials announced Wednesday they are reviewing plans to participate in César Chávez Day, a holiday in California and six other states, though several are looking to rename it. The district may also rebrand a campus named after him.

“At this time, the District is reviewing its planned participation in César Chávez Day activities as well as its broader connection to Chávez, including the naming of the César E. Chávez Campus in Barrio Logan. As we assess current and new information, SDCCD will prioritize feedback from our community and upholding our values of safety, dignity, and respect for all,” officials wrote in a statement.

Evergreen Community College District

Other California community colleges are also backing away from plans to honor Chávez.

An Evergreen spokesperson noted that efforts to remove temporary installations featuring the late labor activist, such as banners, are already underway. And more action is likely ahead

“Our District has long been connected to Cesar Chavez via holidays, building names, murals, and programs. While any formal name changes will require Board of Trustees approval, this is the start of a robust conversation we plan to have with our community about how best to address the issue going forward,” a spokesperson wrote to Inside Higher Ed by email.