August 7, 2020 - University of Houston Law Center professors and professional staff unanimously endorsed a plan to rename Calhoun Rd. that traverses the UH campus to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in an official petition and request to the City of Houston on Thursday.
If approved by city officials, Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. would be extended north of Wheeler Ave. by the UH campus to Spur 5. Student groups at the Law Center will also take part in the renaming effort through different programming and events.
Part of the request stated, "renaming the referenced portion of Calhoun Rd. to 'Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.' would allow the University of Houston community to honor the legacy of Dr. King, who fought to end racial inequality and systematic oppression in our country."
The resolution was authored by the Law Center's Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which is co-chaired by Professor Meredith Duncan, the George Butler Research Professor of Law and Assistant Dean of Diversity, Inclusion and Metropolitan Programs and Clinical Professor Geoffrey Hoffman, director of the Immigration Clinic.
Dean Leonard M. Baynes applauded Duncan and Hoffman’s leadership and faculty and staff for their commitment to equality, equity and antiracism.
"It is not every day that you get 100 percent of faculty and staff to agree to anything,” Baynes said. “This issue was important enough that it compelled them to act. I am very proud of the strength of their commitment and convictions."
"I am thrilled to be part of the effort to change the name of the road currently bordering the Law Center," Duncan added. "Changing this road’s current name to that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is sensible and fitting because once renamed, what is currently MLK Blvd. will logically extend north to Spur 5, right next to the Law Center.
"To have the Law Center situated adjacent to MLK Blvd. is a fitting tribute to one of America’s greatest citizens, a person who died pursuing justice and equality for our country. As a law school, we treasure the same principles for which Dr. King fought and ultimately died. We will be proud to be so closely associated with his name.”
