Donor family sues college over ancestor’s chapel name removal.
A Vermont Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Middlebury College to Proceed
A Vermont judge has ruled that a lawsuit against Middlebury College will move forward. The college had removed the name of a prominent donor, Dr. John Abner Mead, from the campus chapel due to his views on eugenics. The lawsuit, filed by the donor’s family, claims that the college removed the name without warning or public discussion. The family is seeking the restoration of the name or its full monetary value, plus interest.
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The 79-page lawsuit states that Dr. Mead paid $75,000 to have the Mead Memorial Chapel built in 1914. The lawsuit argues that the chapel bearing his name was a condition of the donation. If the name is not restored, the plaintiffs are seeking its full monetary value, which amounts to about $2.23 million in today’s dollars.
In a statement on its website, Middlebury College explained that the decision to remove the Mead name was prompted by a public apology issued by the Vermont Legislature in 2021. The apology acknowledged the state’s past involvement in eugenics policies. The college cited a speech made by Dr. Mead in 1912, in which he expressed support for eugenics. However, former Vermont governor James Douglas argues that this does not represent the entirety of Dr. Mead’s character and contributions.
Mr. Douglas, who is an alum of Middlebury College and teaches political science there, is representing the Mead family in the lawsuit. He believes that the college is holding someone from the past to present-day standards, which he sees as a form of “cancel culture.”
Two Governors, One Battle
Middlebury College, a private school with about 2,800 undergraduates and a $1.5 billion endowment, is at the center of this legal battle. Dr. Mead’s descendants contacted Mr. Douglas after learning about the removal of the name. They are seeking justice and the restoration of their ancestor’s name.
Dr. Mead’s story at Middlebury College began when he fought in the American Civil War and eventually graduated in 1864. He went on to have a successful career as a businessman, physician, politician, and philanthropist. He served as Vermont’s lieutenant governor and governor. He funded the construction of the chapel in 1914 and passed away in 1920.
The family’s lawsuit accuses Middlebury College of breach of contract for removing the name from the chapel. Mr. Douglas, as a special administrator of the Mead Estate, is representing the family’s interests.
‘Under Cover of Darkness’
According to Mr. Douglas, the decision to remove the Mead name was made without transparency. He discovered the change when he saw an empty space where the nameplate used to be. Efforts to communicate with campus administrators and board members were unsuccessful.
Middlebury College’s online statement included a link to a transcript of Dr. Mead’s speech from 1912. The college concluded that the name of a former governor promoting eugenics is not consistent with its values in the 21st century. However, Mr. Douglas questions the wisdom of erasing historical figures based on aspects of their past that are now deemed unacceptable.
Apologizing for Eugenics
The lawsuit argues that the college made distorted accusations against Dr. Mead and failed to consider his overall history. It points out that Dr. Mead died before the Vermont Legislature enacted eugenics-based legislation. The legislation resulted in a state-sanctioned eugenics movement that targeted indigenous people and other groups. The Vermont Legislature issued a formal apology for this 90 years later, which led to the college’s review of Dr. Mead.
Dr. Mead’s descendants believe that the college wronged their ancestor and are seeking justice through the legal system. They argue that the removal of the name from the chapel was unnecessary and unjust.
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