CONWAY, Arkansas — According to the University of Central Arkansas's Student Government Association, the university's board of trustees voted unanimously to change the name of the campus's building that houses most chemistry labs known as Laney-Manion Hall.
Since the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and George Floyd reignited the conversation about racial injustice, the subject of removing Laney's name from the building, named after former Arkansas governor and self-proclaimed "Dixiecrat" Benjamin Laney.
Laney was reportedly an opponent of civil rights and anti-segregation legislation, speaking against then-President Truman who supported the civil rights movement and legislation.
It is unclear whether Laney's name will be removed or replaced, as Manion was added to the name of the building several decades later in honor of tenured chemistry professor, Dr. Jerry Manion, who taught at UCA for 49 years.