Oregon State University announced Friday that it and the University of Oregon will no longer use the term “Civil War” for athletic competitions.
The term has been used for football, basketball and other sporting events between the schools since the 1930s, OSU said in an email sent to community members.
“Changing this name is overdue as it represents a connection to a war fought to perpetuate slavery,” OSU President Ed Ray said in the email.
“While not intended as a reference to the actual Civil War, OSU sports competition should not provide any misconstrued reference to this divisive episode in American history.”
Ray said the change is happening now “to advance equal opportunity and justice for all and in recognition that Black Lives Matter.”
OSU president-elect, King Alexander, as well as UO President Michael Schill and other leaders from the two schools are in agreement with the decision, Ray’s email states.
Ray said in the coming months, the two schools will work with students, student-athletes, alumni, faculty and other community members to consider other more appropriate names, if any, to reference the rivalry between the two schools.
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