Online Pressure Builds Urging BSU’s Trustees To Reverse Schnatter Naming Decision

Online pressure is mounting for Ball State’s Board of Trustees to reverse a decision announced last Friday to retain the name of Papa John’s Pizza founder John Schnatter on the university’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise.

Schnatter has been nationally criticized for saying the N-word during a private, conference-call, media-training session.  Ball State Board of Trustees Chairperson Rick Hall said in an email to the university community last Friday that Schnatter did not use the racial epithet in a way that would demean individuals or groups, but rather as an example of improper conduct.

Since news of Schnatter’s remarks broke in mid July, the University of Louisville, the University of Kentucky, and Purdue University have all removed Schnatter’s name from programs or buildings.  Ball State is the lone university holdout. Ball State’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise, in Carmichael Hall, includes his name.

Criticism of the Ball State board’s action continues to build.  Social media has lit up.  Some people posting on Facebook approve of the board’s decision, but countless other posts from faculty and alumni have condemned the action.

At least one online petition asking the trustees to reverse their decision had more than 2,150 signatures as of 7:30 this (Tues.) morning.  The Star Press says the university had received more than 500 emails on the matter as of noon, Monday.  It is not clear how many of those emails are for or against the trustees’ action.