Western Washington University’s decision to remove Thomas Henry Huxley’s name from the College of the Environment sparked conversation internationally — specifically at Imperial College in London where his bust sits in front of a building named after him. However, the college near Huxley’s home came to a different conclusion: to keep his name and add another.
The college plans to add the name of a scientist of color. They will include additional information to provide the fuller context of Huxley’s character and achievements, including his perceived flaws and racist writings.
“The College will find new, prominent ways of ensuring that their complexities are fully understood alongside the College’s modern values,” the college said in a statement.
“Imperial will find ways to mark the impact and contributions of the brilliant but under-celebrated Imperial people,” the statement said.
Last October, the college released a report by its History Group similar to the one released by Western’s Legacy Review Task Force. The group recommended the removal of his name from campus due to “the scientific racism in Huxley’s work.”
Following the report, hundreds of students, staff and alumni responded, voicing their support for either the removal or maintenance of the name, so the college facilitated small group discussions and larger forums.
