The UF Supreme Court unanimously approved a nonbinding referendum Friday asking students if the Reitz Union should be renamed.
Referendums gauge student opinion. They don’t have direct impact on administration or Student Government policy.
The Supreme Court approved the referendum for SG elections on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, pending that referendum author, Students Party President Ford Dwyer, gets signatures from 1 percent of the Student Body — about 500 people.
Dwyer’s referendum asks students about renaming the union after Virgil Hawkins, an African-American who was denied entrance to UF in 1949 because of his race.
“Along with the student union’s new face, I think the student union deserves a new name,” Dwyer said.
Besides noting Hawkins’ achievements, the referendum mentions J. Wayne Reitz’s delay in racially integrating UF. He also collaborated in the purging of gay students and professors during his time as university president, according to the referendum.
If a majority of students answer “yes” to the question in October, Dwyer said he will bring the name change before UF’s Board of Trustees. If not, he will drop the issue.
Contact Samantha Shavell at sshavell@alligator.org.
