What's In a Name?

Today at Gallaudet, students protested the naming of the Linda Jordan Art Gallery. Who is Linda Jordan? The wife of the outgoing president of Gallaudet University. The students were protesting the choice of Linda Jordan, whom they felt had not done anything to deserve having an arts building named after her. They wanted the gallery to be named for a woman who was an art history professor at Gallaudet for 33 years, Debbie Sonnenstrahl. In addition to having been a professor, Sonnenstrahl also authored the book "Deaf Artists in America: Colonial to Contemporary."

Even if the name does not get officially changed in the face of the protests, it actually does not matter. Informal names can overtake "official" names. Does anyone remember when they re-named the Ely Center to University Center? After the name was changed to University Center, almost nobody called it that - everyone continued to call it the Ely Center. Gallaudet changed it officially back to Ely Center.

So, if the students want to honor Debbie Sonnenstrahl, they can call it the Sonnenstrahl Art Gallery informally. If they use that name informally, it will overtake the official name, and nobody will pay attention to the "official" name on the plaque.

Blogs reporting on the naming of the art gallery:

• Elisa
• Ridor