The Tennessee Court of Appeals handed down a ruling in the United Daughters of the Confederacy's lawsuit regarding the inscription on Confederate Memorial Hall, overturning a Davidson County chancellor’s 2003 ruling in Vanderbilt's favor.

 In a 25-page decision on Tuesday, the Court of Appeals decided that the contracts between Peabody College and the United Daughters of the Confederacy were valid, despite the university's contention that they had not been executed. As as result, the court said, the university was obligated contractually to keep the inscription on the 70-year-old building or provide financial compensation to the UDC.

 “Vanderbilt continues to believe that we did the right thing for the right reasons to address a decades-long controversy by changing the name of ‘Confederate Memorial Hall,’” said Michael Schoenfeld, vice chancellor for public affairs. “Our right to do that was affirmed by the Court.  Reasonable people can disagree, and have, about whether there was a contract between Peabody College and the UDC, and if so, what that contract specified.  Nonetheless, the court has ruled and Vanderbilt will abide by the judgment regarding the inscription on the façade of the building.”

 Schoenfeld added that university officials are reviewing the decision to determine the next steps in the case, which began in 2002 when the name of the residence hall was changed.  The current name of the building – Memorial Hall – was not affected. “Memorial Hall” will continue to be the term used in all Vanderbilt references to the building, including publications, maps, websites and housing assignments.

 For more information on Memorial Hall, see www.vanderbilt.edu/news/memorialhall.

Posted 5/5/05