Universities rename facilities following Cesar Chavez abuse allegations

Educational institutions are moving to rename facilities named after labor leader Cesar Chavez following investigative reports alleging he committed sexual abuse and rape against women and minors during the 1960s and 1970s.

At Stony Brook University, President Andrea Goldsmith accepted a unanimous recommendation from a review committee to rename Chavez Hall. The committee, composed of faculty, staff, and students, evaluated whether the namesake’s alleged behavior aligned with the university’s mission and values.

Similarly, Cal Poly Pomona’s Cesar E. Chavez Center for Higher Education is undergoing a renaming process. The university’s naming working group is seeking community feedback and expects to reach a decision by the end of the semester. The campus has previously acknowledged the impact of the allegations, which included reports of abuse involving civil rights activist Dolores Huerta and several minors.