Harvard's Slave Owner Ties Ignite Fight Over Law School Seal

05:48

December 02, 2015

People walk through Harvard Yard at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass. on Nov. 13, 2008. (Lisa Poole/AP)

Parts of the Harvard Law School seal come from the Royall family crest. (Wikimedia Commons)

The faculty members who preside over Harvard University's 12 undergraduate residential houses have agreed to change their name from house master to something yet to be decided. Harvard students called for the change, arguing that the term is tied to slavery.

A group of Harvard Law students called Royall Must Fall, is also taking issue with the law school's seal, parts of which come from the Royall family crest. Isaac Royall, Jr. was a slave owner and son of a slavetrader who played a key role in creating Harvard Law School.

This comes at a time when conversations and protests about race are taking place on college campuses across the country.

Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd visited Harvard's campus today to speak with students. He joins host Indira Lakshmanan with details.

Guest

Peter O’Dowd, assistant managing editor at Here & Now. He tweets @odowdpeter.

This segment aired on December 2, 2015.