At some point, every institution has to decide whether honoring history matters more than responding to it. 

The San Diego Community College District took that step on April 6. As a result of a community meeting and increased public attention to the history of César Chávez, the district’s Board of Trustees has decided to take Chávez’s name off the College of Continuing Education campus and rename it Harbor View, at least temporarily. “After receiving substantial input from the community,” stated the district’s press release on April 7, a further process will be undertaken for naming the college. 

The district was correct in making its decision. 

Not because it was all about history, but whether organizations can act when the meaning of their history shifts. 

This is not just symbolism. This was a reaction to something. 

The decision came following increased attention on the legacy of Chávez and some allegations that have led universities in California to rethink how the name of Chávez is used and celebrated. 

This is relevant. 

The impact of Chávez on the farm workers movement will not be erased simply because the name of the institution has changed. The historical importance of Chávez will always play a key role. The change in name means something else, however. 

A name carries certain weight. It is an expression of the ideals an institution stands for. When such a name is associated with allegations of wrongdoing, keeping the name is not neutral. On the contrary, it means actively supporting something. 

Students see this. 

When students come onto campus and see a name, they start asking themselves why that name still appears. What does that say about how the institution responds to such problems? What kind of environment is created? 

These questions carry more weight than any tradition.  

The district went for accountability. 

According to Board President Geysil Arroyo’s statement in the April 6 meeting, “stripping the name off does not strip us of our identity, rather it offers an educational process for future generations to learn about the farmworkers’ movement.” 

This is important. 

However, the choice cannot be left at this point. Since a campus name represents a community, students have a say in how things proceed. 

It is not a matter of revising the past. 

It is a matter of establishing a precedent for today. 

The name was stripped for a good reason. 

By doing so, the institution sends a powerful message that what the organization chooses to celebrate must reflect the values it upholds.