Renaming the American Armenian International College building to Leo Hall would be a foolish and inconsiderate step to take by the University of La Verne. The University’s Space Committee will propose for the name change in May to the University’s Board of Trustees.

The Space Committee recommended the name change after the University purchased the AAIC building last year.

The AAIC, opened in 1975, was a college that offered students from Armenia and Lebanon an opportunity to receive higher education when they were not given that opportunity in their countries. It was the only other Armenian college in the free country, besides the Haigaziah College in Beirut. The AAIC also created majors that the University did not offer at the time, such as Armenian studies and computer science.

We can’t forget about the history of the AAIC. By renaming it to Leo Hall, we would be doing just that: forgetting about the past and what or who came before us.

Are we supposed to brush it off like the students or the college never existed? Are we supposed to black out that part of time from our minds and the University’s history?

The AAIC students brought a new culture to the La Verne community. We shouldn’t forget their contributions or their culture. Are we going to ignore the culture and their contributions because it is in the past or because these students are no longer here?

There is even a stone in the building that was specially imported from Armenia for the AAIC. The Soviet Armenian government gave the AAIC 47 tons of tufa stone, a pinkish stone found in the volcanic mountains of Armenia and considered a national treasure. Tufa stones are usually used in churches and schools in Armenia. Shipping the stone to America for the AAIC was the first time the stone was shipped out of the country.

After the name change, this would be one of the remaining things that can connect the University to the Armenian culture and history.

What are they going to do next to forget about the history of the AAIC? Are they going to take the stone away? As it is, that precious stone is already being allowed to crumble under the ravages of the weather and local skateboarders.

If the University wanted to rename the building, it should at least rename it to something that still has a connection with the history of the AAIC.

For instance, they can name it after Garbis Der Yeghiayan, the dean and acting president of the AAIC, who came from Lebanon and often went back to Armenia to promote the opportunity for higher education in America. They can also name it after philanthropist Alex Manoogian, who was the International Life President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and donated numerous times, including a donation of $25,000. Or they can even name it after director of the AAIC Yeghia “Elija” Babikian, who escaped from Beirut to have the chance to educate Armenians.

The Trustees should not replace the name of the building with a name that does not have significance to its history, like Leo Hall.

This is an academic building, not an entertainment or hangout place for students, unless that is what the University wants the school to be.

Leo Hall is an inappropriate name for the building. If they wanted to name the Student Center Leo Hall, they can. But do not name an academic building Leo Hall.

The building, ULV’s last link to its Armenian heritage, takes on special significance this time of year. April marksthe anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 1915, where Armenian intellectuals were arrested and killed by

Turkish neighbors from the Ottoman Empire and where two million Armenians were driven out of their homes and forced to walk to the Syrian Desert.

We should not forget the past and we should preserve what is left of the history and the culture.

The name is one of the only remaining symbols of the Armenian culture and students in the La Verne community.