School officials at a New Orleans university have removed its Victory Bell after learning that it was used on a plantation, saying it symbolized a “horrific part of our nation’s past.”
In a letter to students Thursday, officials at Tulane University said it was “terribly disheartening” to learn about the history of the monument, which they called a “symbol of the Tulane spirit.”
The bell came to the university six decades ago. For years, it was rung to celebrate Tulane basketball victories.
But the letter, from board Chairman Doug Hertz and President Mike Fitts, said officials learned last week that the bell was forged in 1825 and was used to direct the movement of enslaved Africans.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
“Now that we understand its history as an instrument of slavery, continuing to use this bell in a celebratory manner would run counter to our values as a university community,” the letter said.
The bell was moved to storage Thursday while the school further investigates its origins. The letter added that officials are still determining what to do with it next.
The monument’s removal was one of many in recent years, as cities and universities from North Carolina and Kentucky to Mississippi and Virginia have reckoned with the legacy of Confederate statues.