The University of Virginia is changing the “V-Sabre” logo to remove design elements referencing the school’s history with slavery.
What We Know:
- The University of Virginia uses the V-Sabre logo for athletics. The old design featured two crossed sabres with serpentine handles, a reference to the serpentine walls used by the university to hide slaves from the community.
- The school denounced the old logo just two months ago. The new logo exchanges the wavy, serpentine handles on the sabre for smooth handles. University Athletic Director Carla Williams announced the new logo on Monday. Williams stated “After the release of our new logos on April 24th, I was made aware of the negative connotation between the serpentine walls and slavery . . . I was not previously aware of the historical perspective indicating the original eight-foot-high walls were constructed to mask the institution of slavery and enslaved laborers from public view.”
- The university built the original serpentine walls in the 1820s to hide and muffle the sounds of slaves on campus. They later removed the walls to create space around the university’s historic pavilions. After some time, the university built shorter walls in the 1950s.
“Over the last few weeks, I have worked to better educate myself and that education will continue . . . There was no intent to cause harm, but we did, and for that I apologize to those who bear the pain of slavery in our history.” – Athletic Director Carla Williams
- Students and staff voiced their frustration with the athletic department following the original logo announcement in April, according to The Cavalier Daily, a student newspaper. UVA student Lauren Cochran said the logo looked like the university was glorifying its past wrongdoings. Cochran told The Cavalier Daily “For many, this wall evokes stringent feelings of emotional distress and pain. As an African-American student who walks past these walls every day, I experience uncomfortable emotions relating to the history and justification of the walls”.
This move comes at a time when confederate and imperialist symbols are facing heightened scrutiny. Amid the worldwide protests for racial injustice, lawmakers have called for the removal of offensive monuments and some protesters have torn them down themselves.
