The four-member contextualization committee discussed the most recent community submissions proposing changes to the language on the plaque in front of the Confederate solider statue in the Circle in a closed meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The meeting was one of many discussions the committee has conducted since the original language of the plaque was released earlier in March.
Donald Cole, Amy Wells Dolan, John Neff and Rod Bridges sit at the Confederate symbolism forum.
Donald Cole, assistant provost and committee member, said the committee is currently in the process of assessing every recommendation submitted.
According to Cole, the meeting was a continuation of reviewing the input the committee had received so far.
“We’re trying to see if we understand it, and trying to assess its accuracy and trying to make sure we consider all of the input,” Cole said.
The committee has received dozens of submissions and recommendations from multiple individuals, groups and organizations. Cole said the recommendations vary in content and length, ranging from three lines to three pages.
Cole said many individuals, as well as groups, have made their statements public and some have not.
“There’s no box that can contain the wide variety of submissions we have received and of course they’ve all been delivered with passion, emotion and are earnest in their nature,” Cole said. “We’re dealing with much more than facts here, we’re dealing with emotions as well.”
According to Cole, the committee does not feel pressure to have the text completed by a certain date.
The committee will continue to have closed meetings for the committee members until the text is finalized. The committee is open to calling in other individuals, groups or expertise for input, as well as asking deeper questions amongst themselves.
“The last thing we want to do is box ourselves in or to be pressured into giving up something when it is not ready,” Cole said. “We are committed to giving an honest product that is reflective of all the input that has come in.”
The contextualization committee will be accepting submissions for revision to the plaque until Friday. Cole said the committee encourages all recommendations and is constantly considering and evaluating every submission received.
“I’m open and very receptive, and asking for anyone who has any interest to voice it,” Cole said.
