Marge Schott's name to be off college stadium, library
Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is removing Marge Schott's name from its baseball stadium and a library archive in light of her racist comments while owner of the Cincinnati Reds.
The school's board of trustees unanimously approved the move Tuesday, a dozen days after a Catholic high school also decided to remove references to Schott from its facilities. Over the years, UC students, faculty and alumni have objected to Schott's name on school facilities, but no changes were made.
"Marge Schott's record of racism and bigotry stands at stark odds with our university's core commitment to dignity, equity and inclusion," said university president Neville G. Pinto, who recommended the change.
The national push for racial justice sparked by George Floyd's death has prompted local institutions to revisit Schott's history.
After her death in 2004, most of her estate went to a foundation that funds a wide range of philanthropic ventures. Her name is featured on many facilities in the city.
As Reds owner, Schott was repeatedly suspended and ultimately ousted by Major League Baseball for her slurs and praise of Adolf Hitler. Team employees said Schott used slurs for black players and made derogatory remarks about Jews and Japanese. She said Hitler was "good at the beginning" but then "went too far."
Major League Baseball banned her from the team's day-to-day operations for the 1993 season and levied another suspension after she returned and continued to make offensive remarks. Ultimately, she was forced to sell controlling interest in the team in 1999.
The university built Marge Schott Stadium with a $2 million donation from the Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation in 2006.
In addition to removing Schott's name from the stadium, trustees agreed also to remove it from...