Members of the September 29th Movement held a presentation for the Government of the Student Body Wednesday entitled “A White Woman’s Burden: A Brief History.”

The presentation was led by GSB Senator Milton McGriff, non-traditional seat, who is also a member of the September 29th Movement.

It began with several quotations from various people affected by racism, a picture and quotation from a Ku Klux Klan member and an image of a lynching with the caption “white supremacy will be strengthened not weakened by woman’s suffrage,” a statement Carrie Chapman Catt once said.

The presentation also included McGriff analyzing the various defenses used used by people who believed Catt Hall should maintain its name.

“Let’s look at defenses of Mary Chapman Catt now, and there have only been a few, maybe there’s a reason for that. First that she was a product of her time.”

McGriff said that does not hold water and is a racist comment in its own right.

But some at the university, including music Professor Jane Cox, said Catt was also known for statements denouncing racism.

In a book written by Mary Church Terrell, entitled “A Colored Woman in a White World” Terrell stated: “Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, one of the twelve foremost women in the United States, has demonstrated her freedom from race prejudice and her friendship for me over and over again, ever since I met her at least 30 years ago.”

McGriff continued with his list of defenses and said, “Second that women are being held to a different standard. Look how many buildings and streets are named after racist men. President Jischke doesn’t walk it like he talks it. And finally that the September 29th Movement is divisive and pits black people against white women,” McGriff said.

After the slide show was finished Senator Allan Nosworthy, graduate seat and September 29th Movement leader, wrapped up the presentation.

“Senators. Cabinet members. Audience. We are supposed to be here as future leaders of the country. Everyone here should now be able to formulate an opinion. Be for or be against, but be something.”

Nosworthy said, “We should not be the silent ones, we should be the ones with opinions. Ask questions please. Racism is a problem that is not talked about. We have to talk about it. Ask questions, please.”

The presentation ended and McGriff fielded questions from the GSB and the audience.

“If you got the name changed wouldn’t that set a precedent that if any name offended anyone they could get the name changed, and do you think the university should do an overall check to see if any building names should be changed to see if they offend anyone?” Senator Chris Juhl, design seat, said.

Senator Ryan Glanzer, RCA seat, added the question of who the movement would want to see Catt Hall named after and why.

McGriff answered both questions by saying that they “don’t want to get into that” and added that he thinks the building should honor a woman, perhaps all women, and suggested the possibility of extending the Plaza of Heroines name to the entire building.

Senator Todd Henry, engineering seat, wanted to know what McGriff expected the university to do to make itself more diverse, other than changing the name of Catt Hall.

“We want more minority studies programs. We want to put resources there to attract people, more minorities, and whites interested in it,” McGriff said.

A member of the audience, Creed Ludwig, a graduate student in political science asked, “What if it’s not renamed? Wouldn’t that discredit all these other things you want to change?”

McGriff said, “We don’t entertain the idea that it won’t be renamed.”