Iowa State University removed two bricks from its Plaza of Heroines located in front of Catt Hall in early August.

One brick was purchased originally by the children of Blue Maas to honor her, the other was purchased by Phyllis Harris to honor her mother.

Last April, Maas and Harris began regularly covering their bricks with black cloth to protest the name of Carrie Chapman Catt Hall. Maas and Harris are among a group of ISU students and faculty who want the name of the building changed because of alleged racist comments made by Catt during the women’s suffrage movement in the early 1900’s.

Maas and Harris have asked the university repeatedly to change the name of Catt Hall. Harris said that having her name included in the Plaza of Heroines is no longer an honor as she originally perceived it.

University officials have said unless there are new developments, the name of the building will not change.

Earlier this summer, ISU wrote to Maas and Harris asking them if they wanted the bricks removed. Both women accepted ISU’s offer.

Murray Blackwelder, ISU vice president of external affairs said, “We took this action because we understand the deeply held views of those who believe the name of the building should be changed, and who feel it is no longer an honor to be included in the Plaza of Heroines. We respect their views, and we admire them for their stance.”

Maas isn’t satisfied. “I’m immensely disappointed that the name hasn’t been changed,” she said.

Most appalling to Maas though is that aside from Phyllis Harris no other women have come forward asking to have their bricks removed from the plaza.

“I thought women had enough guts to stand up for themselves,” she said. “Carrie Chapman Catt defined women as ‘white’. She ignored black women, and Indian women and perpetuated the stereotype that the end justifies any means. White women got the right to vote in 1920. Black women didn’t get the right to vote until 1967 and Carrie Chapman Catt had nothing to do with it.”

Ideally, Maas would like to see the name of the building changed to Heroines Hall. “There wouldn’t be any conflict over a name like Heroines Hall,” she said.

John Anderson, interim director of university relations, said more than 3,000 bricks and paving stones remain in the Plaza of Heroines. “Thirty-five new bricks were added this summer,” he said, “and we haven’t had any more requests for the removal of bricks.”