Clemson to rename honors college after criticism from Watson, Hopkins

Clemson's board of trustees unanimously voted Friday to remove former U.S. vice president John C. Calhoun's name from its honors college after public criticism from high-profile alums Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins, according to Matt Connolly of The State.

Calhoun was a slave owner and pro-slavery politician. On Monday, the Houston Texans quarterback and Arizona Cardinals receiver threw their weight behind a petition to rename the school's honors college. The petition had over 20,000 signatures as of Friday morning.

The honors college will now be called Clemson University Honors College.

"Board members have felt and feel that it is important to address this matter now rather than what until July due to the recent events happening across our country," Clemson BOT chairman E. Smyth McKissick said. "No one can watch what happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis and not be outraged. That terrible death and other incidents across our country reinforced that we all still have work to do, and that includes Clemson."

Hopkins revealed he didn't mention his alma mater during NFL introductions because of Calhoun, describing him as an "oppressive figure."

Calhoun was the vice president from 1825-32.