Withdrawal of a proposal to change the name of Lafayette Street is wise.
A Lincoln University petition to Jefferson City requested a portion of Lafayette Street be renamed University Avenue.
Although the city would have rejected the petition based on failure to conform to city code, LU officials withdrew it, citing sensitivity to opponents' concerns.
The city's action was a formality; the university's reaction was considerate.
LU officials had petitioned the city to rename the 600 to 1200 blocks of Lafayette Street - roughly from the new U.S. 50/63 interchange to Stadium Boulevard. The section north of U.S. 50/63 would remain unchanged.
Opponents gathered earlier this week to voice concerns.
The assembly included members of the black community, who feared the name change would undermine the history of the area's once-thriving black business district, known as "The Foot."
"Lafayette Street was the heart of the black community and black businesses were located there," said Joyce Logan Webb. "No one today would know that these businesses were ever there."
Other issues were raised by Patsy Johnson, a resident in the 900 block of Lafayette Street. "We would have to change our mailing address, legal documents, it will affect us financially," she said. "Mail will only be forwarded for a certain amount of time, so people who have been in touch with us for a long time won't be able to reach us."
A statement from LU accompanying the withdrawal notice read: "We have heard the concerns of the community in terms of the historical and fiscal effects of such a change, so at this time the university will revisit other ways to brand this area as the university corridor, while still maintaining the historical integrity of this vital part of Jefferson City."
We understand LU's efforts to increase public awareness of the university.
President Kevin Rome appears committed to elevating the university's stature, as well as strengthening the school's connection to the community. (A proposed partnership with the city's parks agency to construct a multipurpose recreation building is one example).
When the renaming proposal conflicted with reasonable community sentiment, the petition was withdrawn.
The decision reflects integrity - not just the "historical" variety.