APTOS—Cabrillo College’s governing board voted Monday to change the institution’s name after a two-hour discussion that included comments from dozens of community members.
The trustees voted 6-1 in favor of renaming the college, with trustee Rachel Spencer dissenting.
The decision followed the Nov. 10 release of a 64-page report by the Cabrillo College Name Exploration Subcommittee and a seven-member Exploration Advisory Task Force, which included a survey of students, staff and Cabrillo Foundation supporters.
The drive to change the college’s name began in July 2020. As the Black Lives Matter movement grew following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, communities across the U.S. were rethinking the names and symbols bestowed upon their buildings, landmarks and institutions. The Cleveland Indians changed their name to the Guardians in 2021, and a year earlier NASCAR banned the Confederate flag—long thought to be a symbol of white supremacy—at all its events.
Many colleges and universities are similarly undergoing similar discussions.
The college’s namesake is Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, known for exploring the west coast of the Americas around 1542, as well as for being a murderous conqueror who enslaved and brutalized the Amah Mutsun people who lived here.
The committee’s recommendation came despite a majority of survey respondents (66.9%) saying they wanted the college to keep its name, with many citing cost and others saying that changing the name would not change the underlying historical issues associated with Cabrillo.
Just over 24% said they want to change it, while 9% were neutral, according to the survey.
But Trustee Adam Spickler said that majority opinions are not always the best, and often don’t reflect the damage that minority communities can face by keeping the status quo.
He pointed to Proposition 8, which voters passed in 2008, and limited marriage to men and women. A federal court found that law unconstitutional, a decision that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Spickler also said that a majority of people opposed desegregation in the early days of the Civil Rights movement.
“There are reasons people hold strongly and passionately to their beliefs, but those beliefs are not always what’s best,” Spickler said.
Spickler also said that many survey respondents who originally opposed the idea changed their minds on the issue after learning about Cabrillo’s history.
Cabrillo officials will now begin the process of finding a new name, a process that likely will involve voluminous community input and begin in summer 2023.
Trustee Christina Cuevas said that the only guideline so far is that the college will not bear the name of an individual.
“You get into this whole thing of, ‘is this a good person or a bad person in their time,’” she said. “Let’s just not go there.”
The overall costs associated with a name change have ranged from $200,000 to $800,000 at other colleges that have done so, Cabrillo President Matt Wetstein said. But these will likely be spread out over several years, he added.
Additionally, many of the costs associated with a name change are “sunk costs” such as business cards and team uniforms that are replaced annually, Wetstein said.
Roughly two-dozen people addressed the trustees, the majority of which spoke in favor of changing the college’s name.
In explaining her no vote, Trustee Spencer said that the committee tasked with exploring the name change contained no community members, and thus was “sorely lacking” in a vetting process.
She also said the report shows that a majority of respondents do not support a name change, and that going against that “will divide the community.”
Trustee Steve Trujillo said that, when he ran for his seat, many people told him the college’s name needed to be changed. He said he learned about Cabrillo’s sordid past in a history class years ago.
“I was shocked at the fact that the college would be named for him,” Trujillo said. “The time has come to make sure we right this egregious wrong … it’s the right thing to do.”
Trustee Dan Rothwell said the vote was “the hardest decision I have ever had to make.”
While he agreed on the practical issues, the issue for him came down to a moral and ethical question. He said that the college’s founders would likely not have chosen Cabrillo if they knew his history.
“Cabrillo was a bad dude,” he said. “Morally and ethically it makes it impossible for me to say that we should keep the name Cabrillo College.”
thanks , Todd, for quoting me correctly. and the article is factual.
I am so pleased that nearly all of my colleagues voted with me on this issue.
I am certain we can come up with an inclusive, positive name that actually reflects the campus, our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion and the emphasis on its supportive nature.
send me a new name that you think would be appropriate for our outstanding community college.
that would EXCLUDE donald trump community college.
Wait till Cabrillo asks for more money in a bond issue. 66% of voters will vote NO since Cabrillo ignored all 66% who voted to keep the name of Cabrillo. They just ignored we voters and will blow almost a million to change the name. I’ll also never donate to Cabrillo again as will my extended family and friends. We are pissed at the Cabrillo board that ignored what we voters wanted.
Steve wants to change the name of Watsonville as well. Libtards want to erase history in California. Let’s just sit back and watch the show. Taxes are going up to 9.75% in Watsonville Steve claims that he cares about the brown and poor in town. If he did, a costly name change for the college would never happen
In the end it will cost him out of his home.
I don’t agree with your comments abou “libitards”. I’m a liberal Democrat and don’t want the name changed. It’s stupid and will cost money Cabrillo doesn’t have. Every Democrat I know feels the same. The Cabrillo board never planned to take into consideration how the community and public feels about this. Let’s let them know how bad a decision it is by voting down every single measure they put forth begging for more $. That’s how to do it.
Their arrogance amazes me they say they know better than 66% of our population?
I am so proud that so many realize that this wrong had to be corrected. Our college credo is diversity , equity and inclusion. this is just one reason why I ran for this office 2 years ago . those who hate these principles and hide in their anonymity below do not understand history, what a democracy is, or the purpose of education. Fortunately, 5 of my 6 colleagues on the board of trustees DO.
again, go to biography.com to find out who the evil despot Cabrillo was. ignore what the uninformed say below.
If there must be a renaming, select a name that best expresses what is at the root of the educational goals of those who administer the affairs of the college.
< CANCEL CULTURE COLLEGE >
The cancel culture crusade continues to grow, seemingly unabated in America.
cancel culture was brought to this continent by the European invaders.
again, you have it in reverse. this is not cancel culture. it expands the culture , which you clearly do not want. what a surprise!
Following the lead of our neighbors to the north.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/02/san-francisco-renaming-spree/617894/
we are following the lead of 82 schools in the last 2 years. also UCSF, who dropped the name HASTINGS from its law school BRAVO !!!
cancel culture was brought to this continent by the European invaders.
again, you have it in reverse. this is not cancel culture. it expands the culture , which you clearly do not want. what a surprise!
Thank you, trustees, for knowing what’s best for us, despite the vast majority of the county’s ignorant racists.
Let’s start getting the $900,000 dollars needed by cutting the presidents salary by $100,000 a year…..
why don’t you send that proposal to Matt Wetstein? it is certainly your right to do so.
this decision is about doing the RIGHT THING. as Mark Twain said: ” ti is never the wrong time to do the right thing.” and we just did.
No problem Steve We will easily change the name back to Cabrillo College before the ink dries with a voter initiative. All we need is 10,213 signatures. We will stand out at the Cabrillo College Farmers Market every Saturday and get this on the ballet. Maybe we can even coincide this with a Steve Trujillo recall effort. Seems reasonable since you are putting your own agenda in front of your constituency.
Hi
I am leaving Watsonville definitely. I will follow this forum going forward to see what transpires. I believe, based on posts against the name change that Steven is in for a real challenge.
Good for you and your fellow Watsonville citizens. I will contacting the mayor and city council to inform them of the personal attack on me by Steve.
Please persuade others to put this to the voters and also petition to remove Steve from the board of trustees.
Citizens of Watsonville must bring to the city the hatred spewed by Steven. My name is what is is my name and my family are proud American citizens.
Please persue your aspirations to subdue this peon
App holidays to all.
Stephen Trujillo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f60WokGfVQo
NO NEED TO REMAIN ILL-INFORMED.
Click here . . .
https://www.nps.gov/cabr/learn/historyculture/juan-rodriguez-cabrillo.htm
you are ill informed. that is what life in a pickle jar is all about. isolation from the facts .
In one hundred years people will still call it Cabrillo College. And when the current trustees are voted out, it will revert back to Cabrillo College. Do the trustees really think that the public will associate the new name with the old place?
Vote out the trustees who ignored what the public wants. Also vote NO on any bond issues Cabrillo tries to pass. *uck them.
don’t count on it. and neither you nor I will be around in 100 years. and yes, I expect while it will be gradual, the people will come to accept the new name. people of color especially. I know that bothers you. and i am flattered by your fake name. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
in addition, you will have all 6 of us. and Felipe is headed for the county board of supervisors. are you going to attempt to recall him from his new job as well? good luck with that.
My name is real I have just moved here from SoCal to Watsonville
I am sure are related somehow but our views are very different.
I’m not trying to flatter anyone. My family is from Spain not Mexico however you do look like my Grandmother a little though. Have a nice Thanksgiving
Stephen
Glad to see more trujillos who don’t think the same. There was another one on here as well and definitely different views than Steve as well thank goodness.
Hi Monique
I have been here for eight months. My family own three family entertainment centers in Southern California. I came to Watsonville to open a family activity center in Watsonville
Unfortunately, after reading all of the posts here on the local paper I am going to convince my family to invest in another area.
I have never been made for feel more unwelcome in any other place. This city is hostile to business and with the rise in sales tax sealed the deal for me. We were looking at opening a Top Golf and bowling ally in Watsonville. Steven Trujillo, possibly a distant relatives comments on this form have convinced me that this is NOT a welcoming place to invest in. I will be moving away from Watsonville in January and taking my families money with me. Good luck with Watsonville.
Thank you for your kind words
Stephen Trujillo
Oh wow that would have been an awesome addition to our town but yeah you are correct we the people do not feel welcomed here. If you don’t fall in line with Steve’s narrative then you are simply a “rethuglican” as he likes to call us. My family and I are moving away next year as well. Best of luck on your journey and may you find a welcoming town worthy of the income your business will bring in.
our city does not like right wing haters, Monique. where you choose to live is YOUR business, not mine, or anyone else’s . but , no, I won’t accept hate of LGBTQ people or of other oppressed people.
Again Steve I’m not a right winger sorry you can’t get that through your head.
The college is already in dire financial shape. The college does not have the money to change the name within a year and a half. This will take employees thousands of hours to change, which is the real cost, that was not mentioned anywhere in this survey.
While Steve claims the cost will be covered by grants, grants don’t cover the cost of employee labor. Our tax dollars do.
Newsom just declared a budget DEFICIT. That means cuts are going to come hard.
What’s the college going to do when they don’t have money?
They are going to go for another bond.
What’s going to happen when the bond goes to registered voters, who were not in favor of the name change?
It’s going to fail.
The college will not be able to pass a bond for YEARS to come.
Steve is a transplant from southern California. He has ZERO clue how this county is. This county remembers every screw up our politicians make, FOR YEARS.
While the trustees may think this will benefit the college in the loooooong term, the next 20 years are doomed.
I concur that Juan Cabrillo was not a good person by today’s standards and I did not care if the college changed it’s name or not. I will say that the only way the college can redeem itself is putting the new name to the voters. If the trustees decide to vote on the new name themselves, they have completely condemned the college from public funds.
Readers
I have been here for eight months. My family own three family entertainment centers in Southern California. I came to Watsonville to open a family activity center in Watsonville
Unfortunately, after reading all of the posts here on the local paper I am going to convince my family to invest in another area.
I have never been made for feel more unwelcome in any other place. This city is hostile to business and with the rise in sales tax sealed the deal for me. We were looking at opening a Top Golf and bowling ally in Watsonville. Steven Trujillo, possibly a distant relatives comments on this form have convinced me that this is NOT a welcoming place to invest in. I will be moving away from Watsonville in January and taking my families money with me. Good luck
Stephen J Trujillo
I am no relative of yours. I checked. and this event has absolutely NOTHING to do with your business. it was not a business oriented decision. sorry you do not understand this. your business has no bearing on what the name of the community college is. so much for that.
Steven,
You are correct we are not related which is wonderful. I would never want to share any of my family fortune with you or your kind.
It’s so sad that your life is consumed with this forum, a second rate community college which I understand from posts on this forum is in a dire financial state.
Monica and myself are leaving Watsonville. I wish to thank the Pajaronian for a true insight into the inner working of the city. Which saved us millions in lost revenue. I received the estimate from our attorney for building permits if they even had a chance of of being approved.
9.75% sales tax is just the tip of the iceberg.
Our next endeavor will be in Vero Beach I will post photos our our new property when completed. For more info click the following link
https://www.covb.org/
Happy Thanksgiving good luck in life Steve.
Stephen
Smart move-
As a lifelong resident, I’ve seen the long term antagonizing posture of our local leadership towards businesses. We were once home to huge employers like Green Giant, Lipton Tea, Wriggles gum, BirdsEye Foods, Hansen’s Beverages, etc.. Funny how we like to bite the hands that feed us.
Unfortunately, we’ve gotten what we keep voting for.
We ain’t so bright round’ here…….
The agenda of each board meeting is available online before every meeting. everyone knew this was to be debated . we had 31 speakers. most favored the name change. for those of you who are disappointed, the vote was majority rule. 6-1. each trustee voted their conscience. I support each trustee’s decision. and I have no apologies to anyone. and I do not owe any , either .
I want to thank the Pajaronian for covering this story so well. It is appreciated.