A new statue of USC's first admitted Black students since Reconstruction will be located in front of McKissick Museum, the board of trustees announced on Friday.
The 12-foot bronze statue was originally announced last year and will replicate a photo of alumni Robert Anderson, Henrie Monteith Treadwell and James Solomon Jr. walking down the steps of the Osborne Administration building. The statue will be created by acclaimed sculptor Basil Watson.
“Since the university was founded in 1801, the Horseshoe has remained our most defining location, and this monument will be just steps away from where these three pioneering students first began their journey at USC,” Board Chairman Thad Westbrook said in a press release.
The statue is part of the university's plan to further represent the history of Black students on campus. The USC residence hall formerly named "650 Lincoln" was also renamed and dedicated Friday morning to Celia Dial Saxon, a Columbia civil rights activist and educator.
During a communications update to the board, Vice President for Communications Larry Thomas gave spoke on the remaining "UofSC" branding inside academic buildings and on university vehicles.
"You may still go into some buildings where there is 'UofSC.' That is a financial burden that's on the deans," Thomas said. "There are 12 buses that do the route around the campus. All of those are now branded with the tree and gates or the 'USC 1801' logos."
The board of trustees also finalized lease agreements with Innovista Parking LLC. The Horizon garage will add 465 residential student parking spots, and the Discovery garage will add 700 commuter student parking spots.