Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

October 12, 2022

UMass Chan asks to change name of Plantation streets

Photo | Courtesy of Google Plantation Street in Worcester

UMass Chan Medical School is petitioning the City of Worcester to change the names of Plantation Street, Plantation Parkway, and Plantation Terrace because of the association between plantations and slavery.

The request was submitted to the Worcester city clerk in a document uploaded to the city’s website on Thursday.

“The word ‘plantation’ connotes oppression in our country and serves as a reminder of the painful history of slavery in America,” the request reads. “We would hope to participate in a larger community conversation regarding the appropriate course of action to find a more appropriate name.”

The petition is attributed to Che Anderson, the school’s assistant vice chancellor for city and community relations, on behalf of UMass Chan Chancellor Michael Collins. 

The matter is on the agenda for Wednesday evening’s city council meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

All three streets are located around UMass Chan Medical School’s Worcester campus.

Sign up for Enews

WBJ Web Partners

3 Comments

Sharon Tonelli
October 12, 2022

This is about as ridiculous as it gets. Have people lost their minds? How many words can we no longer say as they offend someone?

Order a PDF