When I met President Kopp and his wife at their home in August it took me only a few minutes to realize he was serious about the education of all the students at this regional university with a growing national profile.

He was always responsive to me within hours of being contacted via email. When I met him he requested a copy of my latest bestselling book, “Unthinkable: Poems, Philosophies and Paintings” via email to which he responded the next day. When I told him that I needed his help on an issue regarding my education via email he had his staff respond immediately and resolved the issue. Many people have that same story to tell about him and I am not pretending to be special.

This is why he is so loved and missed. A story that you may not know is how Jenkins Hall being named after a racist may stop Marshall from advancing beyond the top 50 regional universities on the U.S. News list. Let me explain, Marshall has been through many phases. It was founded as an academy, became a teacher instructional facility, then a college and now a university. Built in the 1930’s, Jenkins Hall was utilized by Marshall students to teach locals from K-12 through the 1970’s and is one of the most important buildings on campus. Still, a real statement was made when this free and Independent state school named that building after a racist slave holder named Confederate General Albert Gallatin Jenkins. Jenkins, who was also a politician, and his father owned dozens of slaves that walked the streets of what is now Huntington. He is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery, where he is already honored.

Today the Hall still stands as a seminal building – housing administration, offices, and classrooms of the College of Education and Human Services, according to Marshall.edu. Again, through the short time that I knew Kopp he was all about education, which is why he helped me stay in school when times were at their toughest. And that is why putting his name on Jenkins Hall would be an important moment in the growth of this university. Just as important as our fountain of unity at the center of this great university.

It would once again show the world that not only through the ashes of a fiery plane crash we found unity, we also spoke with one voice when we honored the  heart and spirit of our fallen leader. Yes, we are and will continue to be national and global leaders both on and off a football field. We are Marshall, we are the national school Kopp has put us on track to be.

Rob Redding | Master’s Candidate Communication