Student Life | The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878

Tag: Christopher Columbus

Does Columbus deserve a federal holiday?

October 19, 2009 | Kemi Aladesuyi

A week ago, Oct. 12, was Columbus Day—a fact that probably went by unnoticed by most, unless they happened to glance at a calendar that noted federal American holidays. Since I have become more aware of the historical inaccuracy and deletions of key facts present in my elementary school’s history curriculum, which continued in various degrees at subsequent levels of my education until recently, every 12th of October I have been a little miffed about why we recognize Columbus and his “discovery” of the “New World.”

Student Life | The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878