Indiana University can rename a portion of Jordan Avenue without getting permission from the city of Bloomington. The university is not planning to do that at this time, but the road and other things named after IUs seventh president are being reviewed.

The formation of a committee to review all things named after David Starr Jordan on IUs Bloomington campus was announced last week. The announcement came after more than 70 members of the biology department signed a letter calling for Jordan Hall to be renamed. The letter cites Jordans extensive advocacy for eugenics as the reason. Eugenics is the practice of selective breeding of humans, often carried out through forced sterilization.

An IU news release announcing the formation of a six-member committee included a list of things named after Jordan that would be reviewed. Along with Jordan Hall, the list included the Jordan River, the Jordan Parking Garage and Jordan Avenue.

The road runs through IUs Bloomington campus and part of the city of Bloomington. The dividing line is 13th Street, said Adam Wason, director of public works for the city. The university owns and maintains everything north of that line, while the city owns and maintains everything to the south, he said.

The universitys section of the road also includes a piece commonly referred to as the Jordan extension. This piece runs between Fee Lane to 17th Street, but it does not align with Jordan Avenue south of 17th Street. The two intersections are about 400 feet apart.

It will be at least a few months before a decision is made about whether to rename IUs portion of the road. The university committee is expected to deliver a report to IUs president, the Bloomington provost and the university naming committee by Sept. 1.

Were just dealing with this step right now, said Chuck Carney, university spokesman.

While its possible the city and university could disagree about a name change, it seems the two entities will work together.

We are collaborating with IU on this issue. We appreciate the thought thats going into the process and agree that the name and perhaps others should be reviewed, said Yal Ksander, spokeswoman for the mayors office, in an email.

The last time a road was renamed in Bloomington was in 2019. North Range Road at the site of the new IU Health Bloomington hospital is now East Discovery Parkway.

Changing the name of a road is a lengthy process, Wason said. It requires the approval of an address committee as well as the board of public works. Residents and businesses must be informed of the change. The city utilities department, U.S. Post Office and emergency services must be informed as well.

Changing the name of a road can also cost businesses money, Wason said. Those expenses can come from changes to letterhead, signs, advertisements and anything else that has a business old address.

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IU can rename Jordan Avenue, at least part of it - Times-Mail