Boise State University Campus Road Set to Drop Cesar Chavez Name for West Friendship Lane
A roadway on the Boise State University campus is on the verge of being officially renamed. The university submitted a proposal to Ada County to change Cesar Chavez Lane to West Friendship Lane, and multiple county and city agencies have already approved the change, making the new name effectively a certainty even before a formal university announcement.
How the Name Was Chosen
Boise State polled its campus community and gathered three candidate names to present to Ada County officials earlier this month. West Friendship Lane — a write-in suggestion submitted by students, faculty, and staff — survived a process of elimination. One alternative, Campus Lane, was set aside because of its similarity to an existing street called Compass Lane. A second option, Peregrine Lane, was disqualified because that name is already in use elsewhere in Boise.
Why the Change Was Initiated
The university began exploring the renaming in March after a New York Times investigation linked labor and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez to a pattern of sexual abuse allegations. Boise State had originally honored Chavez with the lane’s name back in 2006. As of Wednesday morning, the university had not issued a formal confirmation of the new name, though approvals had already been received from Ada County’s assessor, county development services, the Ada County Highway District, and the city of Boise.
What Comes Next
With all relevant governmental bodies having signed off, a formal announcement from Boise State is expected to follow. For readers tracking broader Ada County developments, Idaho’s governor recently signed a Medicaid work requirements bill that will affect residents across the state. North Idaho community news, including updates from Coeur d’Alene’s newly appointed Fire Chief, continues at Kootenai County News.