JCCC will rename Carlsen Center more than a decade after sexual harassment claims
Johnson County Community College will rename its prominent performing arts facility that bears the name of former president Charles Carlsen, who was accused of sexual harassment more than a decade ago.
The building will now be the Midwest Trust Center, in recognition of a local company founded by Brad Bergman, the college announced Friday.
Bergman, a member of the JCCC Foundation Board of Directors, and his wife, Libby, are longtime supporters of the college. They have co-chaired the foundation’s largest fundraising event for student scholarships, according to a news release. And most recently, they committed to donating $1 million to fund scholarships for students studying creative arts.
“We have been blessed with business success, in part because of those who built institutions in this county like JCCC,” Brad Bergman said in a statement. “Giving back is part of our DNA and all of the activities that occur in this building benefit Johnson County and the Kansas City metropolitan area.”
For years, community members and students have called on the college to rename the Carlsen Center. Carlsen, who was considered successful during his 25 years as president, became embroiled in controversy when a female employee accused him of unwanted touching and sexual harassment.
Carlsen denied any wrongdoing, then retired shortly after in 2006. The allegations were left unproven.
Since that time, editorials in the student newspaper have urged the college to remove his name from the building.
“We can’t afford to let Carlsen’s history slip pleasantly from our minds, though, no matter how much easier that might be,” wrote Samantha Joslin, editor of The Campus Ledger, in a January editorial.
After the editorial was published, more than a dozen students wrote letters encouraging the JCCC Board of Trustees to take action. Mena Haas, a JCCC student, said not changing the name is “lazy, unsympathetic and naive.”
“To have a name printed on a building where everyone can see, even sexual assault/harassment victims, is essentially a slap in the face,” Haas wrote. “I urge the college to take a look at the amount of sexual assault/harassment cases there have been on college campuses and think of the victims. Think of what JCCC stands for.”
Board of Trustees Chairman Greg Musil said in April that a committee would review the Carlsen Center’s name.
The facilities naming committee unanimously recommended the change. And last week, the trustees voted 6-1 to rename the performing arts center in honor of Bergman’s donation and support of the college.
Trustee Paul Snider said the change will benefit the college.
“We’ve been approached by community members, by students, all with compelling stories that have moved us in some capacity. So I appreciate just having this issue move forward,” Snider said at the meeting.
Trustee Gerald Lee Cross agreed, and said, “In so many ways, quite frankly, I’m happy to have this issue behind us. I’m happy to have this opportunity in front of us.”
Only Trustee Angeliina Lawson voted against the proposed name. She has been supportive of renaming the Carlsen Center, but brought up concerns about a for-profit company indefinitely receiving advertising on the building.
College officials said that Carlsen and his wife, Linda, agreed to the rebranding.
“Linda and I spent decades of our lives dedicated to growing and expanding opportunities at JCCC for students and for the community,” Carlsen said in a statement. “When we were approached about the generosity of Brad and Libby (Bergman), we were honored to coordinate with them to appropriately recognize their gift.”
Dedicated in 1990, the arts complex includes Yardley Hall, Polsky Theater, a recital venue and black box theater. Carlsen helped establish the center on the Overland Park campus.
Brad Bergman, CEO and chairman of Midwest Trust, established the company in 1993. Midwest Trust is the fund manager for the JCCC Foundation, according to college documents.
