After the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents revoked its honorary name on June 14, students have had trouble finding 216 Pillsbury Drive this fall semester.

216 Pillsbury Drive, formerly known as Nicholson Hall, has been confused with its next-door neighbor, Pillsbury Hall.

The name change resulted from a request issued by present and past leaders of the Center for Jewish Studies to reconsider and rename Nicholson Hall. The building was named after former Dean of Students Edward E. Nicholson who restricted students’ rights to freedom of speech during his tenure at the University.

Riv-Ellen Prell, a retired professor of American studies at the University, curated an exhibition in 2017 that revealed many instances of wrongdoing by former faculty, including Nicholson.

Prell, who also helped lead the research into the renaming efforts, said Nicholson’s actions during his tenure called into question why we continued to honor some figures around campus.

“It was what he did on campus to students,” Prell said. “It was not allowing the free flow of speech or information, among other things. This did not represent the best of what a University should do.”

Along with his restrictions on free speech, Nicholson discriminated against Black and Jewish student populations on campus, according to Prell. Nicholson worked to keep dorms segregated and restricted communication among minority students and student activists on campus, Prell added.

Paulina Freyman, a sophomore at the University, said she recognizes students’ confusion since the change but sees it as a positive one.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Freyman said. “As a Jewish student, and with that building being the main place for the Jewish studies major and minor, it’s beneficial that these students aren’t taking classes in a building named after a guy who was antisemitic.”

Even with the positive change, some staff at Pillsbury Hall said rerouting lost people is a daily task.

Ruth Styles, the executive office and administrative specialist for the English Department located in Pillsbury Hall, said in an emailed statement to the Minnesota Daily they had to help everyone, from students to staff and even community members, find their way.

“We requested wayfinding signage from the University, which was provided before fall semester started,” Styles said. “Encountering lost and confused people is a daily occurrence for us now, and I would estimate that we have provided directions to several hundred people.”

Due to the number of confused students, the University put up signage in both Pillsbury Hall and 216 Pillsbury to help guide students.

Prell, who has been in contact with members of staff at Pillsbury Hall since the renaming, said that she has seen the confusion and feels for everyone involved.

“Somebody in the English Department sent me photographs of all the signs that were trying to tell people that Pillsbury Hall was not 216 Pillsbury,” Prell said. “So I’ve definitely heard the first days of the semester were just so awful for the students and staff involved. I know what it’s like to get lost on a campus, so I felt a lot of sympathy for them.”