Boise State Plans to Rename Cesar Chavez Lane to West Friendship Lane
A campus roadway at Boise State University is on track to receive a new name. The university has submitted a proposal to Ada County to rename Cesar Chavez Lane to West Friendship Lane, with key agencies already signing off on the change.
The new name emerged from a campus-wide survey and a process of elimination. University officials submitted three candidate names to county officials earlier this month. “Friendship Lane” advanced as a write-in suggestion from students, faculty, and staff. The two other finalists were ruled out — one too closely resembled the existing Compass Lane, and the other was already in use elsewhere in Boise.
Agencies Have Already Approved the Change
Though Boise State has not made a formal public announcement, the renaming appears essentially settled. The Ada County assessor, county development services, the Ada County Highway District, and the city of Boise have all given their approval. The university did not respond to requests for comment by Wednesday morning.
Why the Name Change Was Considered
Boise State launched a review of the street name in March, following a New York Times investigation that linked labor and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez to a pattern of sexual abuse. The lane had carried his name since 2006. The university surveyed its campus community before advancing the rename proposal to county officials.
For more on community changes shaping the Treasure Valley, read about how a Boise woman developed a neighborhood tracking map after a rise in local rat sightings — another example of residents taking an active role in shaping their community.