Florida State University President John Thrasher announced that a statue of Francis Eppes, a grandson of founding father Thomas Jefferson, would be relocated from the university’s Legacy Walk, where it has been since 2002. Eppes has drawn criticism because he was a former slave owner and justice of the peace who helped capture escaped slaves.
The committee noted Eppes’ role in developing the institution that later became FSU. However, the committee said that describing him as the school’s “founder” was overstated.
