Brown University, an Ivy League school in Rhode Island, won't be celebrating Columbus Day any more.

Native students urged the school to replace the holiday. The faculty agreed to start holding "Fall Weekend" in October instead.

"For the first time, I’m at a loss for words," Matthew Thomas, the chief sachem of the Narragansett Tribe, told The Providence Journal after being told of the decision. "We are obviously delighted that Brown took this action. I do believe Brown tries to be fair to everyone. I’m not surprised they did it, but it is surprising that something like that would take place in Rhode Island."

Raymond Dettore Jr., the national historian for the Sons of Italy and former president of the Italo-American Club in Providence, disagreed with the decision. He said Italian-American take pride in Columbus.

"The Native Americans suffered greatly at the hands of the American government or the Spanish conquistadors or anyone else, but it is untenable to conclude that because of these past injustices the Italian-Americans who want to celebrate Columbus would be denied that right," Dettore told the paper.

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Brown casts off Columbus, agreeing to forgo celebrating his day (The Providence Journal 4/9)