Local Naming Signals Vibe Shift

A public high school quietly named its new performing‑arts center for an elderly white male alumnus in 2026 with no controversy. The author contrasts that with recent years when such honors would have provoked debates about representation and identity, framing the change as a 'vibe shift.' — If replicated, local decisions like facility namings can indicate a wider rollback of identity‑driven symbolism in institutions and shift how culture‑war issues play out in communities.