The Sears Tower in Chicago is yet another tourist attraction that has lost its historic value.

First our south side baseball field, then our Michigan Avenue department store, now the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere: they have all fallen victim to the cliche that the one with the most money is the one with the most power.

No one likes to say it, but money brings you power, and power brings you authority. With this glorious money-induced power you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. In this case, with the citizens of Chicago screaming ‘no,’ the man with this power can whisper ‘yes’ and get away with it.

Chicagoans have known the now-Willis Tower as the Sears Tower for so long that they have developed an attachment to the name. Changing the name is not as simple as the owners would like to think. It is not an award for helping the city economically grow; it is a destruction of the city’s history, sense of home and comfort.

“I think changing the name of the Sears Tower is a horrible idea,” said freshman biology major Kevin Hutchison.

According to the Chicago Tribune, in 1973 when the Sears Tower was built, it was the tallest building in the world. It became home to the then-largest retailer in the world, Sears, Roebuck and Co. Sears relocated to Hoffman Estates in 1992, but the name did not change.

Outside the structure, shortly after Willis announced the decision for the drastic name change, cameras snapped pictures as fast as possible. Whether it was a cell phone, digital or even a disposable camera, they were all capturing the last moments of home.

“I wish I could have gone to visit the Skydeck before the name change,” said Hutchison. “Now that it isn’t the Sears Tower, I don’t even want to go.”

Although we are not all from Chicago, this topic raises a question to the building that means something to everyone that is part of the Huskie family. Cole Hall is the building where Feb. 14 took place. What if Cole Hall’s name was changed and no one had any say in whether they agreed with the decision? Luckily, it is not that easy.

“Building name changes are a very formal process,” said Robert Albanese, associate vice president and facility advisor. “The university council and board of trustees are all involved in this process.”

Just like Cole Hall, the Sears Tower had meaning to its citizens. It is a disruption to the surrounding society when a piece of home is changed.

“After the Feb. 14 incident, changing the name of Cole Hall was brought forth but was shortly dismissed,” said Paul Stoddard, associate professor of geology and environmental geosciences. “Mainly because it is disrespectful to the person it was named after.”

Just like Cole Hall, the Sears Tower has more at stake in its name to community members than outsiders realize. Therefore, more consideration should be put into changing the name. Willis Tower is not even creative. Not only do Chicagoans have a stranger coming into town and messing everything up, they have a boring one doing it.