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Richard Hartwig II
After attending last night's MAPS Board meeting I left feeling sad and depressed after seeing the concerted and pointed effort by those wanting to get rid of the Redmen nickname.
It appeared most in opposition were NMU faculty and students in the Native American studies who never attended MAPS as students or know the culture of MSHS.
Whenever the term Redmen was used it was termed racist by this faction.
About 60 people addressed the Board Monday night. Those in favor of retaining the Redmen name brought up several interesting points:
1. There are about five (unnamed) teachers at MSHS who are calling students who are in favor of retaining the Redmen name, racists, according to their parents who spoke.
2. No reason has been given to the public as to why all team and individual sports records listed on the gym walls have been removed and destroyed.
3. Those in opposition dismiss anyone who says Redmen stands for courage, strenght and power,
Those for change suggested the name be changed to the Marquette Mariners to provide a good gender neutral name and depict the area from where the school is from while halting the current recist name.
That's what is going on in Marquette. I can't wait until this group goes after the teams in Ishpeming and Negaunee for their nicknames.
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