Students show solidarity for keeping Redmen name
METROWEST DAILY NEWS
By Kathy Uek/Daily News Staff
Friday, December 22, 2006
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| Many students wore red to support the nickname Redmen. (Ken McGagh/Daily News Staff) |
NATICK — Students showed solidarity in support of keeping the school's Redmen logo yesterday by wearing T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts with the signature name emblazoned in colors of red, gray, blue and white.
"It's garbage,'' said Nick Haddad, senior and captain of the football team, of the move to drop the name out of concerns it's racially insensitive. "It shouldn't be switched. It's the biggest nonproblem Natick ever came up with.''
It's tradition, said Katie Costello. "We're not targeting'' Indians.
Students never meant to hurt Native Americans, Kristen Todd added.
The students showed their support for keeping the logo after Natick High School teachers and former students voiced their concern at a recent School Committee meeting over what they say the logo represents.
What began as benign and unintentional 46 years ago when the team—originally called the Red and Blue—was referred to as the "Red,'' and morphed into Redmen, lately some consider racist, a civil rights violation and offensive.
Students expressed sadness over possibly losing their beloved logo and frustration over the small town of Natick being forced to be politically correct. "We've lost our Halloween parade and now they want to take away the Redmen logo,'' said Costello.
And students can't sing Christmas songs, added Oscar Otero. "They're changing everything.''
Natick High Principal John Hughes said the students are voicing their concern. "I represent all 1,200 students. I'm in the process of meeting with class officers and expect student representatives to speak on the issue. There are strong feelings on each side.''
B.J. Samuels wondered why Redmen is a big deal. "There are nationally known pro sports teams like the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Black Hawks, and the Cleveland Indians,'' he said.
If they are going to change Redmen, then why leave the pro teams alone, said Adam Childress.
"If you change it, it will mess up the school's karma,'' said Costello.
(Kathy Uek can be reached at 508-626-4419 or kuek@cnc.com.)