Monday, September 19, 2011

Berlin High School: Indians Nickname

From WLUK:

Berlin High School is going to have to change its sports teams’ nickname.

The state Department of Public Instruction has ruled Berlin’s “Indians” nickname is inappropriate and must be changed.

"We knew that it was going to be an up hill battle the way the law is set up, so it's not a total surprise," Superintendent Bob Eidahl said. "I know that our community will be disappointed, but I think they've been thinking of what the results might be too."

In June, a Berlin alum Tom Sobieski, sent a letter to the DPI objecting to the district's use of the nickname. Under terms of a state law passed in 2009, that's the first step in a process allowing the state to order the district to change its nickname.

"Change is hard and change is good in this case," Sobieski said

The DPI found the nickname unambiguously race-based and held a hearing in August, where Berlin officials tried to convince the DPI the nickname was not race-based. Friday’s ruling means Berlin’s appeal was denied.

Read Sobieski's letter to the Department of Public Instruction.

It's extremely short. "I object."

Has Sobieski written to Bud Selig to demand that Major League Baseball stop using race-based nicknames?

Do those offend him?

What about the NFL? Is Sobieski offended by the Washington Redskins?

I don't think it's right for Wisconsin law to force schools to change their nicknames while tolerating it when it comes to other teams.

No sports team with a race-based nickname should be permitted in Wisconsin.

Too offensive.

Let's be consistent.


Berlin loses nickname battle: fox11online.com



Read the DPI's ruling.

Berlin High School's Indians nickname is promoting discrimination!

Who is going to speak up for badgers?

No comments: