EMU Interim President Kim Schatzel, is buying new EMU Band jackets without the Huron Logo on an inside flap, because of protest against the logo by some Native American students - her decision is wrong !!! and so is Amber Morseau, President of the EMU Native American Student Organization for supporting the decision.
Native Americans were the first people of America - their lands were taken and an estimated five (5) million Native Americans were killed in the Westward Expansion of the United States. The rally cry was 'The only good Indian, is a dead Indian' as the Europeans marched from shore to shore killing Native Americans and stealing their lands...It is interesting that the story came out on the same day that a story was written about the Michigan Legislature, under funding Native American College Funding.
Native Americans were taught to 'scalp' so that the British and French could pay to see how many British and French men were killed during their wars against each other and their own territorial advancements.
Native Americans saw their food (buffalo) killed for sport by the millions, and not for food or clothing. They saw their women and children massacred as the US Army took over for the advancing settlers. Native Americans were forced to leave their homelands and be sent to 'reservations' sometimes in the most desolate areas.
Native Americans must stand up and demand that their story be told and taught in school districts, in every part of the country, so that it is never forgotten (as many Germans deny the Holocaust and the Japanese deny the China atrocities and Turkey denies the Armenian Genocide).
The Native Americans and all the Tribes should develop a list of acceptable - Logos
and Symbols - that honor their Tribes, leaders and people, and offer them to schools and universities so that the Native American image can be seen, revered and cheered for - to not do so allows the image of Native Americans to disappear and allows older unacceptable images (Redskins) to linger on.
READ THIS ARTICLE..... DETROIT FREE PRESS...................
Eastern Michigan University announced today it will be dropping the Huron logo from marching band uniforms after controversy swirled in June when members of the Native American community voiced objections at a board meeting.
EMU Interim President Kim Schatzel made the announcement in an email to the campus community.
Several members of the community spoke out during the meeting, renewing controversy over the school's use of the Huron logo, which depicted an Indian with a painted face and two feathers.
"This morning I notified members of the Native American Student Organization and their faculty advisor, Dr. Lori Burlingame, that I am initiating a process to remove the Huron logo from the jackets of the EMU Marching Band," Schatzel said. "The university will be purchasing new uniform jackets with no logos nor symbols other than the block "E," which will continue to be on the outside of the jacket. "
Schatzel said the action will happen "as expeditiously as possible" and the associated costs will be paid for out of donated funds from the EMU Foundation.
Native Americans want 'Huron' logo off EMU band uniforms
Schatzel said there will be no impact on the General Fund and no tuition dollars will be utilized.
"This action results from a thorough review, by myself and members of EMU's senior leadership team, of the 1991 decision by the Board of Regents to stop using the Huron logo and name," she said in an email. "... As we all know, controversy and questions surrounding the use of logos and symbols that are offensive to some groups or community members is a highly complex issue that is not isolated to Eastern Michigan University.'
The use of the logo has long been controversial at the university. The school was known as the Hurons for 62 years but In 1991, under pressure from the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and Native Americans, EMU was one of the first schools in the nation to drop its logo and change from the Hurons to the Eagles.
But three years ago, former university president Susan Martin reintroduced the Huron logo under a flap on the marching band uniforms, along with another logo representing when the band was formed in 1894.
Amber Morseau, President of the Native American Student Organization at EMU, said she was pleased with the announcement, which followed a morning meeting with Schatzel. Morseau said she believes EMU is again on the "right side of history."
"It is our hope that with this decision, and the reiteration of the damaging effects of racist images, stereotypes, and symbols in our lives and our communities, the environment at EMU will improve not only for Native students, but for all students of color moving forward," Morseau said. "... We are not costumes, we are not mascots, and we appreciate that Dr. Schatzel was able to understand this so easily and was committed to doing the right thing."
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