Melrose Moniker Decision Pushed To Next Month

MELROSE, MA — The fate of the Melrose Raider will be decided April 12, though some who will decide indicated a willingness to move on from the controversial moniker.

The School Committee met Tuesday night and while ongoing budget deliberations soaked up much of the discussion, many watching were eager to hear if a decision on the Raider would come to pass.

It will at their next meeting instead, scheduled for April 12.

"In the interim, we continue to welcome public input in this regard," Ed O'Connell said. "We want it, we need it, we value it, and we will continue to give same our due consideration."

Chair Jen McAndrew and Jen Razi-Thomas both indicated they are likely to support pivoting from the Raider name to Red Hawks, the moniker recently proposed by the Mascot & Nickname Steering Committee following community and school survey results. Both members said they understood the pride and passion people find in the Raider identity.

"We've heard talk about divisiveness and driving people apart. I actually haven't felt that too much," McAndrew said. "I've heard a lot of really strong opinions, which I think is good and okay. I hope it's not been divisive for other folks."

Survey results — including from Patch — showed Red Hawks was the preferred option over Express, Highlanders, Red & White and Trailblazers. "Red-tailed Hawks are native to Melrose and are often seen throughout the city and surrounding area," the steering committee said. "This idea is popular with both the school stakeholders and the community. It also keeps the Red in the name."

But many would like to see Raiders be the word that's kept, arguing it did not originally have offensive Native American ties. Native American imagery was dropped from the logo in 2016 — though remnants still remain on school grounds — and the official logo has been the block M.

One idea floated as a compromise in the previous School Committee meeting gained some traction online. Resident Carolyn Finocchiaro, speaking during public comment on behalf of what she said was "a large group of parents and students," showed an image created by Glenn Blackburn of local design store Mothership Of All Design depicting a red airplane in flight over the words "Melrose Raiders." Finocchiaro said it was a rough draft.

Still, opponents of the Raider have been adamant the Raider logo must go in order to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.