Patch Readers Reject Newest Call to Change Chippewa Valley's Big Reds' Nickname

To many Clinton Township Patch readers, there is no correlation between high school nicknames and students' education and therefore, no reason why schools like Chippewa Valley High School should be forced to reject their "Big Reds" identity.

The issue, which has been addressed numerous times in the past, returned to the forefront of conversation with a recent complaint filed by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

In the complaint, the department argued that high school nicknames—such as Big Reds for Chippewa Valley High School—harm students’ education. The department went on to ask the U.S. Department of Education to ban the use of American Indian mascots, nicknames and “imagery” at the high school level, the Detroit Free Press reported.

CVHS was one of 35 high schools mentioned in the complaint.

"A growing and unrebutted body of evidence now establishes that the use of American Indian imagery reinforces stereotypes in a way that negatively impacts the potential for achievement by students with American Indian ancestry," the department said in a filing to the U.S. Department of Education.

"Continued use of American Indian mascots, names, nicknames, logos, slogans, chants and/or other imagery creates a hostile environment and denies equal rights to all current and future American Indian students and must therefore cease."

Clinton Township readers who commented on Patch's previous article didn't share this view.

• "You have got to be kidding," wrote Frank Hlifka. "I would'nt think that as proud as the American Indian is of there heritage and there people that they would complain. I am a warrior from East High in Erie Pa. and proud of it. I never thought it was degrading to the American indian. It was a salute to a strong and proud people."

• "How is it harmful to their education?" asked Lisa Passmore. "Besides they changed the mascot to a 'Big Red Hawk' years ago."

• "You've got to be kidding me," wrote Tammy T Patton. "How [in] the heck is this harmful to education? Enough with the political correctness already. There are so many other serious things in this world to exhaust ones time over."

However, one reader argued in favor of changing the nickname.

"It's very derogatory, really no different than the "N" word," Patch reader Raquel wrote. "Ask a true Native American how they feel about the nickname and I'm sure they would be ashamed that it's associated with a high school. I am an alumni of Chippewa Valley and [would] love to see the name changed!"

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article also included references to Utica High School's Chieftains' nickhame. These references have been removed for clarity.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments.