In 1988, the university issued a report at Eastern about the negative connotations that come with the use of it. The Central Michigan University Chippewas In 2002, Maynard Kahgegab, Jr., then chief of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and Michael Rao, president of Central Michigan University, signed a proclamation pledging their support for strengthening the relationship between the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Central Michigan University “for the enhancement of each other’s goals and visions and for the greater … The logo for the Eastern Michigan football team from 1976-1990, prior to its mascot name change to the Eagles in 1991. (Image courtesy of The Eastern Echo). Points are always awarded for mascots with disproportionate anatomy. “Some of the reasons were that the Bearcat means nothing. “Here at CMU, that would mean a MAC tournament game,” Whitledge said. According to a former Central Michigan Life article, there was an investigation of campus opinion and approval of a name change for Central Michigan college athletic teams. (*1) Worn during the 2013 home game versus Michigan State. “Seemed to be an interesting thing. “The NCAA designated all those for review. CMU gets 1 point for the lame basketball-headed "Rowdie". “It is not taken lightly in any way,” Heeke said. The name offers nothing in the way of background for showmanship or pageantry.”. But a change in mascot is not one of them. “Our university was improperly highlighted by the NCAA,” said Dave Heeke, CMU’s athletic director. (Graphic provided by CMU athletics). Calls made to Florida State and Utah athletic departments were not returned. CMU’s ResponsibilitiesIt is your responsibility as a CMU student or faculty/staff member to use the Chippewas nickname in a respectful and understanding manner. The school began a two-year search for a name while only playing six games a year in football. THE MASCOT MESS As a mascot, the Chippewa name has gone through the NCAA, the Central Michigan University student body and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal council members. Clearly, Central Michigan is a place of higher learning. The origin of the name was presented for a variety of reasons, with one of the main intentions being an increase in showmanship and pageantry from the student body. Too suggestive of Indian feathers. In 1927, Central went with the name Bearcats. He argued that the Bearcat was too unfamiliar a mascot to provide the kind of atmosphere desired at athletic events and “the Chippewa name opens up unlimited opportunities for pageantry and showmanship.” In practice, this amounted to stereotypical imagery and mockery of Native ceremonies.The mimicking, stereotyping, and misrepresentation of Native American cultures and people are attitudes and behaviors that will not be tolerated and must be part of the past. Then in 1926 in the archives of the student newspaper, Central Normal Life, there was a suggestion for Central to as adopt the name Dragons. ( Log Out /  Sweeney had made the argument that the name Chippewa is geographically correct, since at one time the Chippewa Indian Tribes were scattered around this particular area. In the 1940s, Chippewa was the name of the university’s yearbook and the river that flows through town. The historical helmet designs for CMU from 1960 to 2014. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The Indian chief would be an outstanding marker for athletic uniforms,’” Whitledge said. In the university’s beginnings, it had a hard time finding its identity. Change ), tonyjwittkowski | The Mascot Mess: A history of CMU’s controversial mascot. Around the same time this was taking place at Eastern, CMU took another look at the name that had been in place for more than 40 years. ( Log Out /  “In that time the administration issued a directive prohibiting all Indian-themed imagery being used from athletic teams,” Whitledge said. A tramp stamp you would NOT see at CMU. Although he lacks originality, he does have an over-sized head with a goofy look on his face. Cultural misrepresentation occurs when Native American sacred objects, cultural ways of knowing, and traditions are used in a context that strips their cultural meaning.Because CMU proudly uses a nickname associated with a contemporary people, every effort is made to avoid engaging in behavior that demeans or belittles Native Americans. The Central Michigan Chippewas have been able to keep its nickname for nearly 80 years because of an ongoing relationship with the local tribe. As a mascot, the Chippewa name has gone through the NCAA, the Central Michigan University student body and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal council members. Now they are known as The Cardinal, where their mascot is a tree with bulbous eyes at football games. Traditionally, the mascots I feature are Purdue football opponents. Osceola rides his horse Renegade before a Florida State football game on Nov. 4, 2006. “They worked hand-in-hand with the tribe to talk to the NCAA and present our case, and I believe we were one of the first, if not the first school granted removal from that list.”. Comments are welcomed and encouraged. It is incorrectly used by the media and others when they refer to it as that way. The origin of the name was presented for a variety of reasons, with one of the main intentions being an increase in showmanship and pageantry from the student body. At the time CMU was considering a name change, other schools did as well ­– but for different reasons. Originally, in 1926, Central Michigan’s nickname was the Dragons, and then, a year later, a group of students suggested that they be named the Wildcats. Even though Heeke was not athletic director at the time, he had been watching the situation unfold. A group of fans proposed the nickname Wildcats, because CMU’s mascot, “should be a brave-fighting mascot that once roamed the woods of Michigan.” However, some felt Wildcats was too close to Wolverine, a name the University of Michigan had made their own, so Bearcats was used instead and would stay for another 14 years. OK Friends - I finally figured out this whole new-age blog thing. ( Log Out /  However, members of the tribe are against the use of their name and image as a mascot because it reflects a negative meaning toward their culture and heritage. CMU needs to grow some stones - if you chose an Indian name for your athletic teams, you need to follow up with an Indian mascot. In 1989, there was a moratorium – a suspension of activity – about the use of native imagery for the Chippewa mascot. It was an idea of creating a Native American as a mascot. The name Eagles was officially adopted in 1991. Such efforts to ensure the nickname is used properly include CMU copyrighting the Chippewas nickname to gain control over unauthorized use. Rob Wyman, director of athletic communications, said when the list was put together all it did was clump together the schools with Native American nicknames. The Central Michigan University Chippewas In 2002, Maynard Kahgegab, Jr., then chief of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and Michael Rao, president of Central Michigan University, signed a proclamation pledging their support for strengthening the relationship between the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Central Michigan University “for the enhancement of each other’s goals and visions and for the greater … These type of events bring in tons of money to the university, and is a reason to recruit kids to their school.”. When the teaching school evolved into a college, it allowed for the name to change once again on May 28, 1941. ( Log Out /  In the 1970s there was a national movement about the use of native imagery for sports teams, which included Stanford University. But it only sticks for a year.”. “Coach Sweeney cited many reasons, and there were few objections,” Whitledge said. “We were granted as one of the relationships that could continue and that would not be sanctioned by the NCAA in any way.”. No logos or mascots could be present during the games. Now he intends to make sure CMU is not known for having a hostile mascot. However, the administration that instituted this folded, and a new university president was brought in, leaving the issue of the nickname unanswered. While the NCAA granted an exception to CMU, Florida State and Utah received similar exceptions. However, the U.S. government schools he was referring to were the boarding schools, including the one just north of town. “‘The Indian pow wow could replace a pep meeting.’”. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Pack up the tee-pee kids, CMU can't afford the lawsuits. (*2) Worn during the 2013 home game versus Toledo. This list included the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Illinois Fighting Illini, Florida State Seminoles, Utah Utes as well as CMU. Along the likes of the University of Michigan and Indiana University, this school has no physical mascot for their football team! AUBURN, MI – The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe wouldn't mind seeing some changes at Bay City Western High School. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Tribal leaders – including their chief – and the leadership of the university travelled together to the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis to argue why it should remain the way it is. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. CMU’s line coach, Lawrence “Doc” Sweeney, wanted a new name for the team that would bring about more “showmanship and pageantry.” The change of name was brought to the governing board for students – known today as the Student Government Association.