MORE PC IDIOCY

Minuteman faces P.C. onslaught (RON CHIMELIS, 05/07/2003, The Republican)

Having stood up bravely to the British more than 200 years ago, the Minuteman is finding he may be no match for 21st century political correctness and marketing savvy at the University of Massachusetts.

By September, the UMass Gray Wolves men's and women's teams may be charging onto the field, while the gun-toting, single-gender Minuteman - a UMass symbol since 1972 - is sent to the showers for good.

Not since the arrow was removed from the pilgrim's hat on the Turnpike signs has such a debate raged over how the Colonial period is being portrayed in modern Massachusetts.

"Am I for the change? I'm for the process," UMass Athletic Director Ian J. McCaw said. That process began with the hiring of Phoenix Design Works of New York City, which introduced the Gray Wolves to eight focus groups involving 85 people.

The passion of the debate has not matched the levels reached in 1972, when the Minutemen nickname replaced the ethnically controversial Redmen name.

But there's no question the discussion level is growing.

"Gray Wolves would be unique in Division I college sports, and it's indigenous to the area," McCaw said. "The design company expressed some concern with the single-gender ethnicity of the Minuteman, and the fact he's carrying a firearm (in the logo) is also a concern."

Several years ago, when Colgate (alma mater) was discarding its Red Raider mascot because of its insensitivity, I had what I am forced to immodestly admit was a stroke of sheer genius. The school was founded as a Baptist seminary and still draws more than its faire share of legacies, though it has rather little connection to religion any longer. So why not adopt a name that fit--that's historically accurate, indigenous, complimentary, unique...the whole nine yards: The Colgate Scrappy Baptists. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 14, 2003 9:37 AM