"At Thursday’s “Chippewa” nickname forum, all the panelists agreed that Central Michigan University’s nickname, used for all athletics teams, needs to change.

They cited that the nickname is offensive to Native American people, and that the change would not be quick.

Instead of holding forums and talking about how the nickname needs to be changed, students and faculty that feel strongly about the nickname should act now to begin the name-changing process.

Discussing change and what should be done is important, but those discussions have been happening for years. In 2005, the NCAA deemed 18 schools used Native American symbols and names offensive and that they needed to change their nicknames and/or symbols. CMU was granted permission to use the nickname with the blessing of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribal leadership. CMU also has gone to the extent of eliminating all Native American-related lore in the athletics realm, including the omission of spears and feathers, in 1989.

But if there are problems with the nickname, then those students and faculty that feel it needs to go should step up and begin the process to change it.

Even though the process may take a while, the time to begin is now."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Action will change school mascot, not open forums and other talks (Central Michigan Life 11/9)

Earlier Story:
Thursday panel wants Chippewa nickname changed (Central Michigan Life 11/5)