MELROSE — Well-organized opposition continues to grow as Melrose High administrators work towards a possible change in the city’s athletic and extracurricular club nickname.
In a letter published in the Weekly News this week, members of The Transparency Initiative hit hard at both the move and process spearheaded by Melrose High Principal Jason Merrill to come up with another nickname for Melrose High. Merrill announced his intention last summer. Urging inclusion, change backers said the new name and “mascot” would have a connection to Melrose, the community and its history; would instill pride in the student body; would work equally well for all school co-curricular activities; represent positive qualities, ideals and associations; and be one that “people can feel good about.”
At a School Committee last week, Merrill updated the board on what has been done so far by those involved in recommending a possible name change.
Opponents also spoke at that meeting and in the meantime have expanded their thinking.
The authors of this week’s letter state, in part:
“As a result of the poorly planned and mismanaged process currently underway, numerous citizens spoke at the December 7 school committee meeting and expressed concern that the use of Native American symbolism—a practice abandoned almost six years ago—might continue. There is an enormous disconnect between reality and peoples’ misconceptions of what’s occurring. To that end, both the administration and the School Committee have demonstrated, repeatedly, their misunderstanding of history and distinctions between a school mascot, a school’s nickname (or moniker), and a school’s logo. The administration and the School Committee have failed to educate the wider school community about the history of the moniker, the use of symbols associated with the moniker, and the need to elevate informed dialogue surrounding any proposed change. Fortunately, a group of concerned Melrose residents has stepped forward to fill the void.
“The Transparency Initiative will be hosting a public forum at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School auditorium on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 7 p.m. and Principal Merrill has accepted an invitation to participate. The Melrose School Committee, Dr. Kukenberger and other members of the administration have been invited to attend. In the interim, a Free Petition was filed with the Melrose School Committee under Section 8-1 of the Melrose City Charter on December 7, 2021, to hold a public hearing within the next six weeks. The petition calls on the school committee to (1) keep and maintain the block-style ‘M’ for the Melrose High School logo, (2) to keep and maintain the ‘Red Raiders’ nickname or moniker for school sports teams, and (3) to prohibit the administration from pursuing the matter further without the authorization of the Melrose School Committee.”
School Committee members said last week they would be the ones to approve any change to the nickname for Melrose High.