Redmen Forever Committee

 

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Redmen issue transformed Natick

By Charlie Breitrose, MWDN, Fri Jan 2, 2009

NATICK - The firestorm ignited by the push to change Natick High School's nickname did not start in 2008, but the blaze grew more intense this year and may well have a transformational effect on the town's political scene.

The School Committee's 4-3 vote in March 2007 to stop using Redmen as the school's nickname started the controversy, which spilled into 2008 with a ballot measure introduced by the newly formed advocacy group Redmen Forever.

Supporters pointed to the decades of tradition using the name for NHS's athletes, and also to the town's heritage as a home to the Praying Indians. Those against the name said the name is a racial slur and insults American Indians.

Voters approved the measure — by a vote of 6,085 to 3,291 — asking the School Committee to ``reconsider'' its decision to stop using the nickname, which has been in place since 1956.

``We probably ran the most successful losing campaign that Natick has ever seen,'' Jimmy Brown, co-chairman of Redmen Forever, said this week. ``What it did obviously do is pointed out many other issues in Natick.''

Following the election, the School Committee did take a second look at the nickname. To gather input and opinions the committee hired a law firm to examine the legal ramifications and held a public forum in Wilson Middle School's auditorium in May. Hundreds of supporters of the name and those looking for it to be removed showed up and spoke for hours.

In June, the School Committee gathered once again to vote and this time voted 7-0 to end the use of Redmen as Natick High School's nickname. The school now calls the teams the Red and Blue, the pre-Redmen name.

The Redmen Forever group considered pushing for another referendum, this time one which would be a binding vote, but that effort ended soon after the School Committee's vote.

Instead, the group went in a new direction, officially becoming a political action committee and named itself Natick Forever. Brown hopes to address other issues facing the folks who supported his effort to keep the nickname.

``The Redmen issue is the thing that kind of ties people together,'' Brown said. ``But I get a lot of questions - What can we do about this? What can we do about that?''

Natick Forever held a political ethics seminar in September, and Brown said the group plans to endorse candidates in the 2009 town election. He also hopes to see members push for more open and responsible town government.

``It's amazing when something comes in front of selectmen or Town Meeting and a question is asked about specifics and no one has answers,'' Brown said. ``That's seriously now what we are concentrating on, and (also) hopefully getting responsible people into office.''

http://www.wickedlocal.com/natick/town_info/history/x1277305371/Redmen-issue-transformed-Natick

Thursday, Dec 4th, 2008:

The Curse of the Redmen? Member NHS Class of 1980

As I sat in the stands at Bowditch Field last Thursday watching the annual Natick - Framingham football game it occurred to me that someone, or something, was missing. The Natick Blue & Red, or Red & Blue, or Black & Blue, or whatever they are called now, certainly played their hearts out, but something was missing. What could it be? The same outstanding head coach was on the sidelines as when I played football for Natick. The players looked the same size, best as I could recall. And the weather was typical of most Thanksgiving Days.

Then it dawned on me, as I almost slipped up and started to cheer for the team name that has been deemed unacceptable to utter by the thought police (Shhh...It's the Redmen). Indeed it was the mighty Natick Redmen spirit that was missing in Natick's 28 to 9 loss. The Redmen, the heart and sole that use to be counted on as a 12th man on the field, was nowhere to be found because it might be considered offensive to someone living under a rock somewhere who might (want to) be offended.

So after five straight years of beating the Framingham Flyers perhaps we are now seeing the beginning effects of...dare I say it..."The Curse of the Redmen". I sure hope not, especially since another local "Curse" took 86 years to overcome. So let's all remember this in March when we get to vote for various town offices. Those who placed this curse on us, namely the current Natick School Committee members, will get to hear how we feel about the "improvements" they've made. 

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x1508088464/Thalheimer-The-curse-of-the-Redmen

Natick nickname group to form PAC http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2109421758

Natick seperates politics from annual parade   http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1816438978

Marshall: Referendum needed on Redmen   http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x1816437710

Marshall: Redmen isn't derogatory  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x875594269

Redmen Forever changing tactics             http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x875593741

Redmen retired, maybe                                 http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/22

Natick school administrators to pick new name for Redmen  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1816435458

Redmen will no longer be Natick team name  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1816434780

Natick Redmen: then, now, and forever  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinions/x446777019

Ianni:  Stand for Redmen heritage  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x192205020

Pro-Redmen group issues legal opinion  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2058734906

Johnson: Nickname a sign of strength  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x2058734040

Mandino: Errors in handling the Redmen issue http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x491731027

Josselyn-Valukis:  Move on with respect  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x491728163

Valukis: No disgrace in 'Redmen'  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x1192323574

Redmen nickname won't face legal threat http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1880507071

Who has control over a school nickname? http://www.wickedlocal.com/natick/homepage/x1946826264

Ianni: Racism refocused         http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x1192321132

Redmen debate continues in Natick http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1485832844

Natick residents to sound off on Redmen nickname http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1976989112

Hall: Tradition should remain  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x1085157679

Lamont: Redmen unite on Wednesday http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x2124114809

Thalheimer: It’s your name and it’s time to take it back http://www.wickedlocal.com/natick/news/opinions/x883031658

Clifford: Worth a thousand words   http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x2124111603

Natick Redmen forum date set - May 7th         http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2103872114

Filledes: Waste of town funds   http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x886304195

Mandino: Democracy in Natick http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x1056546655

School Committee wants legal opinion on Redmen name http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/homepage/x1203966114

Letter: Embracing the Redmen http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/letters/x145401750

Thalheimer: Natick voters should keep treasured Redmen name http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/opinion/columnists/x1267040116

Voters support reconsidering Redmen name http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x78615853

Redmen backers aren't giving up    http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/archive/x414920176

Natick School Committee Minutes - 03/05/07 http://www.natickma.gov/Public_Documents/NatickMA_SchoolMin/2007/S00E12727

Click the following link to watch the 10 minute segment that aired 4/3/08 on WGBH (PBS) "Greater Boston" program hosted by Emily Rooney.  You might need QuickTime on your computer to view it.

http://streams.wgbh.org/online/gb/gb.php?file=gb20080403redmen1.mov&title=Should%20the%20Natick%20Redmen%20keep%20their%20name