Natick High to Replace 'Red and Blue' Name
Once known as the Natick Redmen, now the Natick Red and Blue, NHS will look to make another change, with suggestions from the community.
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When the Natick High School team name changed to Natick Red and Blue in 2009, it was met with much controversy from residents wanting to keep the traditional "Natick Redmen" name. Since then, some students, staff and other members of the community have been hoping to drop the "Red and Blue" for yet another name—a wish that may soon be granted.
On Friday, NHS principal Rose Bertucci announced she will be taking suggestions for a new team name to coincide with the opening of the new high school in September.
"The school colors will remain red and blue and the 'N' with the split colors will remain as part of the logo," said Bertucci in a note to families. "With the new school scheduled to open this coming September the time is right to open the process."
Once new suggestions are submitted, a professional designer will create the new logos and the NHS community will vote on its favorite.
Bertucci said that the name will not return to the Redmen.
"I recognize the name 'Redmen' holds a significant place in the history of NHS. It will not, however, be among the options considered," she said. "I appreciate that for some people the previous name represented a longstanding team loyalty and pride for their school. I also understand that even if you love a name for perfectly good reasons, when it does become a meaning that offends a portion of society then there is the need for change."
Students and staff are asked to submit name suggestions along with a reason why they believe their suggestions should be chosen. Other members of the community may submit suggestions to rbertucci@natickps.org to be shared with students and staff. All ideas should be submitted in writing by March 30.
"I look forward to making the most of this process, and bringing current students, alumni, and the entire town together under a new name," said Bertucci.
Are you glad the name is being changed? What would name would you like to see? Tell us in the comments section.
Tim Kelley
6:20 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
CLEARLY "REDMEN" OR JUST LEAVE IT ALONE ONE TOWN ONE TEAM ONE LOGO
Ben Jackson
9:23 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I'm glad Principal Bertucci is not willing to reconsider "Redmen." Other than that, I don't really care what our school team's names are.
PADDY
10:41 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
NATICK REDMEN was the name for Natick history reason the name should come back
NATICK REDMEN was a unity name for the town sports and the towns history of pride of who we are .
PADDY
10:45 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
NATICK REDMEN .... is Natick Pride
Ben Jackson
11:44 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Unless you happen to be Native American...
How would you feel if it were called "Natick Honkeys?" "Natick Crackers?" "Natick Paleskins?" Same deal.
Natick Redmen
2:20 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Not the same deal you lefty nut. For those of you who don't know Ben, he wants to get rid of the
Pledge of Allegiance because it is a “daily loyalty oath” and wants to remove Under God because it “forces them to aknowledge a deity” . Ben, you didn’t go to school here. You have no loyalty to the name. The name was started as
“REDMEN – the team that wears red”. Due to the town’s rich Native American heritage, it took on a logo of an Indian head years later. It was not meant to offend anyone. What is wrong with bringing back the name, and defining it “the team that wears Red” as it was 60 years ago??
Ben Jackson
2:26 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
LOL.
For those of you who don't know "Natick Redmen," well, neither do I, as s/he lacks the courage to use his/her real name (as is requried in discussion board guidelines, btw).
1. It was considered ok to call African Americans "coloreds" 60 years ago. Do you still find that acceptable?
2. What, exactly, do you think the pledge is, if not a loyalty oath? If you do not understand what the pledge is, perhaps you should not be too quick to discuss it.
3. You're right - I didn't go to school in Natick. However, I have lived here for nearly a decade. I have a daughter in the Natick Schools. I support Natick, and Natick businesses. I have every right to be vested and vocal about eliminating racism from public life, and from my town's avowed mascots.
If you can't see how the term "Redmen" is offensive, I suggest you do a very minimal amount of research. Not difficult to figure out. Then come here, under your actual name, and have the courage of your convictions if you want a debate.
Linda O'Leary
10:38 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
You are a good person.
Alissa Letkowski
2:39 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Hi everyone, thank you for your comments. Please do make sure you stick to the Patch Terms of Use and use your name when commenting. http://natick.patch.com/terms
Thank you
Rob Thorpe
10:35 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Natick Redmen. It's a shame that people have nothing better to do than get upset over something as ridiculous. If the town officials had any balls it would never have been changed in the first place. Oh and Ben Jackson is just the kind of knob you don't want running your town
Ben Jackson
8:59 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Ah, the personal insult. The last sad refuge of the ignorant.
Rob Thorpe
10:44 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Celtics, Redskins, Padres. I suppose we should change them too. Maybe Giants is offensive if you're short, animal lovers are irate over Jayhawks, Bruins & Cardinals. None of the Queens I know care about the Sacremento Kings. You left wing nuts always find something to get your knickers in a twist. Just when is it going to stop. Get some perspective and stop imagining something that isn't there.
Ben Jackson
9:05 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Are you seriously ignorant enough to equate monarchy with inherent genetic characterisitcs. If you truly believe that the items you listed above are somehow correlative to hundreds of years of genocide, racism, and oppression of Native Americans on behalf of European settlers and their descendants (read: YOU and me), then you are beyond even basic reasoning with.
Rob Thorpe
11:35 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
It's not ignorance Ben. It was sarcasm. Don't you have more important things to worry about. Do you truly think that when the name Redmen originated it was meant as a racial slur. Absolutely not! It's a cause that Conservatives like yourself have taken under their wing trumping up meanings and insinuations that were never there and never will be. When and where does the insanity stop. Oh BTW, I still think you & your lefty lunatics are all knobs. Not an insult - just an opinion.
Ken Ferguson
1:47 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Rob, Conservative and lefty don't mix
Change is our only Hope
5:26 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Remember, occupying ground at Dewey Square was "freedom of speech" too...how did that work out? Got to love the PC crowd as they will tell you what is best for everyone, including what school sports names you can and can't use.
Jesse
11:05 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
I looked into natick history and found this town had the first tribe of praying Indians converted with John Elliot's help. Natick praying Indians should be the new name if red man is refused.