Watch the video above: the debate over the Redmen name and logo continues days after a decision to retire both
SASKATOON – The decision has been made but the ‘Redmen’ name and logo remains a polarizing issue days later in Saskatoon.
The Bedford Road Collegiate principal is the latest to be scrutinized by the group who spearheaded the change and now others are weighing in.
When interviewed on Wednesday, the day after the Saskatoon Public School Board voted in favor of retiring the ‘Redmen’ name and logo, school principal Cody Hanke was sporting his school’s hockey jersey.
Wearing the Redmen jersey with the First Nations logo just hours after the vote caught the attention of the Change the Redmen Campaign.
“I don’t think we’ve done anything to attack principal Hanke himself, I think that wearing that jersey was a horrible decision, I think that it shows the school board really needs to step in,” said Erica Lee with the campaign.
Reading through some of the comments on the Bedford Road ‘Redmen’, it’s time for change Facebook page, school alumni Colin Kunkel says in some cases it’s going too far, singling out Hanke.
“Some of the comments were very disgusting, basically, blatantly and dangerously throwing around the term racist and bigot,” Kunkel said.
Kunkel graduated from Bedford in 1993 and he’s accepting the decision that was handed down.
When he tried to stand up for what he believed in, his comments were deleted and he was banned from the page.
“It’s been a very exhaustive argument. If any progress wants to be made then personal attacks on somebody don’t help, it only widens the gap,” Kunkel said.
“I commend the school board for making that step in making this change and now what I think is most important is that they follow it up with education and working with the students and teachers,” Lee said.
The school has until the start of the 2014-15 school year to have a new logo and name in place.
READ MORE: Calgary high school scraps ‘Redmen’ moniker
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