Marquette Area Public Schools are changing their nickname

Marquette Area Public Schools will soon adopt a new nickname. The former Redmen and Redette monikers were retired last summer in a 5 to 4 vote by the Board of Education after members of the public argued that those names promoted racial stereotypes with regard to Native Americans.

In a meeting last night board members mulled over 24 potential new nicknames generated by students in Marquette Senior High School advisory classes.

The board members narrowed the list to the following nicknames for consideration: Cardinals, Hawks, Marauders, Reds, Redtail Hawks, Red Hawks, Red Jackets and Sentinels.

These names will be a topic of discussion at a Jan. 16 board meeting.

Criteria being considered in the nickname selection process include whether the name pays tribute to the unique aspects of the school district and community and that it does not reference any protected class of persons.

The Board will make a final decision as to the district’s new nickname on Jan. 22.