EMU alumni happy to see school bring back Huron logo, even if in limited capacity
The Eastern Michigan University Marching Band got new uniforms and on the inside are the former logos of the school. Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
“I didn’t support the university after they went to the Eagles, because I graduated as a Huron and the Hurons didn’t have a problem with the university using the mascot,” Evans said in reference to members of the Native American tribe expressing those beliefs in the past.
But when EMU announced that the marching band would be wearing the old Huron logo during the football team’s home opener Saturday against Illinois State, Evans (who graduated in 1989) was happy to see the return of the symbol he remembers from college.
“Bringing back the Huron on the band uniform, I think it's showing respect to all the past students and to the current students. It’s bringing everybody in,” Evans said.
Other alumni also welcomed the return of the old logo on Saturday.
“I realize that they’re not going to go completely back to the Hurons, but its nice that they recognized it a little more out in the open,” said 1995 graduate Mike Nielson who started taking classes at EMU in 1974.
The Huron logo sewn on Eastern Michigan band members' uniforms was not visible when they performed.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
Band members marched with the Huron logo on the inside of their jackets on Saturday. The logo, which accompanied the school's original "Normalites" logo on the jacket, was not visible when the uniforms were fastened.
It’s a step in the right direction according to some alumni, but it's too early to tell if it will work.
“That’s yet to be seen,” Nielson said. “It’s a good start.”
While some older alumni see the logo as a good thing, some current students and recent graduates seemed split on the issue.
“I think its kind of honoring the Huron tribe and I think that’s a good heritage,” said senior Kenny Barrett.
Barrett also said that he wouldn’t mind if the football team donned throwback uniforms with the Huron logo on special occasions.
“That would be sweet and that would get a lot of people here for that. And a lot of alumni would come back,” Barrett said.
Recent graduate Marc Carnacchi sees things a bit differently.
“I feel like I want those alumni back at Eastern, but I don’t want them to only be here if they’re only going to be Hurons,” Carnacchi said. “I think they should just support the university no matter what, regardless of what the logo or mascot says. We all went to Eastern Michigan and that’s what really matters.”
Matt Durr covers sports for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
TigerDoc
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.
Hurons Hurons hats off to you Fight fight fight for old EMU Shout to the sky the Hurons war cry The greatest will defy Hold that line for old green and white Loyal sons come show your might So fight fight for old EMU and victory! I am a Huron, and will always be. And while I disagree with changing the logo and nickname from the Hurons to the Eagles, EMU has 20 years as the Eagles. It is OK to remember the past, but it is time to go forward. Go Eagles!
John J Hubbard Jr
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 5:28 p.m.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2125735 This is story of the Ban by the NCAA that start in 2005 of American Indian mascots. @stunhsif, the NAACP has never been involved in this. Check out the link or just google NCAA Native American Mascots. It will all come up. Nothing about the NAACP.
John J Hubbard Jr
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 1:27 a.m.
There was an article written earlier this week on Mlive.com. They interviewed the Chief of the Wyandott Tribe, which was at one time part of the Band of Hurons. They are based in Oklahoma, he stated that they are not now, nor have they ever been offended by Eastern's use of the "Hurons" name. Pressure has come directly from the NCAA for all teams with Native American nicknames, mascots, etc...... to change them or face sanctions, such as not being able to use mascots on tv, not being able to host NCAA sanctioned events and so on. I think that this should be entirely up to the "people" that are supposedly "offended". I am a Huron, thru and thru. ONCE A HURON, ALWAYS A HURON.
TigerDoc
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
Actually, the nickname change was prompted by a recommendation from the Michigan Civil Rights Comission. The university Board of Regents and President Porter largely ignored the wishes and opinions of the Huron tribe. The recommendation came in 1988 and the change came in 1991, well before the NCAA's push to eliminate Native American nicknames.
greg, too
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 4:25 a.m.
Eagles or Hurons or Flaming Chickens? Who cares? The teams are horrible. They could steal the Wolverine name and they would still be one of the worst football teams in the FBS. "ONCE A HURON, ALWAYS A HURON." Really? And you made it to every single sporting event, mens and women's, during your 7 years of undergrad (it's EMU, 7 years seems like the min for a BA)? It's a sportis nickname for a school that doesn't have any decent teams. Get over it.
stunhsif
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 2:24 a.m.
The pressure at EMU came from the NAACP. The Central Michigan football team is still called the Chippewas. This was not an NCAA issue, it was an NAACP issue. Go Green Go White
AdmiralMoose
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 6:15 p.m.
Some alumni are happy; some are not. This alumnus was pleased when EMU did the right thing by replacing the Huron. Now I'm disgusted that EMU is pandering to a bunch of emotionally-stunted alumni who can't understand that people are not mascots. Sheesh.
Jeff Frank
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
Do you understand that the Huron tribes SUPPORTED the use of the Huron name and continuation of the logo? Do you think that you know better than they?
MRunner73
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 4:44 p.m.
The Huron Native American Tribe should be proud. Excuse me but isn't one of the Great Lakes named after them? How about the City of Pontiac. Didn't GM have an Indian logo on that? (before they phased out the Pontiac) There are dozens of counties in MI names after local tribes as well as rivers and lakes. Least I forget, the state of Wisconsin as well as their dozens of city, county, rivers and lakes named after local tribes.
music to my ear
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
no comment
Davidian
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 2:35 p.m.
In my personal experience, the only people that were offended by the logo were white people on the far left.
Jeff Frank
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
Actually, it was mostly students from the Lakota tribe that were the instigators on campus.
stunhsif
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 2:18 a.m.
Read the article Davidian, the Huron tribe always endorsed EMU using their name and they endorsed the logo as it was designed years ago, they are not caucasian. It was not white people who opposed this Davidian, it was the NAACP which does not have many white members, at least not that I know of ! Oops, I just re-read your post, I am in complete agreement with you. Please accept my apoligies ! Go Green Go White
MsWebster
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
Shhhh, don't tell anybody ~ there's a secret Huron Logo on the inside of the EMU Marching band uniforms ~ now you bitter alumni have no excuse not to support the school ~ and if you give us some money, we'll open the jackets up just enough so you can see it.
Robert Coon
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
How did EMU get access to the Huron Restoration logo, which is shown on the band uniforms*? The fact that it's not the official EMU Huron logo seems fishy. * The new band uniforms look good!
Jeff Frank
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
Nice catch! I didn't notice that they were using the logo as I redesigned it after Eastern complained about HRAC using "their" logo.
stunhsif
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 1:23 p.m.
Till the Huron name and logo fully replaces the Eagle name and logo, I will not give any financial support to the school I got my undergraduate degree from. The fact that the school caved to "political correctness" despite the Huron tribe supporting the continued use of their name is just pathetic. Bring back the Huron name and I will open my wallet. Go Green Go Whtie
Rimshot
Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.
What a childish attitude. Grow up.
rf9
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
AMEN !
Watcher
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 11:51 a.m.
Too bad Red Simmons isn't alive to see this small concession.