Marquette won't rule out return to `Warrior' nickname

CBS 2 Chicago ^ | September 22, 2004 | AP

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

MILWAUKEE (AP) The caricature mascot Willie Wampum won't be dancing back to the Marquette University campus ... but school officials wouldn't rule out returning to the Warriors nickname of the past.

After a discussion today, the university's Board of Trustees decided to continue the conversation and gather more information before deciding whether to keep the nickname of Golden Eagles or return to Warriors.

The board also passed a resolution saying Marquette will prohibit any nickname using American Indian references, imagery or symbolism.

Some alumni have urged for years that the university restore the Warriors nickname. It was replaced a decade ago out of concern that it was insensitive to American Indians.

Marquette had been the Warriors since 1954, but the Willie Wampum cartoon figure was dropped in 1971.

The nickname issue resurfaced in May when the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, Wayne Sanders, said in a commencement address that he and another unnamed trustee would donate one (M) million dollars each for the university to resume the Warriors nickname.

[ThreeYearLurker]

Warriors, come out and playyyy!

[Incorrigible]

I thought the name change, which occurred shortly after I graduated, was silly.

Willie Wampum may have been over the top but the native Indian that did some dances before the games didn't do anything for me either.

How about a million dollars for a consistently winning team!?

[MisterRepublican]

I wasn't aware that the word "warrior" belonged to the Indians.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

I wasn't aware that the word "warrior" belonged to the Indians.

It doesn't, but the mascot (dumped years ago) was an Indian. They had a knight for a while, but the PC folks have long memories and lots of time on their hands.

[Chad Fairbanks]

It doesn't, but when used in conjunction with a stereotyping mascot, it tends to go a little too far. Lose teh mascot and keep the name seems reasonable...

[July 4th]

This is a huge issue in Milwaukee. Marquette is actually hurting from alumni who refuse to donate until the name gets changed. The students want it, the alumni want it, but the PC gods have the final say.

[clee1]

I don't believe this story... look at the source.

[gogipper]

Go Warriors!!

[RINOphobic]

You can believe it. I went to Marquette and still live in WI. The alum with the $Million eventually gave into pressure and donated the money with no strings attached. He said he hoped that the board of trustees would "do the right thing". I think he'll find that PC types only do the "left" thing.

[John O]

Marquette is actually hurting from alumni who refuse to donate until the name gets changed.

I'm one of them. I send every begging letter back (at least the ones with postage paid) telling them to change back to the Warriors.

I didn't graduate from a school whose mascot is a flapping turkey (or whatever they call themselves today) and I won't support one.

I'd go so far as bringing back Willie Wampum (even though he was before my time). He was a cartoon after all. The American aborginals need to get their breechclouts unknotted and get on with something more important.

[John O]

The alum with the $Million eventually gave into pressure and donated the money with no strings attached.

Why are fools entrusted with so much money? Never appease terrorists or the politically correct. Next they'll be asking this guy for money to support a gay residence hall or something.