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North Dallas suburb's school board changes nickname from Coons [Racially Offensive]
Associated Press ^ | March 5, 2002 | A/P Staff

Posted on 03/05/2002 5:03:33 AM PST by MeekOneGOP

North Dallas suburb's school board changes nickname from Coons

03/05/2002

The Associated Press

FRISCO, Texas — The Frisco Fighting Coons are no more.

Some students and parents in the North Dallas suburb had complained the nickname was racially offensive, and the Frisco School Board agreed Monday night, voting unanimously to change the nickname from Coons to Raccoons.

Superintendent Rick Reedy recommended the change.

Of several dozen people at Monday night's board meeting, many were vocal in their desire to keep the nickname the same as its been for 78 years. Some wore T-shirts and had signs in their yards reading, "Don't Rac my Coons."

Supporters said they had never learned to use "coon" as a racial slur and were proud of the nickname, created in 1924 when no one attached any racial significance to the name.

But school trustee Jimmy Gaffney said Monday night that it's time for a change.

"My dad thought it was the greatest thing going, and he is a racist, I'll be honest with you. I never taught this to my children. I don't want them to be a part of it. And I think our children today don't want to be a part of it," Gaffney said.

"I don't see any walls built at our school between our children, and I don't want to start that," Gaffney said.

Coon Memorial Stadium already had been changed to FISD Memorial Stadium. Frisco's water tower will have to be repainted, and T-shirts, bumper stickers and other signs will have to be changed to reflect the new nickname.

Students' reactions varied. "No one has ever said anything, ever, that I know of," said Jenny Forwark, who is white.

But black student LaVaughn Oliver, a sophomore, said, "I have a friend whose grandfather was killed by a Klan member, and he had that etched in on his chest, and it bothered him."

Valarie Blackman, another black student, said, "A lot of what's happening, you have new people moving in who have a tendency to take offense to that, as compared to the people who have always been here."

Track coach Steve Anthony, who is white, told Dallas television station WFAA: "If we're the Powder Puffs and we win football games and track meets, I don't care, that's my opinion. But for the kids to be made fun of, I don't think it's the appropriate thing."

Trustee Jane Whitledge said earlier, "I'm hoping that people understand that using the word raccoon in its full spelling is a way to maintain the tradition."

The superintendent late last week recommended the change, adding, "I feel that all decisions we make must come down to what is right for kids. It's important for students to be able to be proud of their school, and that includes its mascot. If one student is made to feel uncomfortable, that is one too many."

(ap.state.online.tx 0800 03/05/2002 01:36:02 )


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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Easy Link
http://www.dallasnews.com/texassouthwest/ap/stories/AP_STATEGS_0800.html

I have live in the Dallas Metroplex for 30 years now and I had never heard of this school's moniker/name before today. This story was on the radio this morning, 102.9 FM KDMX.

1 posted on 03/05/2002 5:03:34 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: ALL
Related:

Frisco board alters school's moniker
http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/city/collin/stories/030502dnmetraccoon.9885f.html

2 posted on 03/05/2002 5:05:41 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: MeeknMing
Oops! "live" s/b "lived"
3 posted on 03/05/2002 5:07:39 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: MeeknMing
Glad they got rid of it. Racoon sounds better anyway. I became aware of this racial name when I moved to Phoenix. I do not believe this to be a proper thing to call a team. They also used the term spook. With all due respect to Casper the friendly ghost I hope this is also not used anywhere.
4 posted on 03/05/2002 5:09:07 AM PST by ImphClinton
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To: MeeknMing
I grew up in Pekin, Illinois, a small town exactly on the opposite side of the world as Peking, China.

Our nickname was the Pekin Chinks. [And yes, it got changed years ago.]

5 posted on 03/05/2002 5:10:01 AM PST by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: MeeknMing
Did they say which lawyer represented the offended racoons?

The should change their name to the "We Bend Over And Take It Up The Wazoo For Liberals". I'll admit it's not a catchy name, but it's true.

6 posted on 03/05/2002 5:10:43 AM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: MeeknMing
Over 2/3 of black babies born last year in the U.S. were illegitimate - but let's worry about serious things like the nicknames of high-school sports teams!
7 posted on 03/05/2002 5:12:15 AM PST by glc1173@aol.com
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To: glc1173@aol.com
Those ba$tards!
8 posted on 03/05/2002 5:14:05 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: MeeknMing
Sounds reasonable. PC has gone WAY too far in many other cases, but the mascot isn't really changing in this case... just being clarified. The students will certainly continue to call themselves 'Coons just to be defiant and rebellious.
9 posted on 03/05/2002 5:14:52 AM PST by Teacher317
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To: Constitution Day
LOL!
10 posted on 03/05/2002 5:15:31 AM PST by Teacher317
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To: Squantos; GeronL; Billie; sinkspur; Slyfox; San Jacinto; SpookBrat; COB1; DainBramage; Dallas...
(((PING))))))
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my ping list!. . .don't be shy.
11 posted on 03/05/2002 5:15:48 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: MeeknMing

Duke, spokesdog for Coon Hounds of America, said his organization is not contemplating changing its name. "Naw, our members don't really care about such things," he said.
12 posted on 03/05/2002 5:19:25 AM PST by mountaineer
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To: 11th Earl of Mar
A small town in W.Va., Poca, has named its high school team the "Dots." That probably offends freckled people, but there's been no indication a name change is in the offing.
13 posted on 03/05/2002 5:21:14 AM PST by mountaineer
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To: Teacher317
8^)
14 posted on 03/05/2002 5:21:26 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: MeeknMing
This actually sounds like a reasonable change to me. I can't see getting up in arms about going from 'Coons to Raccoons.
15 posted on 03/05/2002 5:22:30 AM PST by Sloth
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To: 11th Earl of Mar
Our nickname was the Pekin Chinks. [And yes, it got changed years ago.]

When the Brady Bunch got the Washington Bullets to change to the Washington Wizards, I wonder if they considered the fact that "Wizard" was too close to "Grand Wizard."

I am more pissed about the St. John's Redmen changing to Red Storm. Coon to Racoon isn't that big of a deal.

16 posted on 03/05/2002 5:23:12 AM PST by Clemenza
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To: MeeknMing
I'm with the name change in this case. The name can be used as an obvious racial slur, it's easily changed to the full name, and it hurts no one.

I distinguish between your garden variety PC decisions, and ones which are just thoughtful, and perhaps even kind.

btw, I'm a Cleveland Indians' fan who is against a name change there because the name was given to the team out of respect for one of its early players, and as a symbol of strength.

17 posted on 03/05/2002 5:23:57 AM PST by ohioWfan
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To: MeeknMing
Gee in NEW BRITAIN, Conn "educational value outweighed politics."
18 posted on 03/05/2002 5:24:46 AM PST by Lockbox
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To: 11th Earl of Mar
I grew up in Pekin, Illinois, a small town exactly on the opposite side of the world as Peking, China.

Maybe in longitude, but the real opposite point would be in the southern hemisphere.

19 posted on 03/05/2002 5:26:25 AM PST by Sloth
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To: MeeknMing
What do we do about Louisiana?

Many of the people who live in that state call themselves ‘Coon Asses’.

20 posted on 03/05/2002 5:27:08 AM PST by Lockbox
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