SAUGATUCK, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The Indians will be no more in Saugatuck.
Last night, the Saugatuck Board of Education voted unanimously to drop the long-time nickname for the high school’s athletic teams. The decision comes after a month of consideration stemming from last month’s board meeting in which Julie Dye of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians “provided education and awareness surrounding the misrepresenting of Native names.”
According to Dr. Tim Travis, superintendent of Saugatuck Public Schools, a special committee will look at new nicknames. “The committee will be representative of students, athletic department members, administrators, members of the community, to come up with recommendations,” he said during an appearance on “WHTC Morning News” last month when the subject was first brought up. “We probably would poll, take suggestions from all over the community and narrow it down, to see about what type of name would fit the community and would represent the student body, maybe something that might be unique.”
A deadline of December 31st for a determination of a new Saguatuck Public Schools nickname was set.
