Morris Herald-News to stop using Morris High School nickname in its coverage

The Morris Community High School District 101 Board last May heard a presentation and recommendation from a committee that it change the school’s nickname, the Redskins.

The Morris Herald-News agrees with the recommendation, and starting this school year, this newspaper will no longer use the nickname in its coverage. We consider the name to be offensive and demeaning to Native Americans.

The name and mascot have been a topic of debate in Morris for several years, but last spring was the first time the matter has reached a level where a committee was formed.

The school board-appointed committee is made up of 19 people ranging from students and parents to interested community members. The committee voted 17-1 in favor of recommending to the school board that it stop using the name at the end of the 2021-22 school year. The committee pointed out a list of behaviors in the school’s handbook that are deemed unacceptable, including “using derogatory slurs.”

The mascot committee also recommended selecting a mascot that better represents the values of the community, the students and the school district.

The Herald-News supports the committee’s recommendation regarding the name and is suspending its use in our coverage starting now.

* Dennis Anderson is vice president of news and content development for Shaw Media. He can be reached at danderson@shawmedia.com.