Moving on…
The MAPS school board held a “Committee of the Whole Meeting” Monday night where they took an initial step in the rebranding process of the high school’s nickname. They’re moving on from dropping it to replacing it. The first part has been a little messy, and maybe not yet fully played out. Coming up with a new nickname could be a welcomed fresh start.
In this meeting’s more informal setting, the board discussed and identified parameters for the new nickname, and a timeline for making it all happen.
Those parameters, according to board president Kristen Cambensy, include: a name that’s unique to the area, not related to a protected class, and gender neutral. That’s a good start and leaves plenty of room for creativity.
Cambensy shared a few of the names she’s seen suggested, like Reds, Red Jackets, Mariners, Red Rangers, Yoopers, 906ers, Beacons, Black Rocks… etc. But that’s just a start. The board wants the community to know they are open to any and all suggestions. It sounded like they plan on doing some outreach to let people know how and where to submit their ideas.
They also acknowledged that current students should be involved in the process, as they should. However, I’ve seen it suggested that the students should be the ones to make the final decision. Bad idea. It was quite a while ago, but my peers and I… high school students, came up with a class motto, not to be shared here, which was deservedly rejected by our more responsible administration. Students should have input, but no more than any other group in the community, and certainly not the last word. To this board’s credit, Cambensy has indicated that the final decision would rest with them, and with that… whatever reaction follows.
I don’t have any great ideas, but I do have an example of one I think works pretty well, not for us, but for them. It’s the minor league Lansing Lugnuts. That’s a nickname that has it all. It rolls off the tongue, it’s alliterative, has cultural significance, and it’s pretty clever. Could we come up with something like that?
The board also tossed around a potential timeline, with the hope that the nickname could be in place by the new year. That might be a little ambitious, but I think it’s better to keep this on the fast track rather than let it linger. That’s the whole idea behind moving on.
Additionally, they discussed doing a survey, either to encourage more ideas or to see which seem most acceptable. The idea of another survey won’t go over well with everybody, but it would provide another data point the board can employ during their deliberations.
Because this was a “Committee of the Whole Meeting,” they apparently couldn’t make binding decisions, but the groundwork was laid for how to continue with the process. Hopefully at their next gathering, which will be the more official “Regular” meeting, they can finalize a firm plan.
I’m pretty sure the board appreciates the gravity of the situation, although that wasn’t entirely apparent at the meeting. Two members weren’t present and those who were there didn’t seem all that enthusiastically engaged in the process. Maybe that was due to the more informal nature of this meeting, but the board needs to know… the final decision on this issue will have lasting impact. You can approve Graveraet elevator repairs all you want, but the rebranding at Marquette Senior High School is going to be your legacy.
Final thought… don’t settle. Even if you have to adjust your timeline, this is one you have to get right. The best way to get past the bitterness brought about by the dropping of Redmen, is to replace it with something better.
In Other Words
• You may have seen the news that the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce was shutting down, at least for now. Really? An area chamber closing its doors? That can’t be good.
Well, as it turns out, it’s not for lack of interest in the group’s important work. Sources tell me someone used the chamber’s debit card on unapproved expenses and proceeded to empty the organization’s bank account. So it’s hopefully just a temporary closure as they work their way through the process of rebuilding the bottom line.
• Here’s some follow up to my recent story about a UPHS-Marquette patient being billed for a night’s stay not covered by her insurance. If you recall, she was admitted under “observation status,” without being informed upfront. So she ended up responsible for the bill.
Well, she appealed to hospital administration and has since been notified of a “courtesy adjustment” made to her account, meaning she’s off the hook.
She’s happy about that but still hopeful the hospital will re-examine their procedures regarding how and when they inform patients of such implications. If it was wrong for her, it’s wrong for everybody else too.
• One more note about south Marquette’s Gaines Rock condos, which I wrote about three weeks ago. A spokesperson for the condo owners association reached out with the following comment… “The co-owners of Gaines Rock Townhomes, many of whom are from Marquette and all with ties to the area, are excited to see our homes finished. We too are unhappy that this unfinished project is an eyesore for Marquette and we all look forward to the day that the site is completed.”
In other words, you can hate the play, but don’t hate the players.