Apparently, it’s not over until it’s over. At least if Margaret Brumm has anything to say about it.
I had hoped I wouldn’t be writing about this anymore since earlier this year when the MAPS School Board approved the new school nickname and logo. Silly me. I thought once the painful process had reached its contested conclusion, we’d move on to other important issues, like some new condo development or downtown parking meters. But alas, this divisive issue lives on.
The whole thing took a major step sideways Wednesday when two recall petitions were considered for approval by the three-person Marquette County Elections Commission, chaired by Probate Judge Cheryl Hill.
The first petition to be considered was presented by Marquette’s self-appointed watchdog of all things we should be concerned about… Margaret Brumm. This was Brumm’s second attempt at getting the wording right on her attempt to recall school board members Jennifer Klipp and Jennifer Ray.
Without going too deep into the weeds here, Brumm has indicated she feels the two board members, in their work to change the school nickname, have not adequately represented a considerable segment of the population who want to be Redmen forever. Additionally, they have failed to live up to some fiduciary responsibilities related to the rebranding, which I don’t totally understand, only because I can only process so much information. Frankly, the whole thing makes my head hurt.
Both Sides Now
Having subsequently spoken at length with both Brumm and Klipp, I find I sympathize with each of them. (I’m easily influenced by well-spoken advocates.) Brumm feels she’s doing the right thing by keeping our elected officials responsible for their decisions, while Klipp, although acknowledging the process hasn’t been perfect, feels the board has done nothing but work with the best interests of the Marquette school system in mind.
At the standing-room-only hearing, both sides had the opportunity to comment, and take as long as they wanted. Brumm passed, or said very little… I don’t recall. Klipp read from prepared notes (seen above as Jennifer Ray looks on) for a good 15 or 20 minutes. She was understandably passionate to the point where her husband had to finish her remarks. I say “understandably” because she, along with fellow recall target Jennifer Ray, have been the object of a campaign of intimidation ever since they were elected to the board, having run on the suggestion they would be willing to consider a nickname change.
Why impeach just Klipp and Ray when they were only two of the four who voted for the change? “They were the public face of the rebranding,” Brumm says, matter-of-factly. Her main grievance? “It’s a failure of them to properly manage the change.”
“Trustee Klipp voted to remove the Redmen and Redette nicknames from Marquette Senior High School.”
That simple wording on Brumm’s recall petition, the same for Jennifer Ray, was determined to be both “clear and factual” and was ultimately approved by the commission. You may recall a similar attempt was made by a different Marquette resident a couple years ago, as well as Brumm’s first attempt, and both were denied due to improper wording. But now, with the commission’s blessing, the work of the recall can go forward.
And “work” is right. Brumm has a relatively short period of time to collect the signatures necessary for the recall to make the November ballot. And though plenty of noise has been made by the “keepers,” those who opposed the nickname change, will they be willing to go door-to-door, clipboard in hand, collecting enough names, legal and accurate, to see the effort take the next step?
Brumm is confident she has assembled the team necessary to do the heavy lifting, with her leadership. Though she’s aware not everyone appreciates her zeal for flawless public accountability… conceding some consider her “insufferable,” she’s willing to be the face of the challenge.
Although the trials and tribulations of a recall are not what Klipp signed up for when she ran for school board, she says she’s willing “to honor the democratic process and the will of the people. Nothing but goodwill,” is what she hopes colors the path forward.
Two for the Price of One
The second hearing lacked the drama of the first, as resident Nathan Joyal presented his request for a petition to remove Brumm from her position as a member of the Marquette Board of Light and Power.
Joyal admits the wording of his petition request wasn’t all it could be, and the commission agreed… denying his effort to recall Brumm from the BLP board.
Casual observers questioned how Joyal could draw a line from Brumm’s efforts to recall school board members to her elected position on the BLP board. What does one have to do with the other?
Going forward without any legal expertise, Joyal felt it was necessary to challenge Brumm and her recall campaign. “I knew that my wording was a bit of a stretch. I don’t have any experience with politics or election litigation, so it’s not surprising that I stumbled a little going into it blind. For me, it was just important to stand up to this unethical conduct, and make a statement that actions have consequences, no matter who you are.”
He says he’s not giving up and plans on resubmitting his request with wording more acceptable to the commission. “I think that my core issue remains unchallenged. Until Margaret Brumm retires her disingenuous trademark registrations and publicly apologizes for turning in such a dark direction, that the need for me to file it remains in place.”
Joyal may not represent the majority of “keepers” when he indicates he’s ready to move on. “I was a Redman myself from 1999-2003. I was in the marching band, and we played at all the games supporting our team. I hope that everyone who feels proud of the contribution they made as Redmen to Marquette sports, can see that that legacy continues today in an unbroken way with a new generation of Marquette Sentinels.”
Though well-intentioned, I think Joyal’s protest of Brumm’s actions is a little off target and likely to be judged so by the public at large. But you have to appreciate his sentiment. More than a few people have tired of Brumm’s efforts to “disrupt due process,” as Jennifer Klipp put it.
Is it Over Yet?
As much as I and others may have hoped that “Sentinels” was settled law, as they say, Brumm assured me, “It’s not a done deal.” Citing the fact that other communities in a similar situation have changed, and changed back, Brumm believes a successful recall with new blood on the board could mean the rebirth of the Redmen.
Full disclosure… other than being a member of this community, I don’t really have a dog in this fight. I was never a Redman. I was a Viking, and if the folks in my hometown wanted to change the nickname, for whatever reason, I’d be fine with it. I would still have been a Viking, with all the attendant history, unchanged.
Is Redmen the most objectionable of the cultural identity nicknames? I don’t know. It’s probably worse than Braves but not as bad as Redskins. Regardless, it’s somewhere on the spectrum.
Here’s an idea. If we were to start from scratch, with a new school and a new nickname, would Redmen even be considered? I highly doubt it. And maybe that should tell us… we can start over, and do better. With Sentinels, I think we already have.