After 4 years of protests and debate, Eastern Michigan University has announced its decision to retire the school's controversial Huron logo a second time.
EMU's Interim President, Kim Schatzel, issued a campus wide announcement saying that, after an extensive process, the university's administration has decided to remove the Hurons logo from marching band uniforms.
Schatzel announced Tuesday that the university will be only buy new marching band uniforms that contain the college's block 'E' logo. Its current uniforms contain all of EMU's old logos, including the Huron logo removed by the school's board of regents in 1991.
In the press release, Schatzel noted:
"As we all know, controversy and questions surrounding the use of logos and symbols that are offensive to some groups or community members is a highly complex issue that is not isolated to Eastern Michigan University. I encourage you to read the full text of the Board minutes from the 1991 meeting. The recommendation provides a thoughtful analysis of the issues at hand, and is as relevant today as when first decided over 20 years ago."
President of EMU's Native American Student Organization Amber Morseau, says this decision brings her great joy.
"This is a very big victory not only for EMU NASO, but for all Native Americans in the community. We're very grateful that the University has come to this decision, and has worked with us on this issue."
Morseau adds, "It's a battle we've been facing for 4 years, and quiet honestly, I feel like the Native American Community deserves the respect, and it should not be seen as an image for sport."
EMU has announced no specific date for the change, but school officials say it will happen as expeditiously as possible.
