EMU To Remove 'Hurons' Logo Depicting Native American From Band Uniforms

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP/WWJ) - Eastern Michigan University announced Tuesday that it will drop logos depicting the profile of an American Indian and the word "Hurons" from marching band uniforms.

Interim university President Kim Schatzel notified the Native American Student Organization of the plans. The Ypsilanti school will buy new uniform jackets with no logos or symbols other than the block "E" on the outside, The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press reported.

The Hurons nickname and the school's mascot were dropped in 1991 after criticism they were demeaning to Native Americans. The school's nickname was changed to "Eagles."

Former president Susan Martin, who retired last month, returned the Hurons logo to the uniforms in 2012, beneath a flap and not easily visible, saying the Hurons logo was part of a celebration of the band's history. At that time, she told the News the idea was to show "respect to the past but embracing the fact that we are all together under the block E and love Eastern" later adding that her intent also was "to convey to Huron alumni that they're welcome."

The Native American group sought to have the logos removed. U.S. Justice Department officials met in June with university leaders and the student organization to discuss concerns about use of the Hurons logo and a harassment case.

In that case, Native American elder Nathaniel Phillips told investigators that students at an off-campus party in April were dressed in red face-paint and feathers. When Phillips told the students their dress was offensive, they reportedly threw a full beer can at him and told him to return to a reservation.

"It's a disgraceful part of the history," Mark Fancher, a staff attorney for racial justice for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said. "It is causing harm to the students. It needs to go."

Critics contend that it's racist and demeaning for schools to use American Indian nicknames and mascots.

For years, the NCAA has been pushing schools to abandon them, threatening sanctions against schools that don't comply or don't get the blessing of the tribe whose name they're using.

"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," Schatzel wrote in a letter posted online.

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