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Post by valpotx on Nov 12, 2008 20:59:48 GMT -5
Not this again...every freaking year!!! There is nothing wrong with the name, and it really should not be offensive. I knew muslim students at VU who would cheer on the CRUSADERS at each sporting event, and did not even think of it as an offensive term meant to harm. It is just a mascot, nothing more. We could be called the Valparaiso 'Crackers' for all I care, and I would not take offense to that!
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Post by vufan75 on Nov 15, 2008 9:42:11 GMT -5
Ran across this on the university website. On November 17th, Conversations Project to discuss mascot. Interesting to note who the moderator will be, AD Mark LaBarbera! www.valpo.edu/news/news.php?releaseId=3811 |
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Post by 78crusader on Nov 15, 2008 10:48:03 GMT -5
Ran across this on the university website. On November 17th, Conversations Project to discuss mascot. Interesting to note who the moderator will be, AD Mark LaBarbera! www.valpo.edu/news/news.php?releaseId=3811That is why I started this thread. Look for a name change within the next several years. Paul |
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pgmado
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Post by pgmado on Nov 15, 2008 18:05:04 GMT -5
Having graduated from the University, and now working at the University, I would be greatly offended if the University changed the name. I wish I gave Valpo millions of dollars, because I would take every dime away if they changed the name.
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Post by agibson on Nov 19, 2008 11:36:04 GMT -5
Witness the fact that Valpo now has students from 55 other nations and the largest contingent comes from----(drum roll please), SAUDI ARABIA. So much for being offended by the name and driving students elsewhere. It's specifically because of the significant body of Muslim students that I think we should consider changing the name. It seems pretty offensive to me. What would you guys think of attending a school whose mascot was the Jihadi? Or the Mujahideen? I don't know if it makes Muslims less comfortable on campus, or hurts recruiting, or not. It would be interesting to hear their opinion. Not that I have great alternatives... The Valpo Dunes? The Martin Luthers? The tornadoes is probably as good of a suggestion as I've heard. Or some generic animal name, I guess. |
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Post by vuweathernerd on Nov 19, 2008 12:41:30 GMT -5
from everything i've seen, most of the muslim students don't care one way or the other. although i can think of close to 200 students that would be happy if we changed to the tornadoes.
and if we continue with this quick uptempo offense in basketball, the name might actually fit too.
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Post by fwalum on Nov 19, 2008 16:23:13 GMT -5
Witness the fact that Valpo now has students from 55 other nations and the largest contingent comes from----(drum roll please), SAUDI ARABIA. So much for being offended by the name and driving students elsewhere. It's specifically because of the significant body of Muslim students that I think we should consider changing the name. It seems pretty offensive to me. What would you guys think of attending a school whose mascot was the Jihadi? Or the Mujahideen? I don't know if it makes Muslims less comfortable on campus, or hurts recruiting, or not. It would be interesting to hear their opinion. Not that I have great alternatives... The Valpo Dunes? The Martin Luthers? The tornadoes is probably as good of a suggestion as I've heard. Or some generic animal name, I guess. Man, I guess we better tear down the Chapel of the Resurrection and remove any reference to Christ or the Cross from any building or class. What where we thinking!!!  Almost everything about VU is offensive, lets just close the place down! |
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vu75
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Post by vu75 on Nov 19, 2008 18:27:22 GMT -5
With a bow towards tradition bring back the Uhlan.
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Post by valpofan56 on Nov 19, 2008 21:19:38 GMT -5
Having graduated from the University, and now working at the University, I would be greatly offended if the University changed the name. I wish I gave Valpo millions of dollars, because I would take every dime away if they changed the name. That's exactly what Ralph Engelstad did at the University of North Dakota. Wikipedia ArticleAs a side note, Ralph Engelstad Arena is, in my opinion, the most beautiful hockey arena in the country, at any level! I'm not alone in that thought either as Wayne Gretzky called it "one of the most beautiful buildings we have in North America." |
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Post by stlvufan on Nov 20, 2008 14:30:58 GMT -5
It's specifically because of the significant body of Muslim students that I think we should consider changing the name. It seems pretty offensive to me. What would you guys think of attending a school whose mascot was the Jihadi? Or the Mujahideen? I don't know if it makes Muslims less comfortable on campus, or hurts recruiting, or not. It would be interesting to hear their opinion. Not that I have great alternatives... The Valpo Dunes? The Martin Luthers? The tornadoes is probably as good of a suggestion as I've heard. Or some generic animal name, I guess. Man, I guess we better tear down the Chapel of the Resurrection and remove any reference to Christ or the Cross from any building or class. What where we thinking!!! Almost everything about VU is offensive, lets just close the place down! There is a distinction that needs to be made. There are things which are offensive which are nevertheless essential to one's very identity, and then there are things which are offensive which are *not* essential to one's very identity. It's really *not* "all the same thing". I'm not saying I'm in favor of changing the name, but since we all seem to agree that the "Crusades" are not really behind the Valpo team name, it is entirely fair to ask: "Then why are you defending that name so adamantly, if, as you say, it really doesn't mean anything?" Certainly one can also question why it is so important to change the name if it really doesn't mean anything, and it is not yet clear to me that there is any significant number of students who are offended by the name, but can we really be afraid to at least have the discussion? The Cross of Christ is very much a part of Valpo's identity, and these days it is not anything other than an option available to students to partake in if they are so inclined, so any offense given there is out of our hands. If I was a student or member of the faculty, I would certainly resist the removal of that symbol, though I would view the discussion as an opportunity to share its meaning openly. The team name, on the other hand, is what the latter 16th century reformers referred to as "adiaphora" -- things not essential. It is fair to ask after the motives of those who want to remove it, but to imply a simple domino effect is, in my opinion, to compare apples to oranges. |
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Post by valpo04 on Nov 20, 2008 14:53:54 GMT -5
The point is, this discussion seems to come up all the time, and it feels like there is this constant "threat" to change the mascot.
I stand by my thought that if the Washington Redskins can continue to play football as representatives of our Nation's Capital, no other team should be "forced" or talked into changing theirs.
This is the Wiki entry for "Valparaiso Crusaders:"
I didn't realize this already happened. Seems inevitable folks... Instead of sticking up for tradition, another institution bows to a little opposition.
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Post by valpotx on Nov 20, 2008 15:15:38 GMT -5
I didn't know that happened either... It is just another example of how just a few people can change something in this country. That is a good thing in general, but I still stick to my guns that it is JUST A MASCOT, not an offensive term...we are just too overly sensitive about trying to offend people nowadays, sue for this, sue for that.
The simple principle here is that it is a Christian university inside a mostly Christian country, and is a mascot just remembering the brave people who set out to who knows where for what they believed in. Should we not allow 'Leathernecks' since they are a term for people in our army, who have killed thousands upon thousands of enemy soldiers over the years??
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Post by vuweathernerd on Nov 20, 2008 15:48:43 GMT -5
the tidbit about the crusaderettes isn't entirely true. their uniforms don't say "crusaderettes." but they don't say"valpo dance team" either.
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Post by fwalum on Nov 20, 2008 15:55:38 GMT -5
I am no theologian like you stlvufan, but didn't the Genesio and Confessional Lutherans of the time reject this adiaphoristic philosophy? Weren't they afraid of the "domino effect" if they allowed the Catholic "indifference's" (things not essential) to be reintroduced? Isn't that why they opposed the Leipsig Interim? I probably have this all messed up.  |
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Post by vu72 on Nov 20, 2008 15:58:49 GMT -5
This sort of politically correct nonsense is just that, nonsense.
That is why we should all be happy, and grateful, to say "Happy Thanksgiving". not, "Happy Turkey Day" and of course, to say, "Merry Christmas" and not "Happy Holiday(s)". After all what "holiday" is it anyway? As Christians, and at a Christian university, you will still hear "Happy Holidays" from time to time. Stand up and be counted! Don't let those so easily offended ruin a tradition that is embraced by the vast majority!
I now return you to the Crusader thread...
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Almost everything about VU is offensive, lets just close the place down!
