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Post by 78crusader on Nov 11, 2008 11:00:24 GMT -5
I notice that on November 17th there will be a discussion on campus regarding the VU Crusader name. My prediction: this is the beginning of a long process in which the Crusader name will eventually be replaced in favor of a more politically correct one. Don't think it won't happen. Wheaton College did the same thing 4-5 years ago, going from the Wheaton Crusaders to the Wheaton Thunder. Many years ago (back in the 50s and 60s) Wheaton and VU played football every year, with the winner taking home the Crusader Shield. I kinda wish VU still played Wheaton. They would be good competition. Paul
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Post by valpo04 on Nov 11, 2008 11:21:53 GMT -5
The Crusader is offensive and a change is being discussed, meanwhile over in DC the Washington Racial Slurs continue to play football.
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Post by jj on Nov 11, 2008 11:35:19 GMT -5
A great idea and most approprite. The "Crusaders" representing a self proclaimed "faith based" university is a turn off for many prospective students. Case in point (previously mentioned),my grandniece from Carmel chose DePauw over Valpo because she felt and heard that Valpo was too religious. Was she right?
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Post by vu72 on Nov 11, 2008 11:56:00 GMT -5
A great idea and most approprite. The "Crusaders" representing a self proclaimed "faith based" university is a turn off for many prospective students. Case in point (previously mentioned),my grandniece from Carmel chose DePauw over Valpo because she felt and heard that Valpo was too religious. Was she right? If your niece has the same opposition to religion that you have expressed on this board I have no doubt about why she chose DePauw. Obviously she never set foot on the campus or spoke with any students. Sure Valpo is faith based and correctly proud of her Lutheran heritage. The idea that Valpo is offensive to people of other religious or ethnic backgrounds, based on our nickname, is silly on its face, and unsubstantiated. 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. Now, how do all you eastcoasters feel about the REDSKINS???
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Post by stlvufan on Nov 11, 2008 12:04:02 GMT -5
A great idea and most approprite. The "Crusaders" representing a self proclaimed "faith based" university is a turn off for many prospective students. Case in point (previously mentioned),my grandniece from Carmel chose DePauw over Valpo because she felt and heard that Valpo was too religious. Was she right? Ironically, there was a time when Valpo was "too religious" -- back in the early 60's. I happen to know one of the members of the faculty back then who helped spearhead a program of courses (1 year in length, maybe 2, not sure) in the Religion department that were required for all students, and of course they weren't simply courses in religion in general, but Christianity in particular. My understanding is that after a few years, the university scrapped the program (or at least made it optional) for all sorts of reasons, including the one you allude to. I find it hard to believe Valpo today is "too religious". That may well beg the question about why we continue to hold onto the name Crusader. Changing the name does not change the culture, in my opinion. On the other hand, changing the name may be a good marketing move and I see no faith-based reason why it would be necessary to preserve the name. It does, it seems to me, reflect the general aversion in our society to even the generic concept of "crusade" -- a concept I think we should not be so quick to throw overboard -- but simply having the current VU name does absolutely nothing to defend that concept. If all it does is turn people off or provide comfortable nostalgia for some, it may be time to retire the name. But, that's assuming that the name IS indeed a negative marketing impact, and I don't know that that has been shown yet. I certainly have no insight on that myself.
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Post by valpo04 on Nov 11, 2008 12:06:24 GMT -5
A great idea and most approprite. The "Crusaders" representing a self proclaimed "faith based" university is a turn off for many prospective students. Case in point (previously mentioned),my grandniece from Carmel chose DePauw over Valpo because she felt and heard that Valpo was too religious. Was she right? If your niece has the same opposition to religion that you have expressed on this board I have no doubt about why she chose DePauw. Obviously she never set foot on the campus or spoke with any students. Sure Valpo is faith based and correctly proud of her Lutheran heritage. The idea that Valpo is offensive to people of other religious or ethnic backgrounds, based on our nickname, is silly on its face, and unsubstantiated. Witness the fact that Valpo now has students from 55 other nations and the largest contingent comes from----(drum role please), SAUDI ARABIA. So much for being offended by the name and driving students elsewhere. Now, how do all you eastcoasters feel about the REDSKINS???The Crusader is offensive and a change is being discussed, meanwhile over in DC the Washington Racial Slurs continue to play football.
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Post by vuweathernerd on Nov 11, 2008 12:29:33 GMT -5
Don't think it won't happen. Wheaton College did the same thing 4-5 years ago, going from the Wheaton Crusaders to the Wheaton Thunder. that's about the only change i would consider supporting. but i'm biased. that, or maybe the tornadoes. ;D
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Post by vu72 on Nov 11, 2008 12:55:27 GMT -5
Don't think it won't happen. Wheaton College did the same thing 4-5 years ago, going from the Wheaton Crusaders to the Wheaton Thunder. that's about the only change i would consider supporting. but i'm biased. that, or maybe the tornadoes. ;D Now THAT is funny!!
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Post by crusaderjoe on Nov 11, 2008 13:39:12 GMT -5
Let's just drop "RS" from the name and brand as the Valparaiso "Crusade". Make the name synonymous with "campaign". That makes the nickname generic in the sense that it can be applied to anything, so it's not offensive to anyone. The main nickname remains intact.
And then while we are at it, if we are changing the name, let's change the logo and the colors. If we can't change the colors, then let's at least add a red trim a la what the Pittsburgh Pirates did and spruce things up a little on the uniform front.
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Post by leftcoast on Nov 11, 2008 15:50:00 GMT -5
IMO Valpo should never lose sight of its faith-based heritage. There are plenty of non faith-based institutions for prospective students to choose from, but not nearly enough truly religious (particularly Lutheran) schools with excellent scholarship and a good variety of programs that only a true university can offer.
I think the Crusader name is fine and I doubt it has much to do with a student's selection of a university. I do agree with crusaderjoe that the colors could be spruced up a bit and the logo could be revised.
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Post by milwvu04 on Nov 12, 2008 1:18:20 GMT -5
I was hoping someone resurrected an old thread and we weren't having to go over this again. I like the names you hear with minor league teams or some of the Arena Football names: Crush Rattlers Gladiators Blaze Rampage Brigade Destroyers Desperados Predators Avengers Soul (Wait... really? Soul? That name doesn't belong with the rest of this list. Who was the loser in Philly to pick that name to go with these others? Unless it is the "We'll tear your team apart and devour your soul" meaning.)
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Post by milwvu04 on Nov 12, 2008 1:34:24 GMT -5
I do agree with crusaderjoe that the colors could be spruced up a bit and the logo could be revised. Spruce up the colors!? Every time I flush the toilet, I'm proud of our brown and gold! And the logo is an homage to Notre Dame, since we strive to be just like them.
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Post by fwalum on Nov 12, 2008 2:19:37 GMT -5
I was hoping someone resurrected an old thread and we weren't having to go over this again. I like the names you hear with minor league teams or some of the Arena Football names: Crush Rattlers Gladiators Blaze Rampage Brigade Destroyers Desperados Predators Avengers Soul (Wait... really? Soul? That name doesn't belong with the rest of this list. Who was the loser in Philly to pick that name to go with these others? Unless it is the "We'll tear your team apart and devour your soul" meaning.) I guess none of you has heard the new name for the former Fort Wayne Wizards minor league baseball team. With the move to the new downtown stadium, We are now to be known as the Fort Wayne TinCaps or was it the PotHeads...... supposedly in honor of Johnny Appleseed pictured in some literature as wearing a pot on his head. I say leave well enough alone. If you are choosing a school based upon their athletic team nickname then I feel sorry for you, please go to another school. There was a time when schools picked mascots for their ferocity, strength, loyalty and honor. In order to be non-offensive to someone we would probably have to change our name to the VU Daises. That certainly would go well with brown and gold/yellow. Oh wait... that might offend some environmental group!
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Post by vuweathernerd on Nov 12, 2008 10:13:30 GMT -5
I do agree with crusaderjoe that the colors could be spruced up a bit and the logo could be revised. Spruce up the colors!? Every time I flush the toilet, I'm proud of our brown and gold! it's like a natural way of showing our love for vu.
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Post by vufan75 on Nov 12, 2008 12:53:03 GMT -5
I was hoping someone resurrected an old thread and we weren't having to go over this again. I like the names you hear with minor league teams or some of the Arena Football names: Crush Rattlers Gladiators Blaze Rampage Brigade Destroyers Desperados Predators Avengers Soul (Wait... really? Soul? That name doesn't belong with the rest of this list. Who was the loser in Philly to pick that name to go with these others? Unless it is the "We'll tear your team apart and devour your soul" meaning.) I guess none of you has heard the new name for the former Fort Wayne Wizards minor league baseball team. With the move to the new downtown stadium, We are now to be known as the Fort Wayne TinCaps or was it the PotHeads...... supposedly in honor of Johnny Appleseed pictured in some literature as wearing a pot on his head. I say leave well enough alone. If you are choosing a school based upon their athletic team nickname then I feel sorry for you, please go to another school. There was a time when schools picked mascots for their ferocity, strength, loyalty and honor. In order to be non-offensive to someone we would probably have to change our name to the VU Daises. That certainly would go well with brown and gold/yellow. Oh wait... that might offend some environmental group! I agree with fwalum. The name is nothing more or less than an athletic team nickname. I don't think the name was chosen to make a political statement way back when. IMO, the world has become way too "pc".
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