MARQUETTE — Several petitions on change.org deal with the question of whether to retire Marquette Senior High School’s Redmen/Redette nicknames.

The Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education has been considering the recommendation by the Marquette Senior High School Nickname Research Committee to discontinue the long-standing nicknames, much to the chagrin of some people in the region. However, other people feel a change needs to be made.

The board on Feb. 18 voted to discontinue the Indian chief head logo, but still has not decided on the nickname issue.

The petition titled “Support for Marquette Senior High School!” poses the question of whether support for MAPS depends on the outcome of any future votes.

The petition reads: “If we are residents of the MAPS district, we will not let the outcome of the ongoing MSHS nickname debate affect our votes on any future millage or funding requests that may come before us as voters. Support for our schools should not be contingent on any particular outcome of the nickname issues.

“Whether or not we are residents of the district, we will not support any effort to recall a current MAPS school board member (or members) as a result of the outcome of the nickname issue.

“We thank the members of the Marquette Area Public Schools school board, as well as all the MAPS administrators, teachers, and staff members. We greatly appreciate all the time and commitment that they give to the children of the MAPS district, and we’re aware that the current nickname issue has caused a great deal of stress. We stand behind our schools!”

As of Friday afternoon, 380 people have signed the petition, which comes with the request to reach 500 signatures.

The petition was started by Marquette United in Support of Our Schools.

Another petition, begun by Kristi Campbell of Cameron, West Virginia, is called “Save the Redmen/Redettes.”

This petition reads: “There are some who are opposed to the MSHS nickname Redmen/Redettes and want to do away with it. The history of how MSHS became known as the Redmen is imperative because the term can have multiple meanings.

“When first established in the 1920s at Graveraet High School, the term Redmen pertained to the school colors of crimson (red) & white. Over time the name morphed into something different after the Indian headdress was first introduced to the school via a janitor in the 1930s. The logo was approved by local tribes at the time. The logo is now gone and the nickname Redmen remains, but for how long?

“It is important to remember how MSHS became known as the Redmen and that the original usage of it had nothing to do with the natives. Please sign the petition to retain the nickname Redmen/Redettes!

As of Friday afternoon, the petition had garnered 2,938 signatures, with the request to obtain 5,000.

The website change.org allows people to create petitions on topics of their choice.

No timetable has been set for the MAPS board to vote on the nickname issue.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.