Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education Trustee Jennifer Klipp speaks at Monday’s board meeting regarding the harassment she said she’s received since voting to retire the Redmen/Redette nicknames. The issue has been a point of contention in the community for years. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — Two members of the Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education at Monday’s regular meeting expressed concern over online harassment directed toward them in the wake of the retiring of the Redmen/Redette nicknames for Marquette Senior High School.

Voting to retire the names on July 17 were Vice President Glenn Sarka and trustees Cherryl Maddox-Smith, Jennifer Ray and Jennifer Klipp. Voting to keep the names were President Kristen Cambensy, Secretary-Treasurer James Hewitt and Trustee Jason Zdunek.

On Sept. 1, the Marquette County Election Commission rejected petition language for a recall against Ray and Klipp because it was believed that it was not stated clearly and factually. Sarka was not included in the petition because his term will expire in December 2024, and Maddox-Smith was not included because she has not yet been in office for a year.

Ray and Klipp chose to speak out on Monday.

“Typically I take the high road, and I’ve just sort of let this kind of pass by me in hopes that it would dissipate, but I think it’s important I address the allegations and the lies and the harassment that continue online by a number of individuals targeting both of us,” Ray said.

She decided to make a public statement, she noted, since the “lies” were escalating.

Ray said she was accused online of jumping on the hood of a police car during a local Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

“I chuckle because that is not something within my expertise or something I would do, but it isn’t funny,” Ray said.

However, she did say that she was concerned over the safety of the protesters and had checked to make sure the young people at the event were safe.

Ray said there were two things to address in the MAPS situation.

“One is the fact that it is the adults in our community who are role-modeling for our children what cyberbullying looks like as well as spreading misinformation without any fact checking or due diligence,” Ray said.

Ray also stressed that the situation could undermine the “integrity and honesty, the functionality and legitimacy” of the board as well as the community that voted for them.

“This is potentially detrimental to our community,” Ray said.

She also addressed her harassers at the meeting.

“It is time to be the adult role models for our children,” Ray said. “It is time to stop the lies, the harassment, the bullying online. It is time to have a conversation. It really is that simple, and I say this to the point where I’ve been pushed. Otherwise, my lawyer is more than willing to help out here.”

Klipp said in her statement, “I’ve been accused of felonies, unfounded and meritless.”

Klipp, who did not elaborate on the accusations, acknowledged that she has a difference of opinion with people regarding the nickname issue, but indicated she will take action.

“If you come for my family, I’m going to protect it,” she said. “My husband is going to protect it. I’m going to protect my child, who is still a student in this district and has been harassed by the hearsay that continues to go on endlessly, without evidence, by a handful of people, and so I too have contacted my attorney.”

Klipp said she sent private, personal notices to people, asking them to “cease and desist,” and expressed hope that people will act within the boundaries of the law when they disagree.

“Please let us do our job, and please contact me if you disagree with me,” Klipp said. “But please stop harassing me.”

Sarka also spoke at the meeting.

“We’ve made a change,” Sarka said. “We’re moving on. We’ve got 12 years of students looking to us to make a difference and looking to us to kind of make their future fruitful and productive.”