University Drops Potentially Offensive Mascot

[Jerome]

State Journal

Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown has embarked on an effort to change its mascot from the "Crusaders," the name its sports teams have gone by since the institution's founding in 1968.

Matt Davis, the university's executive vice president. . . .said the mascot has not been controversial, but the university wants to head off any possibility of that happening. "In light of our global outreach and a more-advanced understanding of how things could be perceived, we want to avoid that," he said.

Anyone have a suggestion for an appropriate new mascot for this Baptist school?

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Crusaders was never a wise name for Christian school sports teams. The crusaders were far from Christian in their behaviour.

Good job Maranatha.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

That's not what the school's website says. This is an complete overhaul, with Maranatha Baptist Bible College changing its name to Maranatha Baptist University. It isn't just a mascot change, it's a complete makeover of the school's identity.

Will Maranatha be changing its logos, colors, seal, and mascot?​

Maranatha has engaged the services of a professional design firm to assist with the development of a new design language, but the core elements will provide a recognizable continuity in the transition.

The brand will be refreshed and the primary colors of navy and gold will remain.

Changes to graphic elements like our stationery masthead and executive seal will take place to incorporate the change to Maranatha Baptist University. The mascot will be changed through a public solicitation process that incorporates feedback from all of our stakeholders. The new mascot will reflect our mission to develop dynamic leaders.[Emphasis added]

Davis' quote in the OP makes it sound like they're afraid they're going to be picketed by some people group, like Native Americans are picketing the Redskins. The website makes it seem as though its a commercial education endeavor and has nothing to do with the mascot being "potentially offensive." While "Crusaders" isn't exactly a stellar image, it is part of history, and there are dozens if not hundreds of Christian schools at the secondary and collegiate level whose sports teams bear that name. So what? It just isn't that big a deal. Most people think "Crusade" today, they think Billy Graham. I think Crusaders is just fine.

 

[just-want-peace]

Much ado about nothing!
(Where have I heard that before?)

In today's wimpy society, any name chosen can/will offend somebody for some reason.

Spend the time & resources on bettering the school itself!:thumbsup:

 

[Gina B]

That's not what the school's website says. This is an complete overhaul, with Maranatha Baptist Bible College changing its name to Maranatha Baptist University. It isn't just a mascot change, it's a complete makeover of the school's identity.

Will Maranatha be changing its logos, colors, seal, and mascot?​

Davis' quote in the OP makes it sound like they're afraid they're going to be picketed by some people group, like Native Americans are picketing the Redskins. The website makes it seem as though its a commercial education endeavor and has nothing to do with the mascot being "potentially offensive." While "Crusaders" isn't exactly a stellar image, it is part of history, and there are dozens if not hundreds of Christian schools at the secondary and collegiate level whose sports teams bear that name. So what? It just isn't that big a deal. Most people think "Crusade" today, they think Billy Graham. I think Crusaders is just fine.

It was clearly there - in the sentence structure.

Okay it wasn't, but it was in the article he linked, not on the website you're posting about. :wavey:

Jerome, I like "Raindrops" or "Torrents." Both have to do with water, both tie into the name of the place the college is at, and water has spiritual meaning too.

 

[agedman]

Jerome, I like "Raindrops" or "Torrents." Both have to do with water, both tie into the name of the place the college is at, and water has spiritual meaning too.

The basketball team could be the dribbles, and the cheer squad the drips?

 

[Gina B]

The basketball team could be the dribbles, and the cheer squad the drips?

See? It's working out already! :laugh:

 

[John of Japan]

I suggest the Maranatha "Victors." That way when someone asks the opposing team, "Who are you playing?" they have to say "The Victors." :laugh:

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a Maranatha grad school alumnus, and it's a great school. :thumbs:

 

[Gina B]

I suggest the Marnatha "Victors." That way when someone asks the opposing team, "Who are you playing?" they have to say "The Victors." :laugh:

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a Maranatha grad school alumnus, and it's a great school. :thumbs:

Ooooohhh, that is good. Very good! :thumbs:

 

[John of Japan]

Ooooohhh, that is good. Very good! :thumbs:

Thank you kindly. :wavey:

 

[JohnDeereFan]

State Journal




Anyone have a suggestion for an appropriate new mascot for this Baptist school?

Why would this be offensive? I take it this school must not have any history teachers on faculty to explain to them that the Crusaders were the good guys.

Much ado about nothing!
(Where have I heard that before?)

In today's wimpy society, any name chosen can/will offend somebody for some reason.

Spend the time & resources on bettering the school itself!:thumbsup:

On Community, they couldn't find a mascot who wasn't offensive, so they ended up settling for the Greendale Human Beings.

 

[Jerome]

Maranatha Drops Crusaders Nickname in Bow to Global Society

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/31/christian-college-in-wisconsin-drops-crusaders-nickname/

Ibrahim Hooper, communications director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told FoxNews.com he welcomed the "Crusaders" change. . . ."I welcome the spirit behind the change," Hooper said. "It's obvious they thought about this. I applaud their effort."

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Maranatha Drops Crusaders Nickname in Bow to Global Society

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/31/christian-college-in-wisconsin-drops-crusaders-nickname/

in Bow to Global Society----what are they called now, The Wussies" ..... please, bowing to global society!

 

[Dr. Bob]

There is enough offense with the Gospel. To add needless offense with a ball-team's mascot is just stupid.

I also applaud the change as a wise move. NOTHING in their Baptist or Biblical or Academics or Mission is changing - just a name change *(from college to university) and window dressing. Two thumbs up.

From a small non-accredited school to an ever-expanding fully accredited program today with a -
college of education
seminary
nursing school
ROTC
40 majors + 120 minors
Maranatha Baptist University is the "West Point" of fundamentalism

[Full disclosure - I was part of the founding of the school and have the first Master's degree ever granted (1970) from their seminary, so have a vested interest in all things Maranatha. My wife received her undergrad degree from there and all three of my children earned BS degrees from Maranatha as well.]

Warriors
Hilltoppers
Thunderbirds
Riverhawks

 

[Jerome]

"Missionaries" join "Crusaders" on PC naughty list:

Whitman College, named for Oregon Trail missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, is being pressured to drop its "Missionaries" nickname:

http://whitmanpioneer.com/sports/20...ore-perspectives-from-the-athletic-community/

President Kathleen Murray pledged to address issues concerning the mascot by creating a working group to start a meaningful conversation about the possibility of change.

there’s a larger national conversation going on about issues of cultural sensitivity and generally speaking, power and privilege sensitivities

“The Missionary in general has a lot of bad connotations associated with it, because it was primarily white people coming and taking over in the name of God. Missionaries are doing this because of their religion,” Flemming said. “It wiped out an entire population and we celebrate the fact they did that.

 

[John of Japan]

"Missionaries" join "Crusaders" on PC naughty list:

Whitman College, named for Oregon Trail missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, is being pressured to drop its "Missionaries" nickname:

http://whitmanpioneer.com/sports/20...ore-perspectives-from-the-athletic-community/

After looking at their program on their website, I'd say they don't deserve the name. Might not have been a real missionary out of that school in 50 years or more. Besides, "missionaries" as an athletic team mascot? It doesn't fit.

 

[HAMel]

If this school changed the name of their Mascot to that of.., "The Wimpies" it would offend real wimpies. So what's the issue here? I watched a Mike Dice video the other day of him asking millennials on the streets of San Diego who was our Nation's Capital named after..., duh..., and none of them could answer the question. No one knew. Finally, he stopped two young folks who were visiting from Italy and they answered it right off.

Seems to me some of these folks need to be offended.

 

[Kevin]

What happens when someone claims to be offended by "Maranatha"? Everything seems to offend some group, these days.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Most too illiterate to pronounce "Maranatha" much less know its meaning.

In its first football season (1971?) I was a proud alum and pastoring in Michigan. Heard Walter Cronkite signing off CBS news with a story of "Mare antha" college in Wisconsin. He said if you think YOU are having a bad day, this school's first game, down 66-0 and called in 3rd quarter on account of darkness. He added there is only the way "up" from there!!

 

[nodak]

North Dakota was forced to give up its fighting Sioux, but Dickinson still has its Midgets and another school nearby its Deacons!