The Marquette University trustees have made the dumbest decision since someone decided, "Let's dig a really deep tunnel to store the rainwater. But not too deep." They were really given two simple choices.
They could have decided to change the name back to The Marquette Warriors. It would have been the popular decision, although it would've annoyed some very sensitive-sensitive types like faculty members and Native American activists. Sales of merchandise would've skyrocketed while grateful Alumni opened their checkbooks. Students would be proud that it was during their time at the university the school's prestige and heritage were restored.
Or, they could have decided to keep Golden Eagles. The alumni, students and other supporters of the name Warriors would finally have to accept defeat. There would be a bad day or two in talk radio and some alumni would still hang on to the dream of restoring the name they knew and wore with pride, but for the rest it would be over. They had taken their best shot, driven it as far as they could only to fall short. Fr. Wild would win and the issue would be dead forever.
But choosing the option not available, changing the name to the Marquette Gold, has only inflamed the campus passions and outraged all sides of the debate. Steve "the Homer" True, voice of Marquette Basketball, pleaded with callers to his talk show to help him see the good side of the new team name. At first callers ranged from the hostile to... hostile. Then there were a few lame offerings, but "the Homer" was left with comparing the team name to the Syracuse Orange. Finally, "the Homer" looked in vain for one Marquette student that supported the name change. It was like looking for the honest man at a Mafia convention.
The students are already marching in protest. I don't think they would be this riotous if beer sales were banned in Milwaukee. GOP3: the Triumvirate is leading the charge with petitions, rallys and the like. (I think I would change the name of the posting to something else. "On the war path" is just going to convince the trustees they made the right decision.) They post on events so far here and here.
Marquette University professor John McAdams has more reaction.
The new name will not placate those who want to change the name back to the Marquette Warriors. By choosing a third option, the trustees have demonstrated that a name is just a name and changeable with the winds of fashion. The Marquette Warrior fans have demonstrated for years they are not going to change in their desire to restore the lost glory to their university. They have seen weakness in the trustees and they will press on.
Maybe this will lead to far bigger changes to the culture of Marquette University and a more conservative university will result. Who knows what forces for reform the trustees have unleashed today.
