Simon Fraser University Football

[jerrym]

Simon Fraser University has decided to drop the Clan name for all its sports teams. Playing against American teams they have received a fair amount of criticism for the Clan, which comes from Scottish clans associated with its namesake, name with questions about whether it has anything to do with the Ku Klux Klan. There was strong support among student athletes to change the name. Since all SFU sports have cancelled through November 30th, the school has lots of time to pick a new name. Since the majority athletes prefer to change the name, this might not see a lot of opposition.

Simon Fraser University is getting a new nickname for its varsity sports teams. The “Clan” nickname has been retired, SFU announced Wednesday.

The university initiated a “stakeholder engagement process” in January after a poll of student athletes indicated strong support for a new name.

Meant to honour Simon Fraser’s Scottish roots, the term “Clan” has confused for the “Klan” of the KKK racist white supremacist group.


SFU says it will launch a process this fall to choose a new name, with “key groups within the university community” involved in the process

“SFU student athletes are very pleased with the decision to move to a new team name,” says Ryan Stolys, president of the SFU student athlete advisory committee. “This is something that we have been working towards over the last year and we look forward to supporting the process to determine a new team name, so we can proudly represent SFU in all aspects of competing in the NCAA.”

Many have suggested the school rename itself the “Highlanders” to continue to honour its Scottish roots, though all options are on the table. Whatever they decide, when student athletes return to competition, they’ll do so with a name they can be proud to shout.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/sfu-...-clan-nickname

[gilthethrill]

Simon Fraser University has decided to drop the Clan name for all its sports teams. Playing against American teams they have received a fair amount of criticism for the Clan, which comes from Scottish clans associated with its namesake, name with questions about whether it has anything to do with the Ku Klux Klan. There was strong support among student athletes to change the name. Since all SFU sports have cancelled through November 30th, the school has lots of time to pick a new name. Since the majority athletes prefer to change the name, this might not see a lot of opposition.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/sfu-...-clan-nickname

The proud Scottish heritage has been eliminated...erased really. Pretty sad that faculty and even the students were in favour of this change is worrisome.

I hope the new “improved “ name does not confuse or offend anyone.

[jerrym]

The proud Scottish heritage has been eliminated...erased really. Pretty sad that faculty and even the students were in favour of this change is worrisome.

I hope the new “improved “ name does not confuse or offend anyone.

If SFU goes ahead with a name such as Highlanders, which is being considered as noted above, at least the links to the Scottish tradition will be kept. My oldest son was on the SFU swim team years ago. They wore kilts and had a bagpipe playing to the opening ceremonies of swimming championships to celebrate the universities Scottish roots. It definitely made them stand out amongst all the teams. Everybody soon knew who they were. Swimming is a predominantly white sport, so there were virtually no questions about the Clan being connected to the Ku Klux Klan, especially with SFU having usually having more non-white swimmers (usually of Asian descent, including my son who is half Filipino) than the vast majority of American teams.

Incidentally, the New York Highlanders was the name of baseball's New York Yankees until 1913. I understand that team didn't too badly over its history.