Update, 3 p.m. August 4: The South Burlington School Board will likely address the controversy over the “Rebels” nickname at its meeting on August 19. Superintendent David Young, who is not taking a position as of now, says he will add the topic to the agenda. The session is at 7 p.m. at the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School library, 500 Dorset Street.
The “Rebels” are drawing fire — in South Burlington.
In the wake of national debate over the decision to stop flying the Confederate flag on the grounds of the South Carolina capitol, some city residents are saying it’s time for South Burlington High School to do some soul searching of its own and stop calling its teams “the Rebels.”
The nickname has racist associations with the Confederate South and should be dropped, said South Burlington resident Greg Weaver in an interview with Seven Days. “I think the school needs to come up with a different name,” Weaver said.
He noted that school officials agreed about 20 years ago to stop using a rebel mascot but kept the nickname after a similar debate ended in compromise. They should have gone one step further and dumped the Rebels moniker, Weaver said. “It’s a shame they didn’t get rid of it back then,” he said.
Other residents defend the nickname. “Rebel” is a generic term and a tradition that should not be dismantled in the name of political correctness, some said in posts on Front Porch Forum, where debate has flared this summer. The American Revolution was led by rebels, including Vermont’s own Green Mountain Boys and Ethan Allen, defenders of the tradition said.
The Rebels have a strong grip on the school, that’s for certain. The scoreboard next to the football field declares “Home of the Rebels.” Banners near the athletic complex are stamped with the word. The high school website refers often to “rebel land.”
Did a suburban high school in Yankee Vermont borrow an icon of the old South? The origins of the tradition are somewhat unclear. South Burlington High School opened in 1961. Prior to that, the community had no public high school and many students attended Burlington High School.
The name may be a play on the the “South” in South Burlington, which has a rivalry with Burlington High School to its north. Whatever the origins, over the years Confederate imagery has been used in connection with the nickname. At one point a “Captain Rebel” mascot marched out at halftime during sports games, Seven Days has previously reported.
South Burlington High School Principal Patrick Burke was out of town and could not be reached for comment. But he outlined the history of the debate in an email to Weaver, after the discussion began on Front Porch Forum. Weaver shared Burke’s email with Seven Days. It reads:
“It is a fact that the SBHS Rebel mascot was at one time linked to the Rebels of the American South during the Civil War. I believe the school was wise to eliminate (ban) the ‘Rebel Guy’ mascot and all references to the Confederacy. This change took place about 20 years ago. Thus, there are at this time no symbols and/or ‘physical images or mascots’ affiliated with our school’s athletic teams whatsoever.”
It continued: “We use the interlocking ‘SB’ as our symbol. While the history of our school’s nickname is unfortunate and undeniable, I can say that in my near 20 years as an administrator at the school I’ve rarely seen the mascot be one which could be directly affiliated with the Confederacy. Still, if this were a discussion in which the school board and/or community wanted to engage it would be extremely important that discourse be civil and thoughtful. Certainly there would be valid ideas and good intentions to consider from all sides of the issue.”
School Board chair Elizabeth Fitzgerald says the board is open to discussing the nickname, but as of now, no one has brought it forward. She didn’t take a position on the name, saying the board has not had a discussion.
Just don’t call the Rebels the school mascot. It’s an “identifier,” she said. The school has no mascot, she insisted.
No, she said. “We don’t have a mascot.”
Weaver has not approached the school board, and for now isn’t planning to. But he’d like to see the name changed. The retired banker, who is white, grew up in Alabama during the Civil Rights era, seeing first hand segregation and blatant discrimination. He was shocked when he moved to South Burlington in 2008 to see the sports teams referred to as the Rebels, a reference that to him has racist connotations.
“It’s not being politically correct” to change the name, Weaver said. It’s accepting, he said, that, “Times have changed. There is no reason to be possibly offensive to somebody.”
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The Founding Fathers of this country were rebels. They rebelled against British rule. The marchers in the Civil Rights movement were rebels. They rebelled against segregation and discrimination. The Luddites in England were rebels. They rebelled against technology taking over their jobs and destroying their means of making a living. Even the hippies were rebels. They rebelled against conformity to bourgeois social and economic institutions. Vermonters have certainly been rebels through the centuries, as the article points out. There are many historical associations with the word rebel. These thoughtless people have merely cherry-picked one of them to suit their need for ideological confrontation. Banning words because you don’t understand them is scary. I wonder two things: (1) How much more ignorant and illiterate can we possibly get, and (2) Don’t people have any more important causes to fight for or thoughts to occupy their minds than this nonsense (I’m looking at you Greg Weaver)?
Unfuckingbelievable.
Sure Mr. Weaver. How about we call us the OPC’s – Overblown Political Corrects.
On a list of 100 things that need to happen in South BTV, this matter is #105.
“There is no reason to be possibly offensive to somebody” Umm…in today’s culture and society I am pretty sure it is absolutely impossible to do, say or think anything that is not “possibly offensive to somebody”. Now, I have a pretty liberal mindset, but let’s ask ourselves this one question: Is it possible, just possible, that instead of going after every little thing that someone, somewhere, is offended by, we instead ask ourselves why are we all so easily offended? Maybe it’s time to stop seeking out things to complain about and simply live our lives, enjoying all that life has to offer which doesn’t offend us!
The good guys in Star Wars were called rebels….
Yes, Mr. Weaver times have changed. There is now more need for rebels than ever. Perhaps the matter could be settled by having Bernie Sanders be the official mascot?
Rebels is a word, not a symbol of hatred. It is just plain stupid to change it. Enough PC already! Better call the Yankees and get them to change their name as well!
What a joke. Seriously? There are people out there who are upset at everyting. When Rice memorial chaged Little Indians ( who did that hurt? ) that was the end of amy money going to the school….OK- Lets change the name FAT BURGER …and while you are at it DAIRY QUEEN I find them BOTH HORRIBLY OFFENSIVE………lol.
Seriously? Focus on real issues happening in our world today. Someone has way too much time on his hands. SBHS does not have a mascot…REBELS is a nickname…and a good one! Get a life!
None of the rebel historical associations that Leonard Bast lists refers to the S.B.H.S. mascot. The advocates of a new mascot haven’t “cherry picked” the Confederate association. The Confederate association is the original in this case. When I was an S.B.H.S. student, the precision dancing troupe, the Rebelettes, did a halftime routine to “Dixie.” Maybe a new historical association could be forged with the word Rebel to retain the nickname. Without some specific association — which is where S.B.H.S. has landed since nixing the Confederate context — Rebels is a generic term. As such, it’s kind of a lame nickname. It’s like saying we’re the Birds or the Dogs or the Soldiers. As an S.B.H.S. alum who played for Rebel sports teams, I advocate a new mascot, one that can be specific and maybe even connected to South Burlington in some way without being potentially offensive to someone.
About 10 years ago the Crusaders of Champlain Valley Union HS had to change their name because of political correctness run amok.
Now they’re the Redhawks — an animal that doesn’t exist.
the communista were rebels the chop liver liberals would like that
Rebels a lame moniker, with associations of the South seceeding from the Union. It was a taunt directed at Burlington. But all the high school monikers are lame. Seahorses. My high school sports teams were the Bombers! Yikes.
If this is such a problem and the name needs to be changed so that no one’s sensibilities will be offended, let the students decide. High school students are perfectly capable of making such a decision. Let them decide if they want a new mascot, and, if so, what that new mascot will be. It’s called democracy, and it’s a far better way of doing things than the “good ideas for other people” method that so frequently wants to impose its will on everyone. It certainly shouldn’t be in the hands of a small group of sh**t-stirring wackadoodles, most of whom have little connection to the school and way, way too much time on their hands.
20 years ago they got rid of the confederate rebel mascot??…..somebody needs to do their home work. There was no rebel mascot in 1995. There was none there in 1985. Way before that is when the rebel mascot was taken away….60’s or 70’s. I went there from 91-95…..no mascot. No mascot there when I went to SBMS as well.
The name can change so long as Mr Weaver personally pays for the rebranding of the scoreboard, uniforms, signs, etc. I’ll be damned if my tax dollars go towards something as frivolous as this garbage rather than towards something actually useful.
So none of these people have seen Star Wars?
May I add my name to the list of life-long residents of South Burlington who also think this political correctness has gone too far. I am also a former student-athlete proud to have been a small part of “building a proud tradition” as envisioned by John Hebert and the other originators of our excellent schools. I do not believe they had “racism” in their hearts or minds when they chose the moniker. Rebels have been the driving force for positive change all throughout history. Many SBHS graduates have gone on to do great things, all the while carrying with them the “chip on their shoulder” of being a Rebel. We want to be different Mr. Weaver…and yes, we want to rebel…especially against a vocal few who would choose to “read into” the name Rebel and infer that it is racist. I agreed with banning the mascot and the Confederate flag…they were clear symbols of hate towards others. Rebels do not hate others…we merely choose to question authority and find better ways of doing things.
Vermont you never cease to amaze me with your ass backward views and ways. This was my HS so leave the Rebel name alone.This PC liberal bullshit is starting to really irritate me.. Fools! I really hope this is a failure.
What a reaction by Seven Days readers!
Maybe I am just lucky that I did not know about this article two weeks ago.
I found some of the comments as hateful as the use of the term “REBELS” at SBHS. Getting rid of the last vintages of the Civil War in South Burlington as nothing to do with being politically correct, being liberal, or having to much times on my hands.
Times have changed. South Carolina finally stopped flying the Confederal Flag at their statehouse. There are probably few schools left in the U. S. that are still clinging onto anything related to the Confederate South.
One last thought. If Vermont had a very large black population and if Vermonters lived through the years of segregation, the term “REBELS” would have been dropped 20 years ago. Actually, it probably would not have even been chosen in 1961.
Greg Weaver
South Burlington
Saturday, August 29, 2015
To Those Who Wrote Comments About Greg Weaver:
You obviously do not know Greg! He generously gives of his time day and night in all kinds of ways serving S. Burlington residents.
You need to understand from where he has had experience with the word being discussed.
It’s healthy to discuss and express our opinions but I believe there is no need for harshness of a person you don’t know.
See you at the school board meeting next week showing fine spirit and intelligent words for our city students.
Nancy Tracy
S. Burlington
great job distractors. ignore your inablitiy to provide a balanced budget education that is sufficient. sure we will focus on sports team names and ignore the fact that we are not discussing how to help student who struggel with race issues. Of course changing the sports team name will stomp out bullying. Such a worthy isse to consume the time of elected officials. can you say frivelous, wasteral, distracting, out of place, fear based, rhetoric, race bait.
I was a proud Rebel parent for 9 years (including FHTMS), my kids graduating at the top of their respective classes, multiple sports captains, science prize winners. My great-grandfather also fought in the Civil War, and fortunately came home, unlike the high percentage of Vermonters who didn’t (in light of this, the original choice to emulate Southern rebels was unfortunate, but is Long Gone). I think a simple compromise, a “re-branding” if you will, could satisfy everyone. Create a Rebels mascot that is an American patriot. “Change” the school colors to Blue and Silver, which in dazzle-cloth uniforms, I always thought they were anyway! Discussion over, move on to more important issues.