MONTREAL -- Robert Dubeau, director of athletics at McGill University, announced today that the Redmen logo, depicting a native person wearing a headdress, would be replaced as the University's official logo for its intercollegiate men's teams.
 
The decision was made at a March 4 meeting of the McGill Athletics Board, composed of students, faculty, graduate representatives and officials from the Department of Athletics, after concern had been expressed by student groups that the combination of the Redmen name and stylized logo might suggest that McGill endorsed a stereotyped view of native peoples.
 
"We believe that the Redmen name and logo are quite separate issues," said Richard Pound, chairman of the Athletics Board, in explaining the decision.

"The logo, which was adopted in 1982, might possibly be construed as a stereotype. While this was never McGill's intention, we want to be sensitive to the concern that has been expressed. We are quite prepared to make a change so as to remove any suggestion that the traditional name of the Redmen was connected with a stereotype relating to native peoples.
 
"Unless we find historical evidence which establishes that the Redmen name came from other than the colour of McGill's uniforms," said Pound, "We intend to preserve the traditional name for our men's teams."
 
Of McGill's 28 teams which represent the university on an intercollegiate basis, only the Redmen and football hockey teams actually used the logo as part of their official uniforms. The logo had been located on the football team's helmets as a decal, and on the shoulder patches of the Redmen hockey jerseys. All other official McGill team uniforms have either the University crest and/or the name "McGill" emblazoned on their uniforms.
 
"The decals will be removed from the helmets and two new sets of hockey uniforms will be purchased as a consequence of this decision," said Dubeau.

"It is expected to cost up to $5,000 to replace items that have the logo. It has yet to be decided whether a new logo will be designed to replace the existing one."
 
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Earl Zukerman, Communications & Publications Officer, McGill Athletics (514) 398-7012 or
Robert Dubeau, Director of Athletics, McGill University (514) 398-7002