| Thanks Elise,
I sent my email to the people Melek mentions a couple of days ago (these are the people to which the students’ petition asks for emails be sent.) Sending to the Senate via Kris and Jon makes a lot of sense. I will forward my email (pasted below just fyi — mostly similar to what I already wrote to you all).
I think I have conflict for the Senate meeting (no, honestly!), but I’ll see.
Eugene
Subject: In support of changing the "Clan" name
Date: June 29, 2020 at 9:29:19 AM PDT
Dear colleagues,
I’m writing to you in support of the ongoing campaign to change the name “SFU Clan” to something else.
I interviewed for my job at SFU in February 2003. I gave a lecture to an undergraduate class. In the class, two students (athletes, presumably) were wearing red and white letterman-style jackets with “Clan” written on them. I was focused on doing my best in the lecture, so it didn’t fully register, to be honest, until a faculty-member mentioned it to me at the end.
I was in my 12th year living in the US when I interviewed at SFU. Before that, I grew up on Scotland. So, when he pointed out the “Clan” nickname, it resonated with me doubly: As a Scot, I recognized that reference, but having lived almost half my life in the US, I had internalized the ill-feeling that comes with the sound of the word “Clan.”
This, of course, is exactly the focus of the current discussion. But, as a white man, the feeling and connotation of the sound of the word ‘Clan’ cannot possibly match the feeling it induces in our BIPOC students, staff, and faculty.
In my 17 years at SFU, I have seen this “Clan” issue come up from time to time. It really is time to get rid of it. If not now, when?
Two more points and one suggestion:
1. Dead Clan Walking. The University’s decision to join the NCAA created conditions for the inevitable demise of “Clan" as a team name. The decision necessitated students' travel to the US and it encourages our teams to recruit there. Neither of these can be helped by the name “Clan.” The question is why it's taking SFU so long to change it. Let's put it, and our students, out of their misery.
2. Heritage? The main argument that emerges (largely from comments below the line in news articles about this issue, rather than from current students) is that getting rid of “Clan” disregards SFU’s Scottish heritage. Appeals to ‘heritage’ are particularly charged these days and should be treated with a great deal of care. But the appeal to Scottish heritage in this case is a thin argument at best. As you know, Simon Fraser wasn't from Scotland. He was from New York. Moreover, I have a feeling that people in Canada think that one’s “Clan” is somehow a big deal for the average Scot. It is not. Very few Scots care. Yet, some here are arguing that, if the SFU name is changed, the new name should reference Scotland too (I see ‘Claymores’ raised as an option). For me (an actual Scot) it would be best if the new name didn't celebrate a small country half a world away and its people’s role in colonizing this continent.
A suggestion. Get rid of “Clan” and let's invite local First Nations to lead a renaming process that is appropriate. This would be an opportunity to engage in our reconciliation agenda and, I think, would be supported by most of us at the university.
Thank you for your work on this.
Best, Eugene
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to let you know that Senate has received several letters of inquiry on this issue and it will be brought up as a matter of discussion (but there is presently no motion on the table) at the next Senate meeting, which is this coming Monday. I encourage everyone to forwardyour comments to Senate via Kris Nordgren kdn1@sfu.ca, to Jon Driver, VP Academic and
I also encourage you to attend the Senate meeting, which will be held on Zoom. The link is on the Senate website. I realize this is far from the most exciting way to spend a late Monday afternoon, but just a little bit of your time can make a difference here.
Thank you, Elise
Elise Chenier President, Academic Women Director, Archives of Lesbian Oral Testimony (ALOT) Professor, Department of History Simon Fraser University Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), and Kwikwetlem territories.
Dear Eugene,
Thank you for this post. Fully agree. When I asked Holly how I might help as a faculty member, she suggested that I write to our new Vice-Provost & Associate VP, Students & International, Rummana Khan (avps@sfu.ca). Perhaps other faculty will feel moved to join me. Here's what I wrote to her last week:
---------------- Dear Rummana,
I am writing you today in support of the growing movement to change the name of our sports teams. Given recent global events, a reminder that systemic racism has in no way been eliminated, this is a good moment to change the name in a show of solidarity and commitment to anti-racism. "The Clan," no matter its origins as a name, has very strong racist connotations, a fact that was recognized by the 77% of student athletes who recently voted in favour of changing it. They are the ones we're putting on the line here -- and given that they travel to the US as students from the only Canadian university in the NCAA, it is incumbent upon us to protect them.
Given that there a name change is in the offing, I'd like to appeal to you and your office to address the issue publicly by coming up with a process and timeline to do so. I look forward to hearing more about how SFU will address this important issue. -----------------
Very best, Melek
Melek Ortabasi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of World Languages and Literatures
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Simon Fraser University
AQ 5127
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C.
CANADA V5A 1S6
Phone: 778-782-8660
--------------------
The knowledge of life, therefore, which we grown-ups have to pass on to the younger generation will not be expressed thus: "Reality will soon give way before your ideals," but "Grow into your ideals, so that life can never rob you of them." If all of us could become what we were at fourteen, what a different place the world would be!
- Albert Schweitzer, My Childhood and Youth
Hello colleagues,
I hope you don’t mind me adding to your mailboxes. Some of you might be aware from being on social media or looking at the news media over the last few days, that there is a renewed push to change the SFU sports teams’ nickname. Currently it’s The Clan but, in a recent survey, 77% of the 163 student athletes who responded were in favour of changing it.
They say they feel very uncomfortable, embarrassed, and even fearful when they play American teams, which is all the time, since SFU became an NCAA school. (If you’re still not seeing the issue, say it out loud!). So, this is why I bring this to the faculty email forum: the name Clan is harming our students. That makes it squarely our concern.
They also ask for emails to be sent to SFU administrators (see the petition link).
For me (a 17-year member of the SFU faculty), I fully support the students. The name has got to go, and soon. Its fate was sealed when the University decided to join the NCAA. The only question is why it's taking SFU so long to change it, given the hurt it’s causing.
The main argument against the proposal (largely in comments below the line in news articles about this issue, rather than from current students) is that getting rid of “Clan” disregards SFU’s Scottish heritage. As a Scot, I have some thoughts ... Appeals to ‘heritage’ are particularly charged these days and should be treated with a great deal of care. But the appeal to Scottish heritage in this case is a thin argument at best. As you know, Simon Fraser wasn't from Scotland. He was from New York. Moreover, I have a feeling that some people in Canada think that one’s “Clan” is somehow a big deal for the average Scot. It is not. Very few Scots care. Yet, some in this debate are arguing that, if the SFU name is changed, the new name should reference Scotland too (I see ‘Claymores’ raised as an option). For me it would be best if the new name didn't celebrate a small country half a world away and its people’s role in colonizing this continent.
My feeling is that the University should get rid of “Clan” and should invite local First Nations to lead a renaming process that is appropriate. This would be an opportunity to engage in our reconciliation agenda and, I think, would be supported by most of us at the university. (Although, I would note that one of the things that the students are frustrated about is that deliberations and consultations over this issue have gone on for a while and they feel that they may be being used as a stalling tactic. A respectful consultation should be done with as much alacrity as possible.)
I am in no way involved in this campaign but I greatly respect those who have been out front in it (see names above). For me, the least I can do is sign the petition, email the admin, and provide my particular Scottish take.
Best, Eugene _______________________________________________________ Eugene McCann University Professor, Geography Associate Faculty, Sociology & Anthropology Simon Fraser University Managing Editor, EPC: Politics & Space Personal website: https://emccanngeog.wordpress.comCollective website: http://research.northumbria.ac.uk/urbanfutures/ Contact information: Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada Unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Email: emccann@sfu.ca; Phone: 778-782-3321; Fax: 778.782.5841
_______________________________________________________ Eugene McCann University Professor, Geography Associate Faculty, Sociology & Anthropology Simon Fraser University Managing Editor, EPC: Politics & Space Personal website: https://emccanngeog.wordpress.comCollective website: http://research.northumbria.ac.uk/urbanfutures/ Contact information: Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada Unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Email: emccann@sfu.ca; Phone: 778-782-3321; Fax: 778.782.5841
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