Morris High School Board votes to change mascot name from Redskins

MORRIS, Ill. (WLS) -- Morris High School is going to change its mascot.

The school in Grundy County is currently known as the Redskins, but on Monday night, the board voted six to one to adopt a plan to eliminate the Redskins name and logo.

A vote to change the controversial name of Morris High School's sports teams was delayed in early November for at least the second time after elected officials lamented the lack of a detailed plan for the day after such a decision.

School board member Mike Wright said the board had a responsibility to "set up policy," which they did not yet have outlined late last year.

SEE MORE: Morris High School sports teams name change school board vote delayed

Before the delay there were impassioned pleas to drop the symbolism during public comment.

Research says names like this one hurt young Native people, and lead to stereotyping and dysfunction.

"You have the fact-based empirical research that shows the harm that's caused to native youth and the prejudices that are instilled in non-native children," Morris resident Ted Trujillo said.

"I realized it isn't up to me to determine whether someone should be offended by something or not," Morris High School English teacher Diana Gogerty said. "If it is offensive to Native Americans, it's offensive."

Others defended tradition before Monday's vote, saying the imagery is offered with reverence. One parent lamented the time spent worrying over the name and mascot, while others insisted that the public still wanted the name due to its heritage.

A new mascot has not yet been chosen.