By Nick Pantages
@nick_pantages22
After months of deliberation, President Mary-Beth Cooper and the Renaming Committee announced a decision via email to the campus community on the terms that were under review by the committee.
The names being reconsidered were Pueblo, Council Ring, Seven Fires, Sti-Yu-Ka, Camp Massasoit, Lake Massasoit, Massasoit Hall and preserving the art of Wo-Peen. The decision announced was that three of those names, Council Ring, Seven Fires and Sti-Yu-Ka, will be changed.
In the email, Cooper stated, “Seven Fires, Council Ring and Sti-Yu-Ka will no longer be used and we will be officially adopting new names in the coming weeks.”
All the terms with Massasoit in the name will be staying. The name of Lake Massasoit will remain, and will likely still be the primary name of the lake on campus instead of its official name, Watershops Pond. Due to strong emotional attachment to the name Massasoit and the fact it is used in other places across Mass. such as Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massasoit State Park in Taunton and YMCA Camp Massasoit in Mattapoisett, the name of Camp Massasoit and Massasoit Hall will also remain.
Cooper addressed it in her email saying, “Camp Massasoit is held in enormous affection by alumni, by camp staff and in the memories of past campers. For thousands of our alumni, Massasoit Hall is iconic: It is where they first encountered life at Springfield and for so many, it is the place they first met the people who became their lifelong friends. Sixty-three years of Springfield students have lived in that building. They aren’t going to call it something else, and personally, I don’t think they need to.”
She continued: “We know that the name Massasoit – a Wampanoag tribal title for leader – is used all across this state without any objection. Simply put, Massasoit is used every day without objection or controversy all across the region where the Wampanoag lived, and still live. Camp Massasoit and Massasoit Hall hold cherished memories. I have not seen evidence that Massasoit is in any way degrading or insulting. In fact, as one of our community who is Native American said in a public forum, it helps to remind us of who was here before us; it helps us not forget.”
The committee was in agreement that the art of Wo-Peen needed to be restored with proper context and respect for his artwork. She also said this is being done in cooperation with the family of Wo-Peen.
The final term up for review was the Pueblo, and it was the one at the heart of the discussion of both sides. In the end, it was decided that the name will be retained. As with the artwork, context will need to be provided, and that will be added in and around the building.
“Pueblo in this instance is named for its Southwestern architectural style. I agree with the Committee that when we do retain a name, we provide some context on the meaning of the name, and you will see that added to the building and materials about the East Campus,” Cooper’s email said.
For the terms that will be changed, new names will be adopted shortly. The focus of that will remain on the new name for Sti-Yu-Ka, which is expected to occur in the coming weeks with a schedule announcement likely coming soon.
Photo Courtesy of Springfield College.