https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1448669360663449602
The gratuitous shots at our new nickname are getting old. It's in every article. We get it. Nobody likes the new nickname. It's here to stay though so can we move on now? Hopefully we can shock a lot of people and start winning consistently so that they have no choice but to talk about something else. #305 (WIU) is very interesting as well. Norlander writes in his blurb "The school is heavily rumored to be joining the OVC. That might help grease the skids for Murray State's arrival. As much as they want to leave I wonder if as a charter member of the OVC they are a little reluctant to put the conference in a spot where they kill the football autobid so they are waiting until the OVC can figure it out by adding another team so that the autobid stays intact. That might be wishful thinking on my part as I've made no secret how much I want Murray State in the MVC but maybe it is a factor possibly the most important one.
If you are sick of it now, wait till the games start. Each road game the Beacons will be brought up.
You chose it(the Name) now deal with it. All the pooh pooh talk about it from every source around ought to tell us something about what a bad choice the name was. In my circle of friends I have NEVER heard a positive comment about the name...in fact most people just chuckle when the name is mentioned. As for the public in general I guess the feeling is mutual.
I think students in the stands of our opponents are going to have fun with this, possibly with signs and chants. It ain't over.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on October 14, 2021, 12:08:01 PMNobody likes the new nickname
Except the students and me!
Quote from: valpo64 on October 14, 2021, 12:35:52 PMYou chose it(the Name) now deal with it. All the pooh pooh talk about it from every source around ought to tell us something about what a bad choice the name was. In my circle of friends I have NEVER heard a positive comment about the name...in fact most people just chuckle when the name is mentioned. As for the public in general I guess the feeling is mutual.
I chose nothing as I had no hand in it. I think because I'm among the younger subset of regular posters here perhaps you're painting my generation with a broad brush. The most charitable thing I ever said on the matter was that I understood why they were doing it but that it wasn't necessary as "Crusader" can have meanings beyond holy war and it was poorly timed as we should not have been doing a rebrand during a time when we were facing a budget shortfall. On the name "Beacons" specifically I thought it was among the least bad and certainly the most culturally appropriate (considering our character as a religious institution) name available. If that's a statement of support it could not possibly be more tepid. It's sort of like the messages I was reading from fans of other MVC teams when we were added to replace Wichita State. "Good I guess" or "The best of a list of bad options," among others. Those aren't exactly ringing endorsements and I would never say that those who said those things were overly supportive of our admission into the MVC based on those statements.
Quote from: vu72 on October 14, 2021, 01:05:03 PM
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on October 14, 2021, 12:08:01 PMNobody likes the new nickname
Except the students and me!
I recently spoke with a faculty member who had been among those promoting the change of the nickname. She informed me that she brought up the topic in her freshman class. She was surprised and disappointed to find the students were almost unanimously in favor of keeping the Crusaders over the Beacons. Most adamant, she reported, were the athletes in her class.
As far as I am concerned, Beacons is not horrible given the connections to light imagery and metaphors at the university, just as long as the silly idea of a lighthouse logo is dropped.
I detested the name Beacons when I first heard it, until I read this:
"Our new nickname directly connects to the University's motto, 'In Thy Light We See Light,' and represents the Valparaiso University community in many ways," said José D. Padilla, J.D., University president. "We are beacons of light and hope in our communities. We are beacons of change on campus, in our region and in our country. We are beacons of knowledge for our students' academic, social and spiritual growth. Above all, we are beacons of God's light around the world. We light the way for our students, so that once they graduate, they shine their light for others. We are all Beacons at Valparaiso University."
"In Thy Light We See Light" refers specifically and only to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.
John 8:12 ESV
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
I can only imagine that the last thing the wokies* who created this unnecessary, divisive drama queen moment had in mind is even more meaningful Christian religion symbolism. Thus, I love the new name, and I've had President Padilla's back from that day forward.
* According to Urban Dictionary, a wokie is someone who wants kudos for performing wokeness – enlightenment.
Thank you to our resident wokies for "enlightening" us that we need a more positive and pure symbol of Christianity - Jesus Christ, The Light of the World.
Quote from: wh on October 14, 2021, 02:11:59 PM
I detested the name Beacons when I first heard it, until I read this:
"Our new nickname directly connects to the University's motto, 'In Thy Light We See Light,' and represents the Valparaiso University community in many ways," said José D. Padilla, J.D., University president. "We are beacons of light and hope in our communities. We are beacons of change on campus, in our region and in our country. We are beacons of knowledge for our students' academic, social and spiritual growth. Above all, we are beacons of God's light around the world. We light the way for our students, so that once they graduate, they shine their light for others. We are all Beacons at Valparaiso University."
"In Thy Light We See Light" refers specifically and only to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.
John 8:12 ESV
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
I can only imagine that the last thing the wokies* who created this unnecessary, divisive drama queen moment had in mind is even more meaningful Christian religion symbolism. Thus, I love the new name, and I've had President Padilla's back from that day forward.
* According to Urban Dictionary, a wokie is someone who wants kudos for performing wokeness – enlightenment.
Thank you to our resident wokies for "enlightening" us that we need a more positive and pure symbol of Christianity - Jesus Christ, The Light of the World.
Dear Jesus, let us kick our opponents' ass and shine your light while you guide the ball into the hoop.
Quote from: Just Sayin on October 14, 2021, 06:38:42 PM
Quote from: wh on October 14, 2021, 02:11:59 PM
I detested the name Beacons when I first heard it, until I read this:
"Our new nickname directly connects to the University's motto, 'In Thy Light We See Light,' and represents the Valparaiso University community in many ways," said José D. Padilla, J.D., University president. "We are beacons of light and hope in our communities. We are beacons of change on campus, in our region and in our country. We are beacons of knowledge for our students' academic, social and spiritual growth. Above all, we are beacons of God's light around the world. We light the way for our students, so that once they graduate, they shine their light for others. We are all Beacons at Valparaiso University."
"In Thy Light We See Light" refers specifically and only to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.
John 8:12 ESV
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
I can only imagine that the last thing the wokies* who created this unnecessary, divisive drama queen moment had in mind is even more meaningful Christian religion symbolism. Thus, I love the new name, and I've had President Padilla's back from that day forward.
* According to Urban Dictionary, a wokie is someone who wants kudos for performing wokeness – enlightenment.
Thank you to our resident wokies for "enlightening" us that we need a more positive and pure symbol of Christianity - Jesus Christ, The Light of the World.
Dear Jesus, let us kick our opponents' ass and shine your light while you guide the ball into the hoop.
Matthew 27:29
And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
Puhleese!
School athletic teams nicknames should not reflect some egotistical, academic, philosophically based "thesis" that makes those that chose the name feel better about themselves, showing how smart they are(or think they are). Let's face it, the School blew it! Enough of the trying to justify it with "higher" thoughts about one's self , expressing one's intelligence and thinking it is a great nickname for our athletic teams. I don't think we will see the nickname on many of our teams jerseys and I understand why. If it wasn't such a poor choice we would not be still talking about it. GO VALPO!
Quote from: valpo64 on October 15, 2021, 02:16:54 PM
School athletic teams nicknames should not reflect some egotistical, academic, philosophically based "thesis" that makes those that chose the name feel better about themselves, showing how smart they are(or think they are). Let's face it, the School blew it! Enough of the trying to justify it with "higher" thoughts about one's self , expressing one's intelligence and thinking it is a great nickname for our athletic teams. I don't think we will see the nickname on many of our teams jerseys and I understand why. If it wasn't such a poor choice we would not be still talking about it. GO VALPO!
We should have just gone with Bulldogs. That would have made everybody happy.
The decision to get rid of the Crusader was perpetrated by Valparaiso University educators and staff members, brainwashed by the tenets of critical theory and cultural Marxism. It was a selfish, divisive act, intentionally timed to take advantage of a weak interim leader and a board fearful of being victimized by cancel culture tactics. The legitimacy of the survey process was called into question, as well, and for good reason IMO.
Business leadership 501: Divisive, ethically questionable decisions always (let me repeat ALWAYS) yield divisive, untrustworthy results. We are now living in that moment, and all the opinion expressing, philosophizing, and reasoning in the world is not going to make it go away. It's a self-inflicted wound that in time will scab over, but will not be forgotten.
In the meantime, let me suggest that the anger being expressed should be reserved for the perpetrators, and not each other.
If it wasn't a poor choice national sports writers wouldn't call it out in a blurb that was supposed to be about the team.
Quote from: wh on October 16, 2021, 01:43:23 PMperpetrated by Valparaiso University educators and staff members,
Don't forget about the student body, 2500 members of a Facebook group and the Alumni Association. All voted or wanted it gone.
Quote from: vu72 on October 16, 2021, 03:32:45 PM
Quote from: wh on October 16, 2021, 01:43:23 PMperpetrated by Valparaiso University educators and staff members,
Don't forget about the student body, 2500 members of a Facebook group and the Alumni Association. All voted or wanted it gone.
Right. lol
Quote from: valpopal on October 14, 2021, 01:15:34 PM
Quote from: vu72 on October 14, 2021, 01:05:03 PM
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on October 14, 2021, 12:08:01 PMNobody likes the new nickname
Except the students and me!
I recently spoke with a faculty member who had been among those promoting the change of the nickname. She informed me that she brought up the topic in her freshman class. She was surprised and disappointed to find the students were almost unanimously in favor of keeping the Crusaders over the Beacons. Most adamant, she reported, were the athletes in her class.
As far as I am concerned, Beacons is not horrible given the connections to light imagery and metaphors at the university, just as long as the silly idea of a lighthouse logo is dropped.
It amazes me, even on the main stream media, at least once a week or more I hear them talk about how someone is a "crusader" for this or that. I am shocked that this "horrible" word can be used in such revered fashion by even the most woke, yet using it as a nickname is looked on with disdain.
Quote from: Chairback on October 14, 2021, 12:13:03 PM
If you are sick of it now, wait till the games start. Each road game the Beacons will be brought up.
Maybe we should have a contest. We could list the stupidest comments about the name Beacons that road announcers make during their broadcasts and at the end of the road season we could vote on what was the dumbest comment of all season.
Having a contest would be insignificant because all of the negative comments are pertinent and applicable and they are all winners.
Quote from: valpo64 on October 20, 2021, 03:19:47 PM
Having a contest would be insignificant because all of the negative comments are pertinent and applicable and they are all winners.
I would say most contests are insignificant but they can be fun.
You really need to lose the negative attitude toward the nickname Beacons. It's here and it won't change.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on October 14, 2021, 12:08:01 PMThe gratuitous shots at our new nickname are getting old. It's in every article. We get it. Nobody likes the new nickname. It's here to stay though so can we move on now? Hopefully we can shock a lot of people and start winning consistently so that they have no choice but to talk about something else.
I wasn't enamored with the Crusader mascot name but the Beacons name sucks. It's over, just call them Valpo and move on. Time to win and win now.
Go Beacons! :thewave: Embrace it. Stop whining!
President Padilla's vision is to differentiate Valpo from myriad other private academic institutions with the same secular world view. One element of that is a shift toward embracing its Lutheran roots. It's called unique positioning. The name change supports the shift. It would be an appropriate step under any circumstance, but the fact that he took a highly divisive act by a group of nefarious actors and used it as opportunity to effect positive change is brilliant.
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 11:39:00 AM
President Padilla's vision is to differentiate Valpo from myriad other private academic institutions with the same secular world view. One element of that is a shift toward embracing its Lutheran roots. It's called unique positioning. The name change supports the shift. It would be an appropriate step under any circumstance, but the fact that he took a highly divisive act by a group of nefarious actors and used it as opportunity to effect positive change is brilliant.
I think you are giving him way too much credit for caving to the mob and thinking by doing so it provided a perfect opportunity for doing something he probably would have done without the change-in-name fiasco.
Quote from: Just Sayin on October 23, 2021, 12:05:25 PM
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 11:39:00 AM
President Padilla's vision is to differentiate Valpo from myriad other private academic institutions with the same secular world view. One element of that is a shift toward embracing its Lutheran roots. It's called unique positioning. The name change supports the shift. It would be an appropriate step under any circumstance, but the fact that he took a highly divisive act by a group of nefarious actors and used it as opportunity to effect positive change is brilliant.
I think you are giving him way too much credit for caving to the mob and thinking by doing so it provided a perfect opportunity for doing something he probably would have done without the change-in-name fiasco.
He didn't cave to the mob. The interim did. He inherited a mess to cleanup. He was given 4 names from which to choose by the name selection committee. The easiest thing he could have done is choose some generic nickname that had no meaning or significance - like Reds or Bulldogs. Instead, he selected what was probably the one name with substance and tied it to his cornerstone for change. Again, brilliant. And, when I say brilliant, I mean within the context of wise leadership. There are a lot of smart people, but those with the wisdom and discernment to successfully lead people and complex processes at a high level are few and far between. Valpo hasn't had anyone at that level for decades - until now, IMHO. The future is bright.
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 12:35:10 PM
He didn't cave to the mob. The interim did. He inherited a mess to cleanup.
I will await results in the next year or so before coming to a decision about Padilla's leadership. However, I can assure you he didn't "inherit a mess" caused by "the interim." Padilla was selected in November 2020 and announced as the new president on Dec 2. Within a week he made his presence felt on campus and released a video address to the community. The decision to drop the Crusader was clearly made in consultation with Padilla and upon his approval, since he fully agreed with the move. The announcement by Irwin-Knott was made only two weeks before Padilla assumed his position on March 1, which benefited him by not having to start his term with an announcement of such a very unpopular decision among alums, and in the public statement it clarified he would lead the process to a new name, a process he had to endorse in advance. It would have been irresponsible and unethical for the interim to make such a controversial decision and set in motion a process involving Padilla's participation without the blessing of the incoming president, especially so close to his officially taking the reins.
The longstanding effort to get rid of the Crusader bubbled over and blew up under the interim, long before Padilla was announced as the new president. In fact, the nefarious actors moved when they did knowing the university was in a highly vulnerable position with an interim president, severely declining enrollment, and bleeding cash. They knew the last thing the university needed were accusations from the national media that it was systemically Islamophobic, racist, or whatever else that rises from the abyss.
The Board and interim made the decision to change the name. Had Padilla not agreed to make the change, he would not be President today. So, to be perfectly clear, the board and interim did not take their queue from Padilla; he took his queue from them. That said, regardless of who took their queue from whom, President Padilla inherited a needless, self-inflicted, highly divisive mess to clean up at the worst possible time. Tying the new name to strategic realignment is his best effort to make the best of a bad situation caused by a group of terrible employees who put their own petty agenda over the best interests of their employer, one of America's great academic institutions.
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 12:35:10 PM
Quote from: Just Sayin on October 23, 2021, 12:05:25 PM
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 11:39:00 AM
President Padilla's vision is to differentiate Valpo from myriad other private academic institutions with the same secular world view. One element of that is a shift toward embracing its Lutheran roots. It's called unique positioning. The name change supports the shift. It would be an appropriate step under any circumstance, but the fact that he took a highly divisive act by a group of nefarious actors and used it as opportunity to effect positive change is brilliant.
I think you are giving him way too much credit for caving to the mob and thinking by doing so it provided a perfect opportunity for doing something he probably would have done without the change-in-name fiasco.
He didn't cave to the mob. The interim did. He inherited a mess to cleanup. He was given 4 names from which to choose by the name selection committee. The easiest thing he could have done is choose some generic nickname that had no meaning or significance - like Reds or Bulldogs. Instead, he selected what was probably the one name with substance and tied it to his cornerstone for change. Aigain, brilliant. And, when I say brilliant, I mean within the context of wise leadership. There are a lot of smart people, but those with the wisdom and discernment to successfully lead people and complex processes at a high level are few and far between. Valpo hasn't had anyone at that level for decades - until now, IMHO. The future is bright.
:crazy:
Quote from: Just Sayin on October 23, 2021, 04:47:39 PM
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 12:35:10 PM
Quote from: Just Sayin on October 23, 2021, 12:05:25 PM
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 11:39:00 AM
President Padilla's vision is to differentiate Valpo from myriad other private academic institutions with the same secular world view. One element of that is a shift toward embracing its Lutheran roots. It's called unique positioning. The name change supports the shift. It would be an appropriate step under any circumstance, but the fact that he took a highly divisive act by a group of nefarious actors and used it as opportunity to effect positive change is brilliant.
I think you are giving him way too much credit for caving to the mob and thinking by doing so it provided a perfect opportunity for doing something he probably would have done without the change-in-name fiasco.
He didn't cave to the mob. The interim did. He inherited a mess to cleanup. He was given 4 names from which to choose by the name selection committee. The easiest thing he could have done is choose some generic nickname that had no meaning or significance - like Reds or Bulldogs. Instead, he selected what was probably the one name with substance and tied it to his cornerstone for change. Aigain, brilliant. And, when I say brilliant, I mean within the context of wise leadership. There are a lot of smart people, but those with the wisdom and discernment to successfully lead people and complex processes at a high level are few and far between. Valpo hasn't had anyone at that level for decades - until now, IMHO. The future is bright.
:crazy:
Use your words, my patriotic friend. I'm not a mind reader. ;)
Quote from: Just Sayin on October 23, 2021, 04:47:39 PM
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 12:35:10 PM
Quote from: Just Sayin on October 23, 2021, 12:05:25 PM
Quote from: wh on October 23, 2021, 11:39:00 AM
President Padilla's vision is to differentiate Valpo from myriad other private academic institutions with the same secular world view. One element of that is a shift toward embracing its Lutheran roots. It's called unique positioning. The name change supports the shift. It would be an appropriate step under any circumstance, but the fact that he took a highly divisive act by a group of nefarious actors and used it as opportunity to effect positive change is brilliant.
I think you are giving him way too much credit for caving to the mob and thinking by doing so it provided a perfect opportunity for doing something he probably would have done without the change-in-name fiasco.
He didn't cave to the mob. The interim did. He inherited a mess to cleanup. He was given 4 names from which to choose by the name selection committee. The easiest thing he could have done is choose some generic nickname that had no meaning or significance - like Reds or Bulldogs. Instead, he selected what was probably the one name with substance and tied it to his cornerstone for change. Aigain, brilliant. And, when I say brilliant, I mean within the context of wise leadership. There are a lot of smart people, but those with the wisdom and discernment to successfully lead people and complex processes at a high level are few and far between. Valpo hasn't had anyone at that level for decades - until now, IMHO. The future is bright.
:crazy:
That last crusade was fought and we lost. Looking for a villain achieves nothing. Go Beacons!
The following is from a report in the Torch in April. The excerpt is from a larger story regarding President Padilla meeting with the Student Senate.
----------------------------
The main topic of discussion centered around the senate's recent ruling on YAF (Young Americans for Freedom). The conservative political group applied for recognition as a student organization and was voted down on the floor. Student Body President Kaitlyn Steinhiser vetoed this ruling, allowing the group to be recognized.
This decision has served as a point of contention. A petition was formed by students prior to the ruling labeling YAF as a hateful group that was discriminatory against LGBTQ students. Supporters of the group argue that YAF has a right to meet on campus and to not approve the group would be an act of discrimination itself.
In his address to the senate, Padilla praised President Steinhiser's decision.
"You've had some fights, lately? Why if I'm gonna be honest with you, I agree with the decision she made. I vehemently disagree with their underlying principles," Padilla said.
-------------------------------
The university is likely to (and should) increase its relationship building and recruiting with Lutheran high schools. But if you think that the university, under President Padilla's leadership, is going to move to a unique positioning focused on conservatism and christianity as the only accepted faith - you are likely to be seriously disappointed given that the President vehemently disagrees with the underlying principles of an organization like YAF (he was right to support the Student Senate President's veto).
I was not thrilled with the choice of Beacons, but I do agree that it can have a range of positive meanings.
QuoteHe [Padilla] served on Mayor Lori Lightfoot's transition team, leading a committee of lawyers reviewing the Federal Civil Rights Litigation division of the city's Law Department.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/awards/jose-padilla
He's a lefty. Sad to see.
Quote from: vu84v2 on October 23, 2021, 11:35:27 PM
The university is likely to (and should) increase its relationship building and recruiting with Lutheran high schools. But if you think that the university, under President Padilla's leadership, is going to move to a unique positioning focused on conservatism and christianity as the only accepted faith - you are likely to be seriously disappointed...
Yep, that's what I said alright. You are amazing at reading between the lines.