Last week, the South Burlington School Board voted unanimously to drop the nickname, citing its association with racism and the Confederacy.
The February 1 vote came after more than a year of discussion and pleas from some student leaders to shed the offensive moniker. But the conversation is not yet over.
At least two pro-Rebel Facebook pages — We Are S.B. Rebels and Rebel Alliance — are fighting the name change.
The S.B. Rebels page urges supporters to sign a change.org petition.
“We, the students, families and tax payers, do not want the board to change the school nickname,” it reads. “We identify as Rebels in the traditional definition of the word. Tax payers should not be forced to pay for something that was not agreed upon by the majority of residents.”
The page had 649 signatures as of Tuesday evening.
“The politically correct have hijacked every aspect of our lives,” wrote one supporter. “We need to return to reason. No one is at risk of ‘feeling unsafe’ because of the Rebel name. Lunacy.”
Meanwhile, creators of the Rebel Alliance Facebook page are asking volunteers to collect roughly 700 signatures from registered voters for each of two proposed ballot items.
One would prohibit the South Burlington City Council and the South Burlington School Board from expending any funds to change the name of Rebels athletic teams. The other would name all South Burlington School District sports teams the Rebels.
It’s too late for either proposal to get onto the March 7 Town Meeting Day ballot. June might be the soonest the petitions could go out for a public vote, according to one of the organizers, Kiya Batmanglidj, who graduated from South Burlington High School in 1986 and lives in Washington, D.C.
He saw the Rebel name as codifying harmless teenage rebellion against authority. “During high school we were all rebels … I was proud of that.”
He doesn’t see it as racist. “I respectfully disagree with that. At what point do you stop with, what I would call the tyranny of political correctness,” said Batmanglidj.
His family immigrated to Vermont from Iran in the 1970s during the Iranian hostage crisis. Batmanglidj was a child when he arrived and said he always felt accepted growing up in South Burlington. It’s an inclusive community, he said.
“I really feel indebted … to South Burlington for having accepted me. I came here during the hostage crisis. I remember on TV, Iranians were getting beaten and spit on in other places,” he said. “I was absolutely accepted by all the kids … Those kids that I went to school with at Orchard (Elementary) are still my best friends.”
The day after the board voted to drop the name, he organized the Rebel Alliance page and petition drive.
“We just think that people of South Burlington should have a say in the matter. That’s democracy, that’s the way it should be,” he opined.
Batmanglidj acknowledges that he can’t weigh in at the polls on the matter himself since he’s registered to vote in D.C., not South Burlington.
It’s unclear whether the petitions would have any legal weight to undo the actions of the school board if they did win approval at the polls.
Either, way, the name change remains a hot-button issue.
A blatantly racist comment posted on the change.org petition was removed from the site — but not before it generated a strong response on social media. Much of the discussion has happened on the SB VT Community Watch Facebook page.
The chatter reached school board chair Patrick Leduc, who issued a press release Monday calling for civility in the debate.
“As individuals, a district, a community, and a state, we must reject and never tolerate any language that is threatening or blatantly racist,” it stated. “Our schools are here to educate and unify.”
In an interview with Seven Days Tuesday, Leduc said the district is not aware of “any specific threat” to students but wanted to denounce some of the language being used online.
“That statement is largely being made in response to anonymous statements that were being made on social media that were clearly offensive and racist and hateful,” Leduc said.
He said he didn’t know if ballot items approved by voters would have any binding authority over the board.
“I don’t know what weight they would carry from an accountability perspective or a legal perspective,” Leduc said.
Leduc said that he continues to feel the board made the right decision in dropping the name.
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What a pleasant surprise..
Molly, sorry that I was unailable to speak with you today before your deadline. I see you got some great information from Kiya. My efforts are going to be submitted directly to the school board. As of right now, the board members and superintendent have not replied to my specific requests for information (emailed to them days ago). Thanks for the fair report.
So disheartenIng. How can they think their attachment to a silly nickname is more important than students’ feelings of belonging? Retire the Rebel name.
The word rebel gained its meaning LONG before the confederacy did its thing. We all were rebels when our nation dumped tea into Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party. My point, the name rebel take on what ever meaning YOU give to it. I do feel it should be up to the tax payers if they want to change the name, after all they are the ones paying for new logos, signage, jerseys, mascot costume, and other materials.
Pixchic: Sorry, the founders of our country try were PATRIOTS not Rebels. Hence, the New England Patriots.
The English considered them Rebels.
I would not mind Rebels, except for the past history of a confederate mascot and confederate flags in the high school.
Did not graduate from SB (Rice) but my children are in the SB system. Our mini metro 7/8 teams are the Rebels. I asked my daughter her thoughts and got a terse response that it was “ridiculous ” to change. In the last 25 years this association that keeps coming up to the Confederate States is foreign to them. They see it as pride. I would argue that the community should have a say in this. As much as a 12 year old is innocent of this bias maybe the adults are guilty of over reactions.
In a world where no one is murdered for the color of their skin and racism does not exist – in this world, Rebel would be a name we could choose. But until that world exists the Rebel name and symbolism is psychologically damaging and promotes racism. Why we would we want any of our students not to feel safe? Even if just one feels unsafe, why wouldn’t we want to ditch the name for the greatest good? I am deeply confused for the defense and argument to keep a name and mascot that is damaging to students in any way shape or form.
Never seen drama by adults over such a nothing- except when Rice Memorial changed its name from the Little Indians…..neither that or Rebels being derogatory in any way
Throw em out. Drain the swamp.
This is what happens when every kid gets a trophy and we lose sight of the hard work and pioneering efforts our forefathers put into making this a once-great country. We need to get back to our roots as a strong nation and not present ourselves as a country full of snowflakes just ripe to be trodden over by special interest groups. Every time someone cries “butt hurt” over some name, color, action, or inclusion there are too many people just waiting to jump on the band wagon. All I can do is shake my head in disbelief. We are weak… we are doomed.
To the P.C. People who want it changed ; It’s what is in your heart and your head that makes you who and what you are. Just because you are offended on your P.C. Police high horse soap box does not make everyone who does not agree with your thinking a racist.
Keep it up guys,,,,, You are what got Trump elected !
In the early 1960’s South Burlington High School was established. It’s first nick name was ‘Light Blue’. Later the name “Rebel” was officially adapted. Make no mistake, the name was adopted to mark the 100th anniversary of secession, followed March 4, 1861 with the inauguration of President Lincoln and. April 1861 by the firing on Fort Sumter by Citadel Student / Troops. Make no mistake about Rebels of 2017, 1960’s 1890’s or 1860’s Photographic Yearbook evidence depicts ‘Colonel Reb’, with walking cane, Stars and Bars flag, KKK hoods.
the constant playing of ‘DIXIE’ on and on. Not sure if the had Slave Auction, but UVM had one during Kake Walk. Yes it hurt then and now. NO positive motivation.. Only two things you have to do. “Treat your neighbor like yourself” and “Do good work”. Where does 1960’s rebel fit in? Segregation? KKK? Mid night fire bombings? ‘I did not know’ does not fit any more than “Alternative Facts” (what a great term. Evil, dumb, but Great) Nuf said.