HRAC Questions EMU President's Ethical Conduct
YPSILANTI, Mich., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Michigan University (EMU) President William E. Shelton failed this month to make the cut as an ESPN "expert on ethics and sportsmanship" panelist. Producers of the "Outside The Lines" program said time had run out on the Nov. 4 program, preventing Shelton's participation. According to the largest EMU alumni group, the Huron Restoration Alumni Chapter (HRAC), it's just as well because Shelton has been anything but ethical in his crusade to kill the school's popular 70-year-old Huron Indian namesake and logo. In a misguided, unilateral attempt at political correctness six years ago, Shelton persuaded the EMU Board of Regents to replace the namesake and logo with the Eagle. Ever since, the HRAC has been stifled at every turn by the Shelton administration in its efforts to reinstate the Huron name and logo.
As support for its cause grows with each new member, the HRAC has begun a public awareness campaign documenting Shelton's ethical transgressions. It reports that Shelton never petitioned EMU's primary constituencies -- faculty, students, alumni and community -- on the decision to abolish the Huron namesake and logo at the school in 1991. Later, Shelton barred two Huron Indian chiefs from challenging the decision before the EMU Board of Regents. Following that, Shelton employed a bogus Cherokee Indian chief to speak in support of the decision. More recently, Shelton banned the display of Huron banners at EMU sporting events. In addition, Shelton prohibited the display of the Huron logo in the 1996 EMU Homecoming Parade and canceled the Parade altogether in 1997 for the first time in 70 years. In an attempt to rewrite EMU's history, Shelton ordered the destruction of all EMU athletic trophies having any reference to "Huron." His unpopular anti-Huron crusade continued with his order to rename everything on campus having the Huron name, including the golf course. Only street names and the Huron River have escaped Shelton's wrath to remain as the only reminders of the community's rich Huron Indian heritage. To complete the Huron purging, he threatened ending EMU business relationships with any merchant who displayed or endorsed the namesake or logo. Meanwhile, Shelton spearheaded EMU's new fire-at-will policy and has used it repeatedly to silence his critics. The HRAC represents a growing membership of about 1,000 alumni, the largest EMU alumni chapter. It was formed in 1991 after EMU's Board of Regents voted to replace the cherished, long-standing Huron namesake and logo. The Huron Indian tribe supports HRAC's efforts to re-establish the Huron Indian namesake and logo, countering the notion that Native Americans were ever offended by their use.
11/24/97 11:44 ESTNews
Wire