Southern Illinois School Keeps Mascot Name That Some Find Offensive

FREEBURG, Ill. (AP) — Athletes at a southern Illinois high school will keep the nickname Freeburg Midgets, despite the objections of a group representing people with dwarfism who find the name offensive.

About 500 people gathered at the Freeburg Community High School late Thursday to urge the school board not to dump the name that was coined nearly 100 years ago by a reporter after he watched the school's short basketball team beat much larger opponents.

On July 8, the Little People of America delivered a petition to Superintendent Andrew Lehman, asking Freeburg and half a dozen other schools nationwide to drop the Midgets moniker.

Rodger Jennings Jr., whose son has dwarfism, attended the meeting. He said it's his job as a parent to protect his child.

"I hear a lot of people talk about (the cost of changing the nickname)," Jennings said. "Schools ... are supposed to protect our children, they're not supposed to offend anybody, they're supposed to be bully-free."

Megan Sabourin, a St. Louis woman with dwarfism who grew up near Freeburg, told people at the meeting how offensive the name is to her.

"I'm hurt at the fact that they don't see it as something negative. I'm hurt by the fact that we were in this community and we heard derogatory, disrespectful terms at the microphone," Sabourin said.

Supporters of the nickname said they mean no harm and that the name is a source pride and tradition for the small town.