Carthage Dropping 'Red Men' Nickname Over Racial, Gender Concerns

KENOSHA, WI — Carthage College is retiring its nicknames, the Red Men and Lady Reds, citing "widely held concerns about the connotations for racial and gender equity."

The changes are now in effect. During 2020-21, Carthage athletics will proceed without nicknames. Although fall teams continue to practice, competition has been suspended due to public health concerns.

“While we deeply respect our history and the generations of Carthage student-athletes who competed under our former team names, the trustees believe a change is appropriate,” said board chair Jeff Hamar, “This provides an excellent opportunity to brand our college and athletic program in a positive, inclusive, and dynamic way.”

Carthage changed its name from Redmen to the Red Men back in 2005 after the NCAA told the university that they would be ineligible to host NCAA sports tournaments under their existing nickname.

Carthage sports teams had identified as Red Men, or Redmen, since the early 1900s at the previous campus in Carthage, Illinois.

University officials said the moniker originally reflected the color scheme of the Carthage team uniforms, but the program later incorporated Native American imagery — including a previous mascot and a feather that remained part of the athletic logo until 2005.

Swallow made his recommendation based on the findings of a task force, which concluded that Red Men and Lady Reds were “not unifying symbols for our community.”

Nearly 3,000 survey respondents, and dozens more elaborated on their perspectives via email and an online form, university officials said. "By a significant margin, respondents expressed their desire to adopt a new team identity," university officials said.