Rare News Desk
A middle school in Wisconsin found itself blushing and back peddling after it found itself announcing its “white pride” fitness room.
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Meyer Middle School in River Falls gathered a committee together, dubbed the “Pride Fitness committee,” with a goal to raise $100,000 for a new fitness center for the school.
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To avoid dipping into taxpayer funds, the group ran fundraisers to pay for the new facility.
Excitingly, the committee quickly reached its goal with assistance by a local credit union and with a generous donation from a prominent local businessman, Roger T. White.
An enthusiastic Meyers Middle school principal proudly announced the name of their new facility, taking into account the major players that made the building of the center possible: the “Roger T. White Pride Fitness Room As Presented by RCU (Royal Credit Union).”
But as Principal Chuck Eaton spoke to a local paper about the exciting new addition, they asked if the name wasn’t a bit heavy on the tongue.
Eaton agreed, pondering that maybe they would just shorten it to the “White Pride Fitness Center.”
It wasn’t long before the public responded.
Despite Eaton not meaning any harm, the comment outraged people, many of whom took to social media to voice their anger.
“This is [terrible]. White pride? Which culturally insensitive committee let this slide? So much for building an inclusive community,” one Facebook user wrote.
Quickly, a statement was released by the middle school’s superintendent Jamie Benson, writing, “we can see and understand how the new name, ‘Roger T. White Pride Fitness Room’ could be viewed by some people as implying ‘white pride.’ Clearly that was never the intent of the community group, the White family, RCU, nor the school district.”
He continued, “To prevent any future misunderstanding, the fitness center will be named and referred to as the ‘Roger T. White Wildcat Fitness Room’ or the ‘Roger T. White Fitness Room as Presented by RCU.’”
Not everyone accused the school of being racist, though.
Another Facebook user supported:
Why is it people in this country feel the need to decide what others do and if they don’t agree you’re wrong or heck let’s keep the ball rolling ‘you’re a racist’! Because we have different opinions? Whatever happened to supporting something ‘the kids in this middle school’ let us not forget. Also this man ‘Roger T. White’ donated his own money, let me explain that he gave it away to others with little to no return on it!! And in part he was given the ability to have his name on it vs a business name like TCF stadium, USBANK or RCU. Let me ask those that don’t agree with the name, ‘how much money did you donate to it?’ I’m sure we all know that answer because it’s easier to rant on Facebook than to actually get involved into something bigger than your own restricted thinking.
Either way, Superintendent Benson insists the school district strives to be culturally aware and sensitive.
