Did anyone see this on the news last night? I saw it and couldn't stop laughing - they changed the "sexist" term "fellows" in their school song to "warriors".....
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090327/FON0101/903270385WAUPUN — When female students at Waupun High School actually learned the words to their school song, they cringed.
So did Principal Jeff Finstad, when he read them over — carefully — after some students wanted to paint them on the gymnasium wall.
"No one from the community and none of the students knew the words, so they wanted them up there for everyone to read," Finstad said.
It's true, said junior Bridget Nickel.
"At football games, people would stand up and just mumble the lyrics. It was sad," she said.
In this case, it seems, ignorance was a kind of bliss. For the day copies of the song were passed out at a pep rally, a shocking realization set in.
"Fight fellows, fight, fight, fight," the lyrics urged, referring to the all-male football team making a touchdown and winning the game.
Knowing trouble when he sees it — gender specific trouble that is — Finstad promptly told the students: "I'm not putting those words on the wall."
"It was more about football and all about guy sports," Bridget said.
Talk of changing the politically incorrect school song came about when the school logo was being revamped by art teacher Doug Disch. The big 'W" that stands for "Warriors" was replaced by a character likened to a cross between a Spartan and a knight.
"This all went through a student advisory board, because no one really liked the big 'W.' Then I brought up the school song, and the 'blatant' problem," Finstad said.
The principal chose Bridget to work her magic on the lyrics, with instructions that she make it user-friendly for everyone involved.
"He gave me the opportunity to change it. I was pretty excited about that," Bridget said.
Taking school spirit to heart, the Waupun High School junior tweaked the words so the song could refer to any sport.
"It just kind of came to me. The beat of the song is to 'On Wisconsin,' so it wasn't too hard," she said.
The finished product was presented this month to School Board members. Some of Bridget's friends performed the song at a recent School Board meeting.
"The words came out pretty good, and they are appropriate," Finstad said.
Finally, the gymnasium wall is being readied for the new school song.
"Our school song used to be a big tradition in this town, so I hope this new one is something our community can enjoy together," Bridget said.
NEW SONG
Waupun Warriors
Waupun Warriors
Fight on for your fame.
Cheer the black and cheer
the gold,
On to victory!
U-Rah-Rah
Waupun Warriors
Waupun Warriors
Fight on for your fame,
Fight Warriors fight,
fight, fight,
We’ll win this game!
OLD SONG
Waupun High School
Waupun High School
Fight on for your fame.
Pass the ball right through
the center,
Touchdown sure this time.
U-Rah-Rah
Waupun High School
Waupun High School,
Fight on for your fame,
Fight fellows, fight,
fight, fight,
We'll win this game!
