The College Fix

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

An Illinois legislator from Rockford has filed legislation that would force a Metro East high school to change the nickname it has used for the past 90 years.

State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, said he is excited that a group called “Mascots Matter” came to him for House Bill 3527.

“It is an important piece of legislation, not just for the sake of reform, but for sake of the mental health of our community,” West said.

The Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act would restrict “a public educational institution from the adoption or continued use of discriminatory disability mascots.”

The measure targets Freeburg Community High School, which is about 300 miles from Rockford and located in state Rep. Kevin Schmidt’s district.

“My wife was a proud Freeburg Midget, my father-in-law a proud Freeburg Midget, brother-in-law a proud Freeburg Midget, all four of my uncles proud Freeburg Midgets, three of my aunts, proud Freeburg Midgets and, of course, my own mother was a proud Freeburg Midget,” Schmidt, R-Millstadt, told The Center Square.

Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities staffer Gary Arnold, former president of the Little People of America, said he visited Freeburg twice with other groups and had conversations with school officials.

“Words matter, and a derogatory mascot in Illinois or in other states affect me, who lives on the other side of Illinois, and they affect people with dwarfism, their families and their communities,” Arnold said.

Schmidt said the school board addressed the issue.

“They’ve decided multiple times to keep the Freeburg Midget mascot. I think it’s a state overreach. West has not contacted me, nor will I expect a call from him. He has no clue about the history of the mascot or if the people of the town want it or not. I think it’s a local issue that should be decided locally,” Schmidt said.

West said he proposed the bill with the spirit of empathy.

“The ‘M word’ as a slur makes me think of the ‘N word’ as a slur that’s often-times used on me. It has been used on me even in the position of state representative,” West said.

The Freeburg Community High School website explains the history behind the nickname.

“According to those interviewed who were students during the 1934-35 school year, the name ‘Midgets’ was given to the FCHS basketball team by a local newspaper sports writer. That year, the basketball team had a small team with the tallest player at five feet ten inches tall. He was the center … Since the 1934-35 school year the name ‘Midgets’ has been the loyal team name for many hundreds of Freeburg High School students on all types of teams. It is now held as an affectionate and respectful label,” the article states.

Mascots Matter has also expressed its opposition to the same nickname used by high schools in Unionville, Missouri, Estherville, Iowa, Dickinson, North Dakota, and Butternut, Wisconsin.

The measure would not affect the “midget” class of race cars or youth hockey programs which use the designation for players age 15-18.

This article first appeared on The Center Square on March 7, 2025.

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IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: The Freeburg High School midget mascot is pictured here. Freeburg High School/Facebook.

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