School tosses North controversy to alderman

By Ray Quintanilla
Tribune staff reporter
January 10, 2007

Saying they made a procedural mistake when they voted last year to name Senn High School's new softball field after controversial radio personality Mike North, the school's local school council voted unanimously Wednesday night to put the issue in the hands of
the local alderman.

The decision came after a two-hour public meeting that drew more 100 people, most of whom opposed naming the field after North. The meeting included at least three outbursts from North, who sat in the audience, as those who were signed up to speak questioned whether he was a good role model.

"The so-called role models here have called me ignorant three times. Is the deck going to be stacked against me all night?" North shouted.

About a dozen people spoke, including North, who had dropped out of Senn, at 5900 N. Glenwood Ave., in 1970.

In the end, the local school council decided that Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th) would decide whether the field in her ward would carry North's name.

The tensions at the meeting flowed from North's use of the word "Chinaman" to describe Cubs pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu, who isKorean. North made the remark last summer and has since apologized.

William Yoshino, Midwest director of the Japanese American Citizens League, said the word is designed to denigrate Asians and Asian-Americans.

"We continue to oppose naming [the field] after Mr. North, and we will make those views known wherever we can," he said after the meeting.

Smith has backed the measure to name the field after North, suggesting it's a great way to ensure someone with resources could help maintain the field and possibly fund programs. She was unavailable for comment Wednesday night.

The Chicago Park District, which owns the athletic field next to Senn, said it will consider the wishes of Senn's local school council and anyone who shares their views on the issue.

"There's no formal process here. If there is community support for it, we will allow the school to place their plaque there," said Jessica Maxey-Faulkner, a Park District spokeswoman.

North, 54, is the morning broadcaster on the WSCR-AM sports radio station. He's well known for his fiery tirades on the air, some of which push topics beyond sports.

North often takes on topics such as sex, race and politics—sometimes graphically. During some discussions on race, North has often referred to himself as "Caucasian man." In another segment, North called himself "The Bookie Priest" and goes about
predicting the outcome of football games.

It's that sort of talk that's caused the Chicago chapter of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a civil rights group, to join with Asian organizations to raise questions about naming any public venues after North.

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