Group makes compromises on 'Ypsitucky' name

By Christine Laughren
May. 20, 2009    ·    10:02 p.m.

The Depot Town Community Development Corporation submitted a letter to members of the Human Relations Commission stating they would like to keep the ‘Ypsitucky’ name for their bluegrass jamboree in September.

The letter, signed by all members of the DTCDC was submitted this afternoon.

Andy French, a board member of the DTCDC, said the non-profit, which operates Riverside and Frog Island parks, is willing to make compromises in response to complaints made by some community members who find the Ypsitucky name offensive.

“Over the next four months we will be evaluating and deciding if this name will continue for future use and we will report our findings to the HRC at that time,” the letter states.

At its board meeting this afternoon, the DTCDC decided to create a committee that would “highlight Ypsilanti’s southern heritage” at the Ypsitucky Jamboree. French also said the DTCDC would implement “broad-based” survey to continue to receive feedback on people’s impression of the name.

The HRC is hoping people representing both sides of the issue can sit down in the near future and work through a compromise.

“We have decided to review the name of the festival and the festival itself after September,” French said. “If we can say yes to both of these then we will continue to do it, and if not we can cancel.”

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