Rivalry between Oregon Ducks, Oregon State Beavers won't be referred to as the 'Civil War'

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PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon State and the University of Oregon will meet on the football field this Friday. The game is one of the longest running rivalries in college football, but this year it's won't be referred to as the "Civil War."

The decision was made over the summer after officials from both universities heard from current and past athletes.

Joey Harrington, one of the Ducks' top players in history, said he doesn't have an issue with not using the term.

"If a family member or a brother of mine says your words and your actions are hurting me, the first thing I do is listen," Harrington said. "The next thing I do is make a change to correct those actions."

The Civil War involved slavery and the division of America, two things both universities no longer wanted to be associated with.

"We felt like it no longer represented our university at Oregon State University or the University of Oregon or really Oregonians," said Steve Clark, the public information officer for Oregon State University.

"If you have significant opposition to this, you're missing the point," Harrington said. "You need to take a minute to do some self reflection because you're missing the entire point of what's happening right now."