From USA TODAY…
Wis. law lets residents challenge race-based mascots
By Judy Keen, USA TODAY
KEWAUNEE, Wis. — The homecoming pep rally Friday at Kewaunee High School will have extra drama this year: Everyone in town will learn whether they’ll be rooting for the River Bandits or the Storm to beat the Valders Vikings in the big football game.
The selection of a new nickname is the culmination of a sometimes painful few months in this town of 2,745. Under a new state law meant to eliminate race-based nicknames, logos and mascots, a complaint prompted the Kewaunee School District to drop the “Indians” name that had been in use here since 1936.
“This has been a tough time,” says Sandi Christman, who chaired a committee that got the whole community involved in the selection of a new name and mascot. “It’s like losing a friend.”
To ease the sting, the school board decided to seek suggestions from students and residents. Almost 200 ideas were submitted. The 13-member committee, which included four students, narrowed the list to six: River Bandits, Storm, Cougars, Hawks, Knights and Huskies.
At least 1,400 votes were cast in community-wide balloting that chose the two finalists, River Bandits and Storm. The winner was chosen by the district’s 1,030 students. The district has few Native American students.
Some people aren’t ready to give up the old name. A popular shirt for sale here reads, “Once an Indian, always an Indian.”
Law first of its kind
A state law that took effect in May allows school district residents to lodge complaints against race-based names. The Department of Public Instruction holds a hearing before the state superintendent decides whether to bar the usage. Districts can argue that a name isn’t discriminatory if they have a tribe’s approval.
In June, retired Kewaunee teacher Marsha Beggs Brown filed a complaint. The Kewaunee School Board intended to fight it, says President Brian Vogeltanz, but changed its mind on the eve of the hearing and decided to voluntarily drop the name. The district has a year to remove Indians signs from school premises.
“Respect for all people — that was my motivation,” says Beggs Brown. “There’s just no refuting that these names harm children.” Some people here support her decision, she says, but “I’ve also gotten a couple of anonymous letters and anonymous phone calls, and there are people who don’t speak to me.”
In 2005 the NCAA prohibited the use of Native American nicknames, mascots and imagery in postseason competition. Wisconsin’s law is the first of its kind.
Department of Public Instruction spokesman Patrick Gaspar says it has received three complaints. Osseo-Fairchild schools were ordered to drop their Chieftains nickname. A complaint against the Mukwonago Chieftains is pending. There’s been no complaint in Auburndale, but it is forming a committee to look into changing its Apache nickname.
Last week Kewaunee defeated the Mishicot Indians. Mishicot has permission from Michigan’s Hannahville Potawatomi to use the name because the town is named for a chief from that tribe.
Barbara Munson, chair of a Wisconsin Indian Education Association task force on mascots and logos, says about 30 school districts use Indian names and about 30 dropped them voluntarily. The issue, she says, “is a failure of mainstream American culture to deal with stereotyping.”
Mixed reaction
Jesse Steinfeldt, an Indiana University psychology professor who has studied the effects of the nicknames and mascots, says they create “a racially hostile education environment that … can affect the self-esteem of Native American kids.”
Councilman Brandon Stevens of the Oneida Nation, the tribe closest to Kewaunee, wishes the Legislature had banned all Indian nicknames. But, he says, “as long as there’s debate, there’s an avenue for education.”
People here say it’s hard to give up the Indians tradition. “People are upset,” says Tim Selner, 37, a truck driver and 1992 graduate. “It’s always been part of us.”
The use of Indian imagery and names “is a tribute,” says Shirley Brusky, who left school to marry a year before she would have graduated in 1955. “We were proud to be called an Indian.”
Kewaunee senior Libbie Delebreau, 18, says the change is necessary “if the Indians feel it is offensive … but it’s sad that we have to lose our mascot in my last year of high school.”
She hopes River Bandits will be the new name, but says, “We will be cheering on whoever we are.”
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