PROTEST IN THAILAND
A pro-democracy protester flashes a three-fingered salute and displays an image of protest leader Parit Chiwarak on Wednesday in Bangkok, Thailand.
UTICA – Community members were heard loud and clear at the North Fork school board meeting this week: Don’t change our mascot.
A vocal majority of the nearly 50 in attendance Monday sent a message that the Redskins nickname for the Utica High School sports teams should be here to stay. In response, the board unanimously voted down a proposal to begin exploratory discussions about changing the nickname.
“I find it absurd,” community member Bethany Simon told the board. “This is one thing that still creates a sense of community in our area. If you went to Utica, you will always be a Redskin. It’s an honor to have that name. Redskin is a symbol of strength and a warrior spirit.”
Neil Snelling, a past president of the Utica Athletic Boosters and a co-founder of the Utica Athletic Hall of Fame, was the first to speak during public comment. His passionate plea to the board to stick to tradition drew loud applause throughout the Utica Middle School cafeteria.
Eight more community members, including Simon, followed, and all echoed
Snelling’s sentiment.
“I proudly proclaim that I am a Redskin,” Kory Mcinturff said. “To me, the Redskin name means toughness, honor, virtue and being the best of the best. To change the Redskin name is to cave to the ridiculous cancel culture and to allow outsiders to influence who we are as a community.”
During his superintendent’s report at the beginning of the meeting, Scott Hartley explained the proposal was on the agenda in response to recent executive orders by President Joe Biden promoting racial equality and equity. Hartley said the district should be prepared if the federal or state governments mandate the changing of potentially offensive school nicknames.
“I don’t like to wait until the last minute to do things. I like to be ahead of the game,” Hartley said. “It’s not something I want to do. I’m going to be very clear. I do think we have to look at the process: How much is this going to cost us, where are we going with it, how are we going to do it, if we have to do it?”
When contacted by The (Newark) Advocate in July after the Washington Football Team officially dropped the nickname, Hartley said in an email: “We have not had any requests locally to review the use of our mascot.”
Bryanna Stigger, president of the NAACP’S Licking County chapter, then questioned the district’s continued use of the nickname for its athletic teams and the imagery at various facilities during a September board meeting.
“How are you honoring our indigenous brothers and sisters?” Stigger asked at the time.
Upon hearing the public comments Monday, board member Barbara Bruce said the community needs to have some hard discussions regarding how th nickname is perceived by those outside of the district.
Bruce added she would like to see a committee, including alumni, students and community leaders, formed to look further into the topic. She, however, voted against the proposal, citing the ambiguity of the wording.
“We are an educational institution. Let’s learn. That’s what we are about,” Bruce said. “A lot of folks ask why we need to address this issue, and it’s not going to go away. We have discussed this in our district for decades, and we just keep kicking this can down the road. It’s only going to intensify because there is a movement nationally.”
Board member Andy Hollenback addressed past suggestions to transition away from Native American imagery to using the block “U” as a primary logo. He said he is concerned it would not be inclusive of the various small communities that comprise the North Fork district.
It was clear, however, any change will not sit well with those in attendance. Many asked “Why now?”
“There are more important topics that can be addressed to utilize our money more appropriately,” Simon said. “And to look into the future, I can tell you this would be one thing that will not help you pass a school levy. The goal should be to try to build your school community, not tear it apart.”