Mascot issue polarizing community

Unionville High School has long been represented by its mascot, the Indian, a reference to the Lenni-Lenape tribe that once inhabited the area. For decades, Native American iconography has been used for uniforms, chants, and banners, but these practices are now being questioned.

Though the mascot debate is not new, the national wave of racial tensions has reignited the issue, leaving Unionville students, alumni, and community members to decide where they stand. Some say the Indian mascot an insensitive reminder of Native American oppression and some say it’s a symbol of pride in the area’s heritage.

Jenna Ahart and Olivia Kenyon, the Editors-in-Chief of

Unionville’s student newspaper, have already weighed in on the issue. The publication had been called the Indian Post for more than 40 years, but on July 21, its name was changed to the Unionville Post.

“We thought that we wouldn’t be doing our job if we were to just ignore the obvious issues at hand,” said Ahart, who emphasized the importance of student input in this decision. “My hope is that the administration or the school board can…see this as a consensus of our students’ beliefs.”

This name change reflects shifting attitudes about the mascot among students. Cal Harper, a graduating senior, said he was initially “apathetic” about the issue. “I was fine with it when I thought it didn’t bother anyone, but since it’s a huge problem to some people, I’m OK with it being changed,” he said.

Many, like 2009 Unionville graduate Nick Rzepski, look to Native American groups for guidance. To him, keeping the mascot “ignores the fact that multiple representative organizations of Native Americans disapprove of any sort of symbolism or image of their culture or their people as a mascot.”

Suchi Jain, a 2018 graduate, is a leader in the activist group Unionville Must Change. “I think that the bottom line of the issue is that a culture cannot be used as a costume,” she said. UMC has started a petition to change the mascot, which has received over 2,500 signatures as of July 23. The petition to keep the mascot has over 230 signatures.

Students and alumni have also expressed concern about not being able to fully embrace their mascot because of its controversial nature. Lindsey Townsend, a 2010 graduate and current cheer coach at Unionville, said “I want the kids to have a mascot that everyone feels like they can rally around.”

Many see this renewed debate surrounding the mascot as an outgrowth of the national Black Lives Matter movement. As companies and teams across the nation change their branding to be more racially sensitive, similar pressure falls to Unionville. “It’s caused a lot [of reflection], particularly recently and over the last couple of years,” said Erin Himes, a 2013 graduate.

Those who want to keep the mascot see it as part of local culture. Paul Moore, a 1989 graduate, called it a “tribute to the Lenni-Lenape Indians” and said he thinks “people need to be educated on the history of it and not just assume it’s a slight against Native American people.”

Karen Scherer, a 1974 graduate and a Native American herself, said the mascot has always been a point of pride for her. “I was very proud because not only was I an Indian by blood, I was also Indian through my school,” she said, “I thought it was an honor.”

Others worry that by replacing the mascot, a piece of history will be lost. Ralph Armstrong, a longtime Unionville resident who taught in the district for 35 years, said, “I’m not in favor of any of this changing the history. To me, it’s ridiculous because it happened.”

To some, the movement to change the mascot reflects oversensitivity. But on both sides, individuals worry about the polarizing power of this issue. Annie Belgam, a 2014 graduate, said she is “embarrassed” by “how terribly alums are treating each other and treating current students.”

The school board will decide the fate of the Indian on August 24, with numerous discussions involving students, alumni, community members, and staff occurring before then.

Though this debate has exposed deep divides within the community, Himes said it shows that “at everyone’s core…they want the best, there’s just a major disagreement of what that is.”

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