Sequoia High’s ‘Cherokee’ nickname is again under fire
It has become a regular occurrence. Someone professes offense because of the nickname of Sequoia High School’s athletic teams.
Yes, there are rumblings of a fresh protest about the Cherokees. It’s not exactly a tidal wave of unhappiness. But it’s back in much the same form.
Some students apparently believe the use of “Cherokees” is somehow insulting to Native Americans. Which is a bit odd at this point. The issue already has been addressed in depth. But the fretting pupils weren’t around at that time. For them, this is something new, a fertile field for a youthful protest.
Years ago, the school, after considerable debate, determined to eliminate the Cherokee likeness as the teams’ mascot in all forms. Instead, a raven was chosen. But the nickname remained. It was a reasonable compromise.
Everyone (well, nearly everyone) seemed satisfied. Traditionalists at Sequoia, which is the oldest secondary institution of learning in San Mateo County at a grizzled age of 123, were moderately pleased that at least the moniker stayed.
Naysayers got something too: A raven instead of a Cherokee for a mascot. It’s not entirely clear if the raven (hello, Edgar Allan Poe) has ever really caught on.
Sequoia fought the good fight and seemed to have found a solid middle ground in the politically correct culture war that never really goes away.
Other county high schools have struggled with similar issues. Jefferson in Daly City quietly pulled the plug on “Indians” altogether and went with “Grizzlies” instead.
South San Francisco kept “Warriors” as its athletic nickname and did away with a Native American mascot, not unlike Sequoia’s solution.
By the way, Sequoia originally was named after the towering redwood tree which, in turn, got its label from the learned Cherokee scholar Sequoyah.
So, if anything, the use of the word “Cherokee” represents a respectful bow to history and the Native American past.
Jean Fassler
The Nov. 18 passing of Jean Fassler, only recently made public, deserves a further mention. She was an early indicator of a move into politics by San Mateo County women.
She was the first mayor of Pacifica in 1957. Then she became a member of the county’s Board of Supervisors in 1965, serving there for 11 years. Her governing style was respectful, diligent and humane.
She retired in 1979 and moved out of Pacifica to Roseville, then to Grass Valley where she died at home. A funeral will be held 1:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Sierra Presbyterian Church in Nevada City.
GPS conundrum
For anyone unfamiliar with the quirks of street names in San Mateo, that straight stretch from the Bridgepointe shopping center to South Pacific Boulevard adjacent to the Caltrain rail line remains a real poser.
The route begins to the east as Bridgepointe Parkway, morphs into Fashion Island Boulevard and then abruptly changes into 19th Avenue. The setup provides a challenge for even a close observer of a GPS system or Mapquest.
Lions at 90
Another longtime local institution is heading for a milestone soon. The Burlingame Lions Club turns 90 in 2019. It’s been a bastion of community service and goodwill since its founding in 1929. Happy anniversary.