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06/14/2006: ""From the hip" by Kevin Henseler, Journal Publisher"

Same old story, different year.
Broken record.
Viscious circle.
However you wish to term it, the debate conserning Native American symbols as school mascots re-surfaced last week with an article in the Norfolk Daily News. The article, written by Kathryn Harris, told of how the Neligh-Oakdale school system is revamping its school mascot in an effort to discontinue the Native Ameri-can “Warrior.”
It is a subject that seems to erupt as regularly as Mt. St. Helens belches volcanic ash. This is not the first time the subject of Native American mascots has been hashed before the public’s view, and it probably won’t be the last.

This time, the subject re-surfaced when the State Board of Education voted unanimously to urge schools in the state to discuss the appropriateness of using Native American mascots and nicknames.
The general debate is that schools that use Native Americ-ans as their mascots are offending Native American people. Native American tribes across the nation have, at various times, brought forth the issue, and forced some schools to make changes; the most famous being St. John’s University going from the “Redmen” (with full-dressed Native American as their symbol) to the “Red Storm.”
North Dakota University has come under scrutiny several times as they are called the “Fightin’ Sioux.” Native Americans have sought to have that much-aligning symbol removed, but it still remains.
In northeast Nebraska, aside from Neligh-Oakdale’s use of the Native American as its mascot and team name, Crofton also uses “Warriors” as its team name and uses artwork depicting a ferocious Native American man in supposedly war paint glaring out at the enemy. The article in the Daily news also cited Battle Creek’s use of “Braves” as its nickname and Native Amercan mascot.
Crofton superintendent Randy Anderson, who has been through this discussion a couple times during his tenure at the Crofton school helm, was quoted as saying, “We are taking the position that it is a prideful representation. It’s been our mascot since the inception of our school system. We have no intention of changing. It’s not degrading.”
Across the NENAC conference, in Neligh, the school board has opted to keep “Warriors” as its team name, but use a Roman gladiator soprt of depiction for the mascot.
In Battle Creek, superintendent Jay Bellar said the Brave was used as the team mascot “as an expression of honor for the American Indian people.” Bellar added that if native Americans are not honored by the tradition, then problems arise.
Around 30 Nebraska schools carry Native American monikers as their school mascots, according to state board of education officials.
So has anyone asked the Native Americans what they think?
“In general, it is offensive to tribal people,” said Roger Trudell, chairman of the Santee Sioux Nation. But Roger also notes that before the tribes begin making a big deal out of it, they maybe better look in the mirror.
Santee Warriors.
Winnebago Indians.
Omaha Nation Chieftans.
“As an Indian school, it may seem all right if we use those types of mascots,” Roger obse-rved, “but if we tell non-Indian schools they can’t use it ...perhaps we’re talking out of both sides of our mouths.”
Roger said the tribes of Nebr-aska have been “kicking the idea back and forth.” He said officials with all of the Nebraska tribes lean toward the idea that if anyone should take the lead and stop using the demeaning symbols, it should be the Indian schools.
Roger said the Santee Sioux have “supported other tribes that have expressed objections over schools using Indian mascots,” but the Santee themselves have never outwardly expressed an opinion one way or the other.
In fact, he admits that “we’ve never really heard much about the Crofton logo, other than it’s an Indian.”
So are the Santee Sioux going to rise up and push for a change at its fellow Knox County school, seeking to eliminate it?
“I think we need to look at our own use of the Indian or Warrior as a school mascot, and perhaps changing it, before we start telling someone else they shouldn’t use it,” he noted.
For many years, I‘ve thought it really wasn’t much of an issue. But you know, I’d probably take offense if some school nicknamed its teams Dumb White Editors or Overweight Double Bogey Caucasion Golfers.
In this day and age where ever-yone’s heritage is NOT supposed to create any bias or impartiality, perhaps it is time for Crofton to consider making a change.
I have to agree with Battle Creek superintendent Bellar’s quote in the Daily News article when he noted, It’s something you can’t change at the snap of your fingers. It’s going to take some expenses.” He pointed out that a wholesale change would require a number of costly actions. In Crofton, we’d have to repaint the mascot on the gym wall, change the pads at the end of the basketball court, reprint new school stationary, repaint the booth that overlooks the track/football field, and change the sign at the entrance of the high school.
If, as Neligh-Oakdale is doing, we’d hang onto “Warriors” as the mascot, but use some other ‘warrior’ type of individual, then we could hang onto the uniforms that have the word ‘Warriors’ on it.
Perhaps set a year -- maybe the 2008-09 school year, and start setting money aside now for the change. Personally, I’d like the change to be one huge makeover, rather than switch this one year, switch that another year, switch something else the next year ... that would drag things out too much and cause too much confusion.
It’s interesting that with all the care that public schools must take to make sure each student is educated in a manner best fitting their learning styles -- or we’ll find ourselves in legal hot water -- that something as prejudicial as using a specific race of people as your team mascot wouldn’t be of equal priority.
I agree with Roger Trudell, that the tribes should take a good hard look at their positions. If they are going to claim the Native American mascots are demeaning to Native Americans, then perhaps they should stop using them along with other schools. In fact, i applaud Roger for even bringing that up during our phone conversation.
So as we start the final countdown toward this year’s CHS alumni reunion, maybe we should also start the countdown to eliminating a race of people as our school mascot.
I know, I know -- I’m going to be branded for seeking something so horrific as changing CHS from the Warriors to sometehing else. And I know, I know -- that the number one reason people will offer to keep it will be: “that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
Sorry, that doesn’t make it right.
It is not appropriate; it is deme-aning to Native Americans, and it’s time we begin taking steps to making a change.
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Hey there dog lovers, rejoice! Next Friday, June 23, is “Take Your Dog To Work” Day.
I wanted to let you know well enough in advance, so your pick out an appropriate outfit, maybe a nice tie, and perhaps a collar that matches your briefcase.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance promoted by Pet Sitters International. This is the 8th year for Take Your Dog To Work Day!
The Pet Sitters group is asking that all employers not only allow employees to bring their dogs to work on June 23, but to urge dog-owning employees to bring their pets along to the workplace.
Are they asking all those who participate to bring along pooper scoopers, doogie diapers and breath mints? What about lunch -- is the employee still going to be able to get that 3-martini lunch in with his dog on tow? Should the dog owner pack a lunch for the pet? “What’s it gonna be, Fido, peanut butter and Alpo sanchwiches, or do you just want a nice beef-flavored chew stick?”
I’m excited about Bring Your Dog To Work Day. So are my two dogs, Gus and Toby. Of course, they come to work with me everyday, so I guess it’s no big deal to them. Maybe I should celebrate Leave Your Dog At Home Day.
Naahhh, the furniture couldn’t take it.
Well, if you do take your dog to work on June 23, take a photo and email it to me. I’d love to seeyou and your dog, sitting at your desk reworking last month’s budget figures, or checking out shoppers at WalMart, or even building a roof on a house. Get pictures, please?
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Due to the popularity of the television show, Survivor, western Nebraska is planning to do its own, titled Survivor Nebraska Style.
The contestants will start in Chadron, head east to Gordon, then down to Alliance, on south to North Platte, up to Scottsbluff, through Harrison and finish back in Chadron. Each will be driving a pink Volvo with California license plates and a large bumper sticker that reads: “I’m gay and a vegetarian. Sip wine, rather than slurp beer. Republicans suck. Hillary in 2008. Deer hunting is murder. I’m here to confiscate your guns. Go CU Buffs!”
The first one that makes it back to Chadron alive, wins. Good luck to all contestants.
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But suddenly, your ruthless enemies will be driven away like chaff before the winds. In an instant I, the Lord Almighty, will come against them with thunder and earthquake and great noise, and whirling wind and storm and consuming fire. All the nations fighting against Jerusalem will vanish like a dream! Those who are attacking her walls will vanish like a vision in the night.
Isaiah 29:5-7