Meet the new face of the Fulton City School District.
He’s strong, proud and athletic. He’s a member of the Onondaga Nation and he walked around this area when it was little more than trees and a lake.
The proposed new logo for the school district’s athletic teams and high school made its first public appearance Tuesday night before the Board of Education.
It’s the result of months of discussion, including a community poll that found overwhelming support for keeping the Native American icon that has represented the school district for decades. Those results were put in the hands of teacher Rob Lescarbeau, a Fulton native who is descended from the Cree tribe of Canada.
“I’ve been researching this issue for years,” he said, and jumped at the chance to use what he’d learned to guide the creation of the new logo.
Lescarbeau did more research, though. He combed through the records at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, a college founded by Jesuit priests who had a strong relationship with the Iroquois tribes. He also visited the Museum of Natural History in New York City, to see, among other things, skulls of ancient Native Americans. He wanted the face in the new icon to be as realistic as possible.
He poured that research into local artist Ben Jerred, who teaches art in Fulton’s elementary schools and who painted the large mural of life on the Oswego Canal that graces the side of the Salvation Army building downtown.
After many revisions, a final logo emerged.
It shows a strong Native American, standing in the water of Lake Neatahwanta. His face is turned upwards, to the sun; the sun’s shadows outline his strong arms and chest. He wears the headdress of the Onondaga Nation. One feather stands straight up and one feather points downward, in the style that indicates a member of the Onondaga tribe.
His belt depicts the wampum belt insignia of Chief Hiawatha, which shows the Six Nations of the Iroquois tied together to the Great Tree of Peace.
In one hand is a tomahawk, its handle wrapped in leather and beaded in the Iroquois style. The other hand holds six arrows, signifying not only the Six Nations, but the six schools of the school district. Six green trees are in the background of a red sky.
“These were images I had in my head a long time,” Lescarbeau said. It’s intended to show strength, pride and peace. “It’s his skill that gave this thing life,” he said of Jerred.
Jerred said it was hardest to get the face right. He didn’t want it to be a caricature. “If I start seeing it around, that’s when it’s gonna hit me,” he said. “It’s gonna freak me out.”
He’ll be seeing it around town soon. The board saw the design on products such as T-shirts, a coffee mug and arm patch, produced by committee member John McGraw, who owns the printing and embroidery business Uniforms, Etc. in Fulton. The board will make a final decision on the logo in September.
It will replace the logos now in use, which include a Native American head wearing a headdress with a feather configuration that does not belong to any Iroquois nation and a block letter “F”. Because the design is unique, the district can trademark the logo.
“You’ll see it more and more,” said Lescarbeau, who believes it will become a visual identification for the school and the city. “They’ll know darn well it’s Fulton,” he said.
missing or outdated ad config
In his years of research, Rob Lescarbeau appears to have neglected to look into the effects of racial stereotypes, no matter how benignly intended. Promoting ethnic or race-based stereotypes is not a part of any school system’s mission.
I’d like to commend Rob Lescarbeau for all the work that he and the committee has done in developing the new G. Ray Bodley logo. I think it was very well done and truly represents a respected culture.
I am a proud graduate of Fulton High School, class of 1956, and I love the new logo. I would be proud to wear the new logo on a t-shirt or cap. Congratulations to the creators of the logo. I think it was an excellent decision to retain the association with the native American Indian and the strength of the warrior. Hooray for the Fulton Red Raiders!
He sure doesn’t look very peaceful to me… a stereotypical depiction of a Native American. And isn’t “Red” considered derogatory? Like “Redskins” is? Would it be appropriate to say white, black, brown, or yellow raiders?
SU went from Orangeman and the same types of logos back in the day to the “Orange” today and no reference to Native Americans whatsoever. At least someone in the region recognizes this. I know in our world of over political correctness, this kind of pandering can be annoying to some, but you have to walk a mile in someones shoes in order to have their perspective. This is an area rich in Native American tradition, we should honor it as such, I don’t feel a school mascot of this sort serves that purpose.
What are they thinking? Just recently, schools were moving away from ethnic mascots. Now, Fulton has gone completely the other way! I can’t believe this
decision was made. I’m pretty sure most Indians don’t want to be depicted with arrows in their fists. Shame on you.
Love the new logo, so glad a certain few didn’t have the final say in getting rid of the indian logo, Fulton is the Red Raiders and we are proud of it. I think it shows honor for the indian not disrespect. Don’t understand why it was ever a problem to begin with. Great job Mr Lescarbeau thanks for all your hard work
I don’t understand why the Fulton School District doesn’t feel it has to abide by the guidelines of the State Education Department in regards to mascots. The Native American mascot is just plain wrong and shameful for our District to adopt it. Sometimes I can’t believe I live in such a small-minded community-led by the Fulton School District.
does the public get input? was the design process an open one?
can the public submit a design or has this all been decided?
public comment would be good.
any info or is this really a done deal?
ty
Rose:
You might call the District Office to get official answers, but here’s what I know:
Public input: Once it was decided to study the logo issue, a committee was assembled of district officials, board members, members of the public and students. Their meetings were open, though not widely publicized.
Submitting a design: The logo that was shown was the recommendation of the committee and is likely to be voted on at the Board of Ed meeting in the second week of September.
Public comment: That board meeting will be open to the public and the beginning part of the meeting is reserved for public comment. Between now and then, you can also reach out to individual board members — they’re listed on the district’s website — to let them know what you think.
-Dave
who owns the logo.
Will all the new orders for shirts , jackets and promotional materials be spread out to all embroidery, sceenprinters in the Fulton district? How is this gonna work? Will the wealth be spread …?
The logo will belong to the school district.
The district has indicated in public meetings that it will allow local companies to make products with the logo. However, ownership of the logo also allows them to prevent others from using it, if they choose to.
One of the issues that came up during the logo discussions is the use of Fulton’s name and a kinda-sorta-similar Native American icon on products sold by other retailers. Ownership of the logo gives the district some control over how its name is used.