The next meeting in a series of discussions about the future of the school’s mascot and logo is tonight.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Education room at the Education Center in Fulton.
The district is trying to resolve several years of discussion about its mascot and logo.
Under pressure from the state Education Department, some school districts have changed their nicknames and logos if those names and logos could be seen as demeaning to Native Americans. Central Square, for example, changes its nickname from the Redmen to the Red Hawks. Some, such as Weedsport, have not.
People who have offered opinions to the district in earlier public forums have generally supported keeping the Native American mascot and Red Raider name, saying it honors native people.
Superintendent of Schools Bill Lynch has said that a thorough search of district records turns up only one official logo, the red block letter “F”. He and other district officials believe that the Native American icons were created over the years by local printing companies to sell school shirts and memorabilia and became an unofficial logo.
Prior coverage:
- RaiderNet Daily: The Mascot Debate Continues
- RaiderNet Daily: The School Mascot Controversy
- Fulton Schools Closing In On New Mascot And Logo
- Former Fulton Athletes & Coaches Say District Should Make Native American Head Symbol The Official Logo
Did Bill Lynch ever research the fact that the “Red Raider” used to be painted on the floor in the middle of the gym floor? No disrespect is meant to native Americans. It is a tradition, not as Lynch is now trying to say, made up by print shops. Give me a break. I graduated in 1970, look in the yearbooks, it was painted on the floor. Also in the fall we elected “Chief Red Raider”, along with homecoming queen. Your statements are false Lynch. Now, go back and really do your research. Just becausae you said it, doesn’t mean it’s the truth.
It was at least 1960– see varsity Club Jackets probably sooner.
If one goes back and reads the 1966 high school yearbook, “The Fultonian”, you will find some beautiful pen and ink drawings of Native Americans (drawn by Linda Payne, if my memory serves me) and some very respectful and proud comments about the folks who lived on the shores of Lake Neatahwanta long before the current high school was built. Over the years, farmers in the area around the lake have unearthed arrow heads and other archeological artifacts that lend much credence to the fact that the area was peacefully occupied by these indigenous peoples long before we arrived.
I would like to know what the offspring of these peoples feel about the use of the “Red Raiders” moniker and related logo. Perhaps there is an archaeology and/or sociology class at SUNY Oswego that could undertake such a project for a class assignment.
Surely, making decisions based solely on emotions is unlikely to lead to a long and permanent settlement of this issue.
Rusty Okoniewski
Orlando, FL