Letter to the Editor
Foster's Daily Democrat
Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Does 'Red Raider' offend anyone?

To the editor:

I was encouraged by the comments made by Rochester School Board members quoted in the Sept. 22 article in Foster's titled, "No consensus on Red Raider logo's future." Peggy Parker acknowledged that the board has "never answered the question of whether we are upsetting someone with the logo or are being prejudicial." According to the story, Superintendent Hopkins also acknowledged that a visiting athlete or parent might find the logo offensive. I want to thank them both for their continued attention to this serious issue.

Having said that, the district already has a non-discrimination policy in place, which should guide any clear-thinking person in the direction of what is just for everyone.

There is, indeed, a consensus on this issue in the Native American community, but Native people only make up about two-tenths of one percent of Rochester's 29,000 residents. That's less than 60 people. Perhaps if there were 500 Native students enrolled at Spaulding, the teams at the school would have been renamed years ago.

Something that has been overlooked is the fact that the nickname "Red Raiders" is significantly more offensive than the logo. Look up the word raider in any thesaurus and explain to me where respect even enters the picture.

As a member of the dominant white society in this country, the nickname and logo does not offend me personally. But nicknames like "Red Raiders" do offend Native Americans, even if they have not filed a specific complaint with the Rochester School District. Google Native American mascot controversy.

I urge the Rochester School District to follow up on its suggestion—and mine—to form a community committee to discuss this issue, to begin educating Spaulding students about Native American culture and history, and learn what challenges they face in the present on the reservations, in big cities and in small towns.

If you are interested in learning more about the multicultural group I've begun forming or would like information on a wide variety of documentation on the subject of Native American mascots and ethnic stereotypes, please contact me via email at pete@sanfacon.com.

Pete Sanfaçon
Framingham, Massachusetts