Spaulding High School to keep Red Raider logo
FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT (Dover, NH)
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Amanda Dumond — Democrat Staff Writer
ROCHESTER — Lilac City residents sent a clear message to School Board members Tuesday night that they don't want their high school logo changed.
More than 60 students, alumni, teachers, City Councilors and other residents filled the middle school cafeteria at the public hearing and Special Services Committee meeting, with the vast majority speaking passionately in favor of preserving the Red Raider, Spaulding High School's symbol. They said the logo is a deeply ingrained emblem of school pride.
In light of that testimony, the committee decided not to make any changes at this time.
The debate over the Spaulding logo is not new to Rochester. Six years ago the community shared their views in an open forum, and no action was taken to change the logo because the majority of residents favored the emblem then.
The issue resurfaced after alumnus Peter Sanfacon, of Framingham, Mass., sent a letter last month to the superintendent's office. Sanfacon called for the school district to follow the recommendation of the New Hampshire Board of Education, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and numerous other organizations in eliminating the use of American Indian sports mascots and symbols.
Sanfacon, who has studied American Indian culture, said he wanted to serve as a good example for his son, who attends a culturally diverse school in Framingham.
"The issue is one of education," he said. "What are we teaching our children about racial tolerance and what are we teaching them about real Native Americans? Our schools must prepare our children to live in a diverse society. In a city that is 97 percent white, it is imperative that racism is recognized and addressed, and the issues resolved, rather than continuing to ignore it. Pretending this is not racism is completely missing the point."
Residents thanked Sanfacon for reigniting the debate, but did not agree that the issue was about racism. The Red Raider represents the spirit and solidarity of the school and community, they said, and Rochester and its school system is known for letting others test the waters before making such big decisions.
"We don't need to be a trendsetter. We never have been," School Board Chair Nancy Warren said. "We also don't have the money to change all our uniforms ... In my nine years on the board I've never heard anyone was offended by the mascot, and believe me we hear about (complaints) on the board."
Many alumni, parents and students spoke at the meeting in support of the Red Raider, and more than 300 signatures were collected at the high school. Junior Chelsey Guay, who plays tennis at Spaulding, served as their spokesperson.
"As soon as you enter high school as a freshman, you are a Red Raider," she said. "It never leaves you for the rest of your life. You'll always be a Red Raider. That spirit is in your heart."
Jeremy Bourgeois, a 2005 alumnus and now a UNH student, also launched a website called Save the Red Raider and received numerous responses to the online petition he posted.
Roland Jerome, a Micmac Indian and chief and founder of the United Native American Cultural Center in Devens, Mass., said at the hearing that his people are more concerned with pep rallies and half-time entertainment that using American Indian mascots in a derogatory manner. Jerome said people from various American Indian nations at the center did not find anything wrong with the logo or the name Red Raider.
"As long as it is used right, we are honored to have it used by the hockey and football teams," Jerome said. "The feeling of the native people is that it is not offensive."
His remarks were followed by thunderous applause by the group.
Local brothers Damon and David Kondrup brought the matter to the center's attention and drove there on April 5 to have the logo scrutinized. Damon said that while his family is descended from American Indians, he and his brother felt their status as alumni could cloud their objectivity, so they sought out the cultural center's opinion.
Sanfacon said residents were confusing school pride and cultural sensitivity. "It's hard to educate people in an hour," he said.
There were a handful at the meeting who supported changing the logo, including School Board member Bob Watson, who made a motion at the end of the hearing to discontinue the logo at the end of the school year. Watson's motion failed because after it was not seconded by any other committee members.
People on both sides of the discussion agreed that students and the community need more education.
"I do agree we should have more research," said Denise Chick, 1983 Spaulding alumna. "We need to have Native American history and culture taught somewhere in the school."
"There's a lot of growing we can all do," said Assistant Superintendent Kent Hemingway. "We need to take this energy (from tonight) and put it in the right direction."
The origin of the Red Raider logo is unclear.
Hemingway and Athletic Director David Colson said they discovered after speaking with the Rochester Historical Society that it originated sometime in the 1920s and was referenced in the literary magazine "Red and White."
The Red Raider has not made appearances at ball games since the 1970s. The two administrators also learned that the Red Raider was never used in reference with American Indians until the 1950s.
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| Roland Jerome, chief of the United Native American Cultural Center, spoke to the Rochester Schools' Special Services Committee at Tuesday's meeting about the Red Raider, above. His group is not offended by the mascot. (Aaron Rohde/Staff photographer) |
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