MIAA is unsure of its authority on mascot debate
By John C. Drake | February 9, 2007 | The Boston Globe
FRANKLIN – Members of a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association committee said yesterday they're not sure the association has the authority to force schools to stop using Indian-themed team names, logos, and mascots.
"We're not just going to vote and say all mascots are in or all mascots are out," said Philip Vaccaro , chairman of the sportsmanship committee of the MIAA, the ruling body of high school sports in the state.
Forty-six public high schools in Massachusetts have teams with names, logos, or mascots with Native American themes, according to the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition.
Team names include the Indians, Redmen, and Red Raiders. Logos include depictions of comical cartoon Indians; intimidating howling braves; and items such as arrows and tomahawks.
The coalition argues that the names, logos, and mascots should be dropped because they're offensive to Native Americans.
The sportsmanship committee agreed to consider the issue after Peter Roby, the executive director of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University, said some communities were struggling with the issue.
But committee members might be reluctant to jump into the fray, preferring to leave the matter to the communities. They plan to continue discussing the issue at their next meeting, May 9.
"It's not only the school mascot. It's also on signs around town," said Keith Manville , superintendent of the Saugus Public Schools and a member of the committee.
"It's totally embedded in the town and the community should get a say in whether it should be dropped," he said.
The committee surveyed athletic directors at schools with Indian-themed team names and logos and most who responded said there had been little, if any, discussion. Most also believe they are not offensive.
"I do not believe it to be offensive, or at least no one has ever approached me with that concern," wrote Thomas Arria , athletic director at Matignon High School.
Peter Paladino, athletic director of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, wrote that students have said the Red Raiders' team name is not derogatory. He noted the school has phased out use of Indian-themed logos.
"While it could be seen as offensive, I do not think it is meant as any disrespect to Native Americans," he wrote.
Roby said the Center for the Study of Sport in Society is studying a possible correlation between increased incidents of violence at schools with Indian-themed names and logos. Initial results show that when compared with similar schools, the Indian-themed schools have nearly twice the number of violent incidents.
"There is enough information to ask what is going on," Roby said, emphasizing that it's not yet clear that there is a direct relationship.
Roby said the center is planning to seek state legislation banning the use of Indian-themed team names and logos for high school sports teams.
John C. Drake can be reached at jdrake@globe.com.