Logo is out, 'Marauders' up for review in Dedham
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The Boosters Club is retiring this school logo. Native American activists say such images are disrespectful. (ESSDRAS M SUAREZ/GLOBE STAFF/file) |
BOSTON GLOBE
By Emily Yahr, Globe Correspondent
May 6, 2007
After years of fielding complaints, the Dedham High School Boosters Club has decided to permanently retire the school's logo, an open-mouthed Native American face that has represented school athletics since the 1970s.
"It's just time for it to go," club member Anthony Mucciaccio said of the image, which has drawn criticism from Native American groups and others. "People say it's not right. It's not a very friendly or happy looking Indian."
The club is sponsoring a contest with a $100 prize for the student who can create a new logo. The team name Marauders is also up for debate, said Mucciaccio.
Club members originally approached school administrators with the idea that the logo needed to be changed, and officials supported the idea, Mucciaccio said.
"It's not particularly attractive," agreed Superintendent June Doe. "In this area, it seems to be of interest to people to change the Indian logo. We support the efforts of the Boosters Club and look forward to see what students come up with."
School Committee chairwoman Tracy Driscoll said that although there has never been a "huge outcry" against the logo within the Dedham community, school officials want to be sensitive to groups that might find the picture offensive.
Such logos have attracted a growing share of critical attention in recent years. Native American activists say the logos distort their heritage and are disrespectful. They have called on schools to find substitutes.
Earlier this year the sportsmanship committee of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, the ruling body of high school sports, took up the issue. Discussion focused on whether the MIAA should urge schools with potentially offensive sports logos to change them. No action has been taken to date.
Dedham's logo has not appeared on team uniforms in about five years. The image can be found only in a couple of places around the school, such as the gym wall. Changing it will be relatively simple and not require a significant investment, Doe said.
Although students will decide whether to keep the team name Marauders, officials at the school said the name has more support than the logo.
"My students say they are somewhat attached to the name 'Marauder,' " Doe said. "But we're definitely looking for a new feature," or logo.
A definition of "maraud" is to pillage, Driscoll said, and another school with the same team name has a pirate logo. Marauders may also refer to a special combat unit in World War II, say some on the School Committee.
Dedham is not the only local school changing its Indian identity. Natick High School recently voted to drop its team name, the Redmen. Principal Alan Winrow said the change was raised before the MIAA talks.
It is important that students feel involved in the process, Winrow said, so they don't feel as if the administration is imposing it.
Emily Yahr can be reached at yahr@globe.com.