By Guy Page
Both chambers of the Vermont Legislature are taking aim at school mascots or team names that depict “a racial or ethnic group, individual, custom, or tradition.”
One of the bills was submitted two days after the Rutland School Board reversed its controversial decision to abandon the traditional “Red Raiders” name and arrowhead emblem.
H641, co-sponsored by 27 House members and introduced Jan. 14, would “prohibit a public school or public postsecondary school from having or adopting a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to a racial or ethnic group, individual, custom, or tradition and that is used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name of the school.”
A Senate bill introduced last April 21 by Sen. Dick McCormack (D-Windsor) features similar language. WCAX reports that up to two dozen Vermont schools might be impacted by the bill. Schools failing to comply would be banned from participating in inter-school sports for three years.
Some supporters of Indian names say they honor the courage, hardiness and integrity often attributed to the American Indian. But McCormack doesn’t see it that way.
“It is insulting to be a mascot,” McCormack told WCAX. “The idea of an institution itself, insulting its own students and humiliating its own students, I find unacceptable.” He also questions the Randolph High “Galloping Ghost” mascot: “Where they say it’s not racist at all, it’s a galloping ghost. But it really does kind of look like a Ku Klux Klan member.”
The House bill was introduced in the midst of a bitter back-and-forth battle over whether the Rutland High School mascot/team name should remain “Red Raiders” (perceived as racist and ethnically disparaging) or be changed to “Ravens.” Feb. 9 of last year, the Rutland school board made the switch to ‘Ravens’ – despite one resident’s criticism that she found Ravens offensive from a religious point of view.
Brittany Cavacas objected to the Ravens on the grounds of her Catholic faith, the Mountain Times reported. “A raven, in my religion, means death,” she observed. “So, for me, a raven is negative.”
But the story doesn’t end there. Angry “Red Raider” supporters lobbied the community and the board, and on Jan. 12 the board reversed itself and restored “Red Raiders” as the school mascot.
Two days later, H641 – with Rutland Rep. William Notte (D) as lead sponsor – was introduced. Neither bill is scheduled to be discussed in committee this week.