Spaulding High Asked To Change Red Raider Logo; Viewed As Insensitive To American Indians

ROCHESTER — Administrators are on a fact-finding mission to learn more about the creation of Spaulding High School's mascot and logo after an alumnus asked that the Red Raider emblem be changed.

In a letter sent to the superintendent's office earlier this month, Peter Sanfacon, Class of 1977 and now of Framingham, Mass., said the mascot and logo that depicts an American Indian is inappropriate and insensitive.

He quoted a resolution passed in August 2002 by the New Hampshire Board of Education calling for local school districts to stop using American Indian sports mascots as well as a similar resolution adopted by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 2001.

"Several years have gone by since these resolutions were issued and Spaulding High School's 'Red Raider' is still here," he wrote. "School representatives claim that the name and logo are 'honoring' Native Americans. Do we honor Native Americans by calling them 'Red' and then using that color in our sports teams' uniforms? Do we honor Native Americans by referring to them as 'Raiders'? What honor is there in depicting an entire race of people as aggressive and violent? The name 'Red Raiders' honors no one."

Sanfacon also suggested that a comprehensive course in Native American studies be part of the history and social studies curriculum for juniors and seniors and noted Northwood, Goffstown, Lebanon, Kingston and Penacook have changed their American Indian mascots.

The debate over whether to change the mascot has been ongoing. About six years ago an open forum of educators and community members was held but no changes were made, Athletic Director David Colson said.

The discussion has started again with Sanfacon's letter, and Spaulding's alumni association has posted a poll asking alumni whether the mascot should be changed. At the March 16 Special Services Committee's meeting, School Board members directed administration to look into the matter further.

Colson said he has spoken with alumni and will speak with the historical society about when the mascot came into existence to figure out why the Red Raider was chosen. He and others believe it may have been around the time Rochester High School opened its doors in the early 1900s. Community members are encouraged to give their input.

At the Special Services Committee meeting, all sides of the argument were heard. Dorothy "Dot" Callaghan, who teaches at School Street School, shared her experience working summers on an Arizona American Indian reservation for 16 years. The tribes she worked with celebrated the recognition and were not offended by the use of the Red Raider representing Rochester schools, she said.

Sanfacon shared the position of many other American Indians in opposition to such a mascot and the issue of racial discrimination because of the red face.

Colson said the reason the mascot has not yet been changed is that there are community members and alumni who associate it with good memories at the high school.

"Our mascot is deeply rooted in our community," he said. "There's a lot of tradition and pride there. There are a lot of alumni who are very proud of the mascot because it's a big piece of their experiences."

Anyone with information or concerns about the mascot should contact Assistant Superintendent Kent Hemingway at 332-3678 or Colson at 332-0757 ext. 243.

what kind of message does that send to your children and grand children, at least you graduated. If spaulding sucked while you attended, then as hard as it is to understand whatever group you belonged to either Jocks or Band Geeks or ROTC or Burnouts all make up Spaulding. If you left and went somewhere else then that school would suck soon enough, the only thing that would always be constant would be you and I don't believe that you suck I just think you are trapped in the past

Changing the Red Raider mascot?
I know several people who are of native American decent and they are not offended.
It would depend on the level of intelligence. I think that changing the Red Raiders mascot would be an ingenious way to keep the Native American down. Let's see, first we took them out of their land and took their ways of survival. Then we took the land, which to the Native American belief is greater than most anything other than the great spirit. We took that land a living, breathing, meaningful part of their existence and desicrated it by polluting the Grounds that they held so sacred that they would not bury their dead under it. Then we took their hunting grounds and turned it into housing.
Then we took their Game, Uh Oh! Actually it was not known as game, until we took the gift that brought them nourishment and vitality and turned it into a form of entertainment. As for the Red Raider mascot he is not an it, the mascot is a he. A mascot according to Dictionary.com is
1. mascot (noun), A person or animal that is adopted by a team or other group as a symbolic figure
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University
2. mas·cot, Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mas-kot, -kuht](noun) An animal, person, or thing adopted by a group as its representative symbol and supposed to bring good fortune.
So is symbolizing the Native American as a Chief, a noble warrior one that would stand side by side with and encourage his people to continue the courageous battle against an enemy they really do not know enough to dislike, but just to ensure that the village He leads and represents to finish the battle victorious.
The same Chief that as the most Honorable member of his people would only celebrate victory with humility. For to the Native American all forms of life are precious. In his time the Chiefs victory was not the same as todays victory but the spirit of battle is what drives us to finish on top of our opponents and continue with the battle cries of our Village/School to the point where we fight with the same courage and drive as the Chief would have. To be a warrior was a very honorable and distinguished position, that Native American men as they reached the age of High Schoolers today, would not settle for anything less then to be known as a warrior. To be the Chief or associated with the Chiefs family was a very high honor, and I am honored to be associated with the Chief and be a part of his family!

Go Raider, Get Some!
Having a Native American Chief

I won't even begin to go down the getting rid of spiritual mascots that's the next battle that some jackass with no real great cause of his own

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