Schools disappointed by Brown banning Redskins mascot

Officials from California high schools expressed disappointment Monday as prepared to do away with a mascot they see as historic and beloved – the Redskins – after the nickname was banned by a bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The California Racial Mascots Act calls for public schools to phase out the team name, mascot or nickname by Jan. 1, 2017. Four high schools in the state bear the nickname, considered by many as a racial slur: Calaveras High in Calaveras County; Chowchilla High in Madera County; Gustine High in Merced County; and Tulare Union High in Tulare County.

Some superintendents said would abide by the law, even though they felt the governor should let local governments deal with the issue.

“We will follow through in doing what the law and state say to make sure we are in compliance,” said Bill Morones, superintendent for Gustine Unified School District. “We are very honored and proud for the past 80 years to have the Redskins as our mascot.”

Mark Campbell, Calaveras Unified superintendent, said the district expected the decision, but “from a state government that preaches local control, it is another example of inconsistency.”

Assemblymember Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, author of the bill, called the new law historic. “California is now the first state in the nation to enact a statewide policy to phase out the use of a dictionary-defined racial slur,” he said in a statement.

Alejo’s office said the term once was used to describe Native American scalps sold for bounty and now the name widely is recognized as a racial slur against Native Americans.

The four schools will spend thousands of dollars to phase out the mascot, covering murals and replacing uniforms, stationery, gym floors and more. Early on, Chowchilla Superintendent Ron Seals estimated the mascot change may cost up to $1 million for Chowchilla High. Now that the law has passed, state funding may help offset those costs, he said.

The schools have expressed the importance of having the community and students involved in picking a new mascot. “We feel it’s the students’ school and want them to have a strong role in this,” Morones said. For each district, the decision ultimately will be up to the board of trustees, but the communities’ wishes will be taken into consideration, officials said.

Seals said it’s important the students can choose a mascot tin which they feel pride. “We’ll see what the new generation does with a new mascot,” he said. “We want them to select something they’ll have pride in and take to heart.”

As for alumni, “In our hearts, minds and souls, we’ll always be Redskins,” he added.

Cathy Mederos, the school board president of Tulare Joint Union, said for students and the community, the loss of its mascot is an emotional issue. “You could imagine for students on campus today (Monday), it’s emotional for them probably more than we can realize,” she said. “It’s disappointing, but we understand it. We know what we have to do now moving forward.”

In Chowchilla, Seals said no group has ever complained about the mascot, which represents more than a school since the town has generations of Chowchilla High alumni. “If our community said this isn’t right, we would’ve taken a serious look at changing the mascot,” he said. “But that’s not the case.

“You choose a mascot that you respect, that you love, that you honor, that you dignify,” he said. “That’s what we have.”

Next year, Chowchilla High will celebrate the school’s centennial anniversary. Seals said he is glad the law won’t go into effect until 2017 so the school and community can use its mascot for the celebration.

Local Native American tribes in Tulare have been involved with Tulare Union High and how it depicts its mascot in the past, according to superintendent Sarah Koligian. As of June, the Yokut and Tule tribes did not voice any opposition to the school’s mascot, she said in a video for The Fresno Bee. The tribes could not be reached for comment Monday.

Dahkota KickingBear Brown, the founder and president of Native Education Raising Dedicated Students, thanked Alejo and Brown. “I find this victory to be a small progression in the acknowledgment of indigenous rights in California,” he said in a statement.

News of Brown signing the bill on Sunday reached many on Monday’s marking of Columbus Day, which many U.S. cities celebrate as Indigenous Peoples Day.

The four schools affected adopted their mascot years ago. Tulare established the nickname in 1924; Gustine in the early 1930s; and Chowchilla since 1928 or earlier. It was not clear how long Calaveras High has used the nickname and mascot.

American Indian groups have protested the NFL’s Washington Redskins, and a federal panel last year ruled the team’s trademark should be canceled. The team is challenging the decision in court.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Schools disappointed by Brown banning Redskins mascot."