Comment: As everyone thought, the key issue is how violent and warlike the
Indian mascot is, NOT how "noble" or "honorable" it is.

*****

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-canboe0210.artfeb10,0,1047453.story?co
ll=hc-headlines-local

School Panel Puts Off Vote On Mascot

February 10, 2006

By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, Courant Staff Writer

CANTON -- Canton High School students papered school walls and windows
Thursday with copies of their current "Dancing Warrior" mascot, expressing
disappointment with a proposed new image they say waters down the school's
fighting spirit.

The board of education, which has been wrestling with the issue for seven
months, had planned to vote on whether to accept the latest warrior image
Thursday night. But several board members said they either would not
approve the image or were not ready to vote, and some Canton High students
told the board they felt left out of the process of choosing a symbol that
represents them.

In the end, the board decided to gather more information from students, who
are to meet in a schoolwide assembly and focus groups.

The current angry-eyed warrior wears a full headdress and wields a hatchet.
The proposed new symbol for the school's sports teams is a much more
realistic representation of a Connecticut Indian, but he holds no weapon in
his extended hands. Many students found that the image failed to convey the
necessary fighting spirit, Kyle Martin, student representative to the
school board, said outside the meeting. Students were especially
unimpressed with the proposed warrior's stance, Martin said.

"It's not something you could use to intimidate," he said.

The issue came to the forefront during refinishing of the high school's
gymnasium floor last year. The booster club and Canton Youth Basketball had
offered to pay half the $17,000 refinishing cost, but only if the board
allowed the Dancing Warrior to be emblazoned on the finished floor.
(Subsequently, booster club President Peter Getz has said the organizations
would pay half the bill regardless of whether the mascot's image is
included.)

High school Principal Gary Gula sought to rid the school of any image of a
Native American, saying it demeaned an entire culture. Over Gula's
objections, the school board decided at an Aug. 11 meeting to keep an
Indian warrior as the mascot, but sought a new depiction that was less
cartoonish and more representative of Indians who once lived in the region.
At a meeting on Aug. 30, the board rejected a proposed redesign, saying it
was still too much of a caricature.

Former school board Chairman Larry Minichiello went on a board-approved
mission to seek a more realistic image. Working with local parent and
Native American Terri Delahanty, he researched Connecticut Indians and
engaged a Simsbury artist, John Zei, to draw a new warrior.

The image shown to the board Thursday was a painted version of the sketch
that ran with a story in The Courant Thursday. Minichiello stressed in his
presentation that the latest version is still a "rough draft," and also
that the painting could be simplified for transfer to sweatshirts, coffee
mugs and other items.

But Canton High students told the board Thursday that their opinions should
have been sought.

"We all have pride in being warriors," sophomore Stephanie Lawler said.
"It's our symbol. It's our mascot. It's our pride. I just wish students had
a lot more involvement in this."

Board member Carrie Sinish called Zei's work "a wonderful painting," but
said she had problems with putting the image on a gymnasium floor, where
people would step on it. Board member Susan Crowe said she would vote for
the image, but other members said they were on the fence or felt
uncomfortable making a decision Thursday night.

Speaking to Gula and Delahanty, both of whom were in the audience, board
Chairman Lou Daniels recommended that students gather in an assembly, where
they could learn about the history of Connecticut Indians and the warrior
image and then meet in focus groups for further discussion.

Minichiello thanked students for speaking out. Although the goal of finding
a new warrior image remained elusive Thursday, the former board chairman
praised the students for participating in the debate.

"This is what government's all about," he said.