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Menomonie groups
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- By Georgia Pabst
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Battling factions in the bitter Indian logo dispute in Menomonie will move their fight to Madison today, where both sides plan to testify on a bill that would ban schools from using Indian names for mascots, logos or nicknames.
"I feel it's sad that the majority race should decide if a minority race is offended or not." |
Nineteen Student Council members from Menomonie High School and their adviser plan to make the 200-mile trip to Madison in their own cars and vans to testify in favor of the bill before the Senate Education Committee. That decision came after the school superintendent withdrew permission for the trip to be a school-sanctioned field trip.
Meanwhile, opponents of the bill have chartered a bus to Madison, where they will give their views to legislators.
Student Council adviser Karin Worthley said students had planned to use school vehicles for the trip because a chartered bus costs between $600 and $700. The field trip earlier had been approved by school officials.
But the issue has been a bitter and divisive one in this Dunn County community of 13,500, where three School Board members were recalled last April after they voted to change the high school's "Indians" nickname.
On Monday, Worthley said, Superintendent David Smette withdrew permission for the field trip and said that the students shouldn't go unless both sides of the issue would be represented. She said no Student Council members wanted to speak against the bill.
"Our principal (Lee Benish) said: 'Just be sure you make it clear that you're not representing the school,' " Worthley said.
Benish and Smette could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Janay Wittek-Balke, a spokeswoman for the district, said students can go to Madison as long as they have parental permission and can provide their own transportation. She said she couldn't comment on why the field trip was canceled.
Jeremy Foxwell, 18, a senior, said he believes it's "totally wrong and nothing but racism" to keep the Indian logo.
"I was told by an administrator I could not represent the school (and) that I would have to represent myself, so I'm representing myself," Foxwell said.
"I think the underlying reason is that adults are fearful that teenagers want to make change and voice their opinions," said Sarah Pamperin, 18, a senior. "I feel it's sad that the majority race should decide if a minority race is offended or not."
"I think students are always a minority because we're not adults," added Kelly Verdon, 15, a freshman. "I'd like to see the community united again. It's been split so many ways by this issue."
When he heard about the students' plans to go to Madison, Richard Hanson, a local factory worker and a vigorous opponent of changing the Indian logo, said he and others decided to rent a coach bus that holds 47 passengers and go to Madison to speak against the bill.
Hanson said students who oppose the change in the logo also will go along with adults. While the bus is open to all, Hanson said those opposing the bill will be seated first.
Although the high school's original name was the Menomonie Maroons, it was changed in 1939 to the Indians, and Hanson said "the community has bonded to it."
The bill to ban the use of Indians as mascots or logos is endorsed by the Wisconsin Indian Education Association, which says such things foster stereotypes about Indians. So far, 21 Wisconsin school districts have changed their Indian logos; more than 50 have not.
The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill, sponsored by Sen. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), for 10 a.m. today. At 9 a.m., student groups from throughout the state will rally in Madison in support of the legislation.
Posted January 28, 1998
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