Peru students react to 'Indians' retirement

PERU | Students here had the chance to give their thoughts on the plan to find a new name for the school district's mascot at a town hall meeting on July 21. Peru Central School superintendent Dr. Thomas Palmer gave current students a chance to express their views on the mascot and name change from Indians at the meeting. "This is part of the students' responsibility, in my eyes, and we want to give you a chance to do that," said Palmer on the renaming. "The values you have been taught in the athletic program are not going away. A name does not make you. You as the collective group are the strength. It's what you bring together as a collective group that is the most important aspect." Student reaction Student Mia Marino said she agreed with the name change, but felt the community should have been more involved in the process. "I feel if the word Indian is offensive we should change it but I feel we could involve the community a little more in the decision," Marino said. "I have always used the word in unity and to show that we, as a team, had power." Kash Palmer echoed the sentiment. "Personally, I believe that the word Indian means power and we are using the name as an example and as a role model," he said. Dr. Palmer said she understood the feelings of the students who wanted to be more involved. "Some of you have said that you felt shortchanged," he said. "I can't go backward but I can go forwards and make sure your voices are heard. It is the prerogative of the board at that time to make the decision, but I want to make sure you have a voice in this process moving forward." Remi Beauharnois said she fully supported the change. "This is a new beginning for all of us," she said. "If the term was derogatory to anyone, we shouldn't keep it. We are not our mascot, we are not our colors, we are us." Beauharnois also suggested the new moniker of "Wolves" or "Wolfpack," which is a name the Peru cross country team has used within its program. At the end of the meeting, high school principal and former athletic director Matt Berry told the students in attendance they would be able to take the lead in this process. "Your voice to your peers will be the one that will have the biggest impact," Berry said. "Your voice and influence to have other people involved will have a lot more impact than if I or someone else said it." Asked to retire the name During the meeting. Dr. Palmer spoke about the 2001 directive from the state department of education to get rid of any Native American names and logos, but added the school had received a letter in 2010 from the St. Regis Mohawk tribe. "The St. Regis Mohawk tribe encouraged the Peru board to retire the utilization of the race-related name and imagery," he said. Palmer added the promise that the school was not going to change anything from past championships or records, including the state football championship signs. "That is part of our history and we are very proud that we had a state champion here at Peru," he said. "We are not shaming what our name was. What has been going on in public — I get it, but we are not desecrating what we were. Nest steps Following the second meeting on July 22, the school will convene a stakeholder committee that will be charged with the creation of a new moniker and mascot. "We will probably meet in two weeks," Palmer said. "We will get some dates and find out when people who are interested are able to meet." The district also announced an email address for comments on the issue, asking those who are not able to attend to write the school at mascotconversation@perucsd.org.

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Peru students react to 'Indians' retirement

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