Date: Fri 19-Apr-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

mascot-high-school-

Full Text:

Mascot Decision Looms At The High School

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Newtown High School students are going to be busy between the now and the end

of the school year.

Many will be facing the daunting task of finishing up term papers, preparing

for the SATs and aceing their final exams. But they will also be responsible

for making the all-important decision on a new NHS mascot to replace the

departing Indian.

That extra task on the list of year-end things to do was given to the student

body after last winter's controversial decision by the school's administration

to dump the high school's longtime Indian mascot.

Principal Bill Manfredonia said a final decision on the mascot will be made by

students in early June after the school conducts a series of votes to narrow

down the choices.

"This is going to be the decision of the students. I think it's going to be a

very, very fair process," he said Wednesday.

It was Mr Manfredonia who came under fire in February after announcing his

ruling to eliminate the Indian, which was held in such high regard with many

current NHS students and alumni. We won support, however, from others in the

community who called the mascot a dishonor to Native Americans.

Upon broadcasting his decision on the morning of February 8, Mr Manfredonia

said the Indian was no longer serving to unify the school. His remarks were

met with immediate opposition from some 200 students who gathered in the

school's lobby. The intense rally eventually made its way on to the

snow-covered football field before finally making its way back into the lobby

where a sit-in ensued.

The students' rally was only the beginning of a wave of opposition to the

action. Letters to the editor, by the dozens, followed in the ensuing weeks,

many of which, attacked Mr Manfredonia's decision. The downfall of the Indian

was the talk of the town for much of the winter.

While hopes of resurrecting the Indian mascot are all but dead, the issue

still has currency in Newtown as evidence by the brisk sales of the "Save the

Brave" T-shirts and sweatshirts that are currently on sale at Superstar Sports

in the Sand Hill Plaza.

According to store owner Ray Tompkins, the shirts have been selling like hot

cakes ever since they were put on the rack two weeks ago.

"That's capitalism at its best," joked Mr Manfredonia, who saw the shirts

during a recent visit to the sporting goods store.

Superstar Sports, which sells many of the school's varsity jackets each year,

has also been selling Indian emblems to those who want to hang on to the

tradition. Mr Tompkins said he has received numerous calls from middle school

students who want to get their hands on the Indian logo, fearful they'll no

longer be available after this year.

"We'll continue to sell the Indian mascot as well as the new mascot,"

explained Mr Tompkins, who said he's seen demand for his Indian attire

increase 1,000 percent since January.

Since the decision, NHS has gone on with the business of searching for the

Indian's replacement. Two open forums have already been held for students to

come forward with their suggestions. As part of the process, students elected

a mascot committee to lead the school in its task. That panel, which is led by

students Kevin Walker and Emily Fries, will continue to gather mascot ideas

from students.

In addition to the four grades at NHS, eighth graders will also be allowed to

vote on the future mascot, according to Mr Manfredonia.

The selection committee will eventually narrow the search down to 20 mascot

options. From there, the five grades will vote on those choices, eventually

narrowing to the top four or five.

Students will then make presentations on the finalist mascot proposals to the

student body at an assembly.

Following the presentations, students will vote again; this time selecting the

final two.

The final mascot vote is expected to take place in early June.

"We knew we'd have people with split feelings on what the mascot ends up

being, but by having the students all vote, we won't get something that just

slips in without the support of the majority of the students," the NHS

principal explained.

From there, Mr Manfredonia will ask students to design artwork (emblems) which

he hopes will be in place by the middle or end of the first semester next

year.

As Mr Manfredonia points out, most NHS athletic and band uniforms have had

their references to Indians toned down in recent years, so little will need to

be changed.

The only guideline given to students, according to Mr Manfredonia, was that

they not choose a mascot that is going to be offensive to others or one that

breeds negativity and ends up splitting the school.