Some of the 36 State Schools with Indian Logos to Fight Bill

Posted Monday May 3, 2010 5 days, 13 hours ago 
Mukwonago High School Logo
(courtesy of muksports.com).

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - At least some of the 36 Wisconsin schools that still use Indian team names and logos say they won't give them up without a fight. Governor Jim Doyle has promised to sign a bill that lets people complain about names they consider offensive. And if the state superintendent agrees after a public hearing, he could order the affected school boards to make a change.

Mukwonago High School principal Dale Henry says he'll fight any challenge to his school's Indians. He believes the school shows respect with its logo. But Barbara Munson of Mosinee says the legislation should be enough for schools to drop their monikers without a challenge – and they should respect the fact that the legislation, "takes down barriers between racial groups."

Munson chairs a task force on the subject. She has pushed the issue for about two decades, but this is the first law of its kind in the nation. Schools that don't comply could eventually be fined $1,000 a day.

Assembly Democrat Amy Sue Vruwink tried to protect the Auburndale Apaches in her district, by getting her colleagues to exempt names of federally-recognized tribes which agreed to let schools use their name. But Munson is not so sure the Apache name would hold up. She said there would be scrutiny over whether a tribal council actually approved Auburndale's nickname.

http://www.wtaq.com/news/articles/2010/may/03/some-36-state-schools-indian-logos-fight-bill/