Mukwonago High School in Mukwonago, Wis., is prepared to take it on the chin by defying a state deadline to change its Native American nickname.
The school’s marching band is called the Phantom Legion, but its sports teams are known as the Indians. The state of Wisconsin’s deadline for the school to change its nickname and logo was Thursday, and, as of this posting, the school had not yet done so.
The school faces fines of up to $1,000 for every day they go without changing the name, according to WISN12 News. That likely wouldn’t happen until an inspection of the grounds happened in the fall, according to the station.
The state has made a push to get rid of all Native American-related mascots and logos at schools in the state because some consider the emblems and names offensive.
“We certainly want to be sensitive,” superintendent Shawn McNulty said. “We think that we have done a very nice job of respecting Native Americans and certainly their culture. We’ve done a lot of education with our students.”
“My daughter, Mariah, will be a senior this year, and she was just terrified that they weren’t going to be able to graduate as the Indians like her older siblings have,” parent Crystal Rozanske added.
“A lot of the kids, like, my age we would look forward to being the Indians and representing that. So it’s going to be a big change and disappointment,” said Rozanske’s daughter, Sierra.
Students may not have to fret any longer, though, because the Indians logo might stay if a new proposal in the state legislature becomes law. The proposed bill would repeal the requirement that school districts get rid of Native American names and logos.
