School board: We will fight to be the 'Indians'
ROSEBURG, Ore. -- The Roseburg School District Board is continuing to fight for right to keep "the Indians" as the team name.
The State Board of Education voted in May to force all schools with a Native American mascot to change their moniker.
The Roseburg School board voted to authorize legal counsel to explore potential litigation challenging the ban.
>>Sound off! What do you think of the mascot ban?
Superintendent Dr. Larry Parsons says there's two reasons they're continuing the fight.
First , Parsons believes that the choice should belong to the individual school districts, who he thinks should work with the local tribes to come to an agreement.
"This is really a continuation of the promise that we made to the public when this whole mascot issue began," Parsons told KPIC News. "We will pursue from two places any resolution to this, to overcome the ban. One place is legislatively, and we're working on that. And the second place is legally. We want to make sure that the State Board of Education has the legal authority to make such decisions."
Second, Parsons also argues that the ban focuses on mascots but adds that "the Indians" is simply a team name: there is no mascot, and the pictured representation is a feather. "Roseburg doesn't even have a mascot, we don't have a logo that's Native American. What we have is a team name: a team name the Indians. So, it's really frustrating for me."
Parsons also finds fault with the research the state board cited. "All of the research that they talked about, the reason that they reopened this, was because of some "new research" that showed that use of a mascot or a logo was harmful to kids' self esteem," Parsons said. "I have said to them, "show me where a team name only is harmful to self esteem." They couldn't show us any research that said that. If we're not part of that research then take us off the list."
Parsons says that either way, they want the issue to be resolved soon.
"We'd like to either get started on this or let go of it as soon as possible because it's time for us to move on if there's no case to be made," he said.
The school board also voted to hold off on a local option levy they were planning on putting on the November ballot until the May election.
I think they should leave the name like it is their a lot of people that live in the Roseburg area that are proud of their Indian heritage.
My family moved into the Roseburg area in the 1850's being French and Indain and WE are proud to be an Indain.
So Leave it alone!!
 @James F Parazoo You are also mentally retarded if you really think that.
I think the names honor the Indians, and people should stay out of other peoples business, no one is guilty of racism here, just remembrance.
 @kjohnston Remembrance of the thousands of people who were raped, robbed and murdered? How nice of you to remember them! And at a high school ball game, too! Lovely remembrance.Â
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You are an idiot.
This whole thing is a crack up to me. What I would do if I were the Roseburg School District is sue that Portland schools or any school in the state that has Washington, Madison, Jefferson or Adams have to change their name since they were slave owners! Just really cock up the system! Fight fire with fire. Then when all the schools are something like "the mighty conifers" we can all sit back and be so proud of our political correctness........right....Grow a pair.
 @Average Joe American Fool.
End compulsory government school indoctrination! Ever wonder why society is in such a brainwashed trance? Look no further than the government school down the street. What a worthless distraction this story is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ogCc8ObiwQ
 @Libertarian Revolution Hmmm...sock puppet...interesting...no...the other thing...tedious.
Trying to force schools to change tradition is another cog in the Progressive Socialist Liberal Bullying agenda. The only way their plan will work is when they have total control. Then people will lose right after right as they continue to pursue their agenda. Good for the Roseburg School district, glad to see you are standing up to the bullies.
 @souptonuts It's clear why you hate the public school system so much. It clearly failed you utterly.
@Calgacus @souptonuts Grammar and spelling Nazi = "I have nothing intelligent or important to say, so I'll just pick on someone's grammar... on the internet"
 @Panzer Yeah...I guess that's what you douchetards call people who spread truth these days. Good one!
 @Ritual99lol. Good one! Who ever heard of Cheetohs? You are SOOO smart, you moron.
 @Panzer Yea that Calgon kid is either a spelling NAZI or a really crappy troll. But that's what happens when a kids video game game isn't working and they can't reach the Cheetoh bag on their moms basement floor due to obesity.
Troll.
 @Libertarian Revolution  @Calgacus  @souptonuts lol
@Calgacus @souptonuts Sorry Calgacus, I went to schools before they became indoctrination camps for the Progressive Liberals. Back then we learned, now they are brain washed.. Sorry you got involved in that system.
 @souptonuts  @Calgacus You're the one wasting time.
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Love it or give it back.
@Calgacus I was merely stating my opinion on this site as do many others. You tossed the first rock. I am too old to be bullied, so don't waste your time, and don't waste my time. If you don't like what I say, I just don't know what to tell you. The last time I checked there is still freedom of speech in this country. Love it or leave it.
 @souptonuts  @Calgacus Yeah...bullies is a fine spelling. The problem here is in your definition. "Bullies" are people who exploit the relative weaknesses of others, not those who stand up and refuse to be treated like ciphers whose cultural identities can be co-opted for petty spectacle.
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So, as relates to this article, the real bullies are the ones who insist they can just go around calling themselves Indians when, in point of fact, they have at best an accidental affiliation with the PEOPLE who ARE Indians. It's too bad it took so long for real Indians to finally stand up for themselves, but there's no statute of limitations on ignominious racism. So, the people you are defending here are the bullies. That makes you a bully as well, so far as I'm concerned.
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If you can't see who the bullies are here, I do feel very sorry for you.
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@Calgacus I am well able to get my point across. I still possess common sense a rare commodity amongst Liberal Bullies, or is that Booleys or bulleys, or bullers???
 @souptonuts  @Calgacus You apparently went to school before the invention of grammar and punctuation. That makes you very old indeed. Why not take a break from being a fascist on the internet and look up "comma splice"?Â
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It would probably help your blood pressure, and thus save the taxpayer some money.
AND JUST WHO are they going to get to champion this legislation?  Hanna?  Not likely, he's too busy explaining why he was hanging out in a sleazy strip joint.  Says VOLUMES about the character of Roseburg's legislator.  How embarrassing to go from a man of Kitz's stature to one that hangs out in a strip club.