A single page with ways that you can get involved and connect with others.
Look for the “Get Involved” page, under the “Resources and Evidence” menu option.
Categories
Category: Updates
Blog Posts About Website Updates
Here’s a link to an August 18 article by the Penn State Daily Collegian: “Inside the dispute of whether to change Bellefonte Area School District’s ‘Red Raider’ mascot”
For more than two decades, Bellefonte alumni and residents have sought to change the school’s mascot to be more inclusive and respectful.
This article highlights that history, including the efforts of Sydney Aboul-Hosn.
As alumni Eddie Fitzgerald is quoted in the article: “Why don’t we make a move toward the future instead of trying to act like it’s going to destroy the past?” … [Let’s] make a change to make the community more inclusive.”
For a list of media coverage related to attempts to improve the Bellefonte school mascot, visit the News Coverage section of this website.
Recently, schools across the country have decided to discontinue the use of racist Native American mascots, demonstrating that it is reasonable to expect school leaders to simultaneously protect students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and to take steps to address racism. Examples include:
Categories
New School Board Video
Video of July 14 school board meeting added to “News Coverage” section (Added July 16)
It’s also available below:
The public comment period begins at the 25:15 mark.
The board’s discussion of the mascot begins at the 2:40:54 mark.
Viewers may also be interested in comments made during the approval of the agenda (at the 1:54 mark) .
Several studies added to Supporting Cases and Statements, under the “Studies and Research” tab:
“Dog whistle mascots: Native American mascots as normative expressions of prejudice”
“Reclaiming Native Truth – A Project to Dispel America’s Myths and Misconceptions”
“The ‘Mascotting’ of Native America: Construction, Commodity, and Assimilation”
A link to a study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation entitled “Discrimination in America: Experiences and views of Native Americans” was added to Supporting Cases and Statements, under the “Links to Further Information & Educational Resources” tab.
A list of organizations opposing “Indian” sports references, compiled by The Morning Star Institute in 2009 was added to Supporting Cases and Statements, under the “Additional Statements and Positions” tab.