CHIEFS CONTROVERSY STUDENTS DISCUSS ISSUES WITH SPORTS TEAMS’ NAMES With the Kansas City Chiefs winning the 54th Super Bowl, the controversial question has arisen again: is it acceptable for the Chiefs to keep their Native American title? While the Chiefs have changed the mascot as of 1989 to K. C. Wolf, this still does not erase the past use and current use of Native Americans in team names. According to the National Congress of American Indians, rather than honoring Native people, these stereotypes within the sports teams are harmful of America’s first people and contribute to the dehumanization of the Native population. Junior Cayelle Fitzgerald finds the sports teams and mascots to be offensive and unnecessary. “Sports teams using Native American mascots is stereotypical and incredibly offensive.” Fitzgerald said. “There is nothing prideful with mocking a whole race. It just makes said sports team look ignorant.” The Kansas City Chiefs are not the
only team with a questionable mascot or title. According to adl.org, there are currently fewer than 1000 college, high school and professional teams that use Native Americans to represent their team, including the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians. While that is a much smaller number from the more than 3000 teams, it is still having an impact on
Cleveland Indians Washington Redskins Kansas City Chiefs Atlanta Braves Chicago Blackhawks the Native American community. Additionally, according to a study done by UC Berkeley, 57 percent of those who identify with being Native American and
67 percent of those who engage in tribal cultural practices were discovered to be offended by uses of Native American mascots. In 2017, solutions to these controversial issues arose when California became the first state to ban the use of the word “Redskins” in any public school team name or mascot. After this, other states followed with similar laws, such as Maine in 2019. Some argue that this change is not necessary including sophomore Drew Berry. “I do not think it is offensive, I think it is more a compliment,” Berry said. “Native Americans should not be ashamed of this because being a chief is being a leader.” While some sports teams’ names have not been revised, changes are still happening around the country. More information on this topic can be found on ncai.org. Story by Elizabeth Moodispaugh and Katelynn Penrod.
RECOGNITION, CELEBRATIONS SET TONE FOR BOYS BASKETBALL CARMEL WIN
Alum Josh Fugate was celebrated before the boys basketball game against Carmel on Feb. 14, and served as an honorary coach. Fugate, a former HSE athlete, was injured during his senior year and is now paralyzed after an unrelated accident following graduation. Senior girls basketball player Sydney Parrish recieved her jersey at halftime for being selected as a McDonald’s All-American Athlete for 201920. Parrish became the all-time leading scorer in HSE basketball history after scoring 1,925 career points, which also broke the Hamilton County girls record.
Athletic department secretary Nancy Clingman was given a varsity letter for her many years of service as she is retiring at the end of the school year. The game, named “Nancy Clingman Night,” honored Clingman for her dedication to HSE Athletics. Photos by Nicholas Heltzel.
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