Port Clinton's mascot debate: 2 years later

PORT CLINTON — Two years ago, when sports franchises faced a reckoning over the use of racist mascots, a spotlight was also shone on school districts using nicknames deemed offensive. In 2021, groups supporting and opposing changing Port Clinton Schools' mascot signed two competing petitions on change.org. But, two years later, nothing has changed. The petitions were written around the same time that Cleveland's Major League Baseball team announced it would be changing its name from Indians to Guardians. Cleveland's decision, like the Port Clinton debate, was met with both support and opposition. Just like the baseball fans, those who call Port Clinton High School their alma mater have various opinions on the mascot. The school's mascot is the Redskins, and the youth football team is called the Braves. Native American groups have opposed the use of those names, considering them offensive. In 2020, indigenous groups petitioned the National Football League to change the Washington football team's Redskins name, according to the Associated Press. Suzan Harjo, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, told NPR in 2022 about her disdain for the word, which she calls the "r-word." "I had lots of things in my personal life using that word," Harjo told NPR. "When I was a girl, you barely could make it through your young life without getting attacked by a bunch of white people: whether they were boys or girls or men or women. And they would always go to that word." Washington changed its team's name to the Commanders in 2022. No change As of late May, the petition in favor of Port Clinton's name change has about 4,000 signatures, while the one in favor of keeping the Redskin name has a little more than 1,000 signatures. Diego Buhay, a member of Port Clinton's class of 2022, believes the school should change the mascot. "In my high school days, I would often try my best to avoid wearing any branding of 'Redskin' on my clothing," Buhay said. "I rarely ever wear memorabilia from my alma mater. I just don't have any reason for wearing it, especially since I believe it holds a negative stigma to endorse an offensive mascot such as the Redskin." Buhay, who attends Ohio University, recalled that his college classmates were shocked when they learned about his alma mater's mascot. "The people I'd often explain Port Clinton's mascot to would deem the Redskin as 'offensive' or 'insensitive' in many aspects," Buhay said. Ethan Carpenter, a 2021 graduate, said he got a similar reaction from his classmates at the University of Maryland. "My friends thought it was crazy that my school still has that mascot," Carpenter said. Unlike Buhay, he does not hold a very strong opinion on changing the school's mascot. "I personally am not too opinionated about it, but I understand why some might be," Carpenter said. His belief is that the decision should be made based on the community's opinion as well as that of Native Americans. Cost concerns If the name were to change, the district would have to pay to make it happen. "There is also the practical financial cost, which should be considered since Port Clinton is a small school district," Carpenter said. He is not the first to bring up the cost of rebranding. "Who," one person who signed the petition to keep the name asked, "is going to pay to have everything from the football field, basketball court, swimming pool, etc. changed?" "I think they make a very fair argument in a financial aspect," Buhay said. "However, I still believe that doing something morally right should be more of an obligation. I mean, if they were willing to update all of the uniforms worn by our athletics recently, they shouldn't have a problem rebranding our facilities." In response to the comments from Buhay and Carpenter, the Port Clinton school board offered this statement: "We continue to receive input from the community and Native Americans on the proper use of our Redskin name and athletic icon. Any name change would have to come with the support of our alumni and community." Port Clinton not alone Port Clinton is not the only local school district with a Native American mascot. Bellevue Schools' mascot, the Redmen, has also faced similar criticism. When asked about the Redmen mascot, Bellevue superintendent Troy Roth offered this statement: "I have found the district to be filled with supportive and very caring individuals that take great pride in the Bellevue School District," Roth said. "In my first year, I have spent time listening and learning what the priorities of the district are," he said. "I have initially focused on student learning and supporting teachers, staff, administrators and families. As I spend more time here, I will learn of other issues facing the district and prioritize those according to what is important to the Bellevue community."