NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The New York Board of Regents voted Tuesday to ban the use of Native American mascots, team names and logos at public schools.
The unanimous vote by the board, which oversees educational activities statewide, means school districts will have until the end of this year to commit to the new rule.
The districts will then have until the 2024-2025 school year to completely remove all names and images from school grounds, including buildings, fields, scoreboards and more.
If districts fail to comply with the rule they risk losing state aid. Officials in the districts could also lose their jobs.
Under the rule, the state Department of Education will prohibit any "name, symbol or image that depicts or refers to Indigenous persons, tribes, nations, individuals, customs, symbols, or traditions, including actual or stereotypical aspects of Indigenous cultures."
Pat Pizzarelli, head of Section VIII, the governing board of interscholastic sports in Nassau County, said it will be an expensive change for the affected schools.
“They’re going to have to find the money for it basically, and hopefully it won’t take away from some programs they already have,” Pizzarelli said.
The rule will impact 11 school districts on Long Island, including in Syosset, where they’re known as the Braves and use Native American imagery.
“I’m of Irish heritage, and I’ve never heard anybody complain about the Notre Dame nickname, Fighting Irish, and their logo,” said Syosset parent Joe Kennedy. “I just wonder are we getting too sensitive as a society.”
Some of the other mascots impacted are the Wyandanch Warriors, Manhasset Indians, East Islip Redmen, Massapequa Chiefs and Sachem Flaming Arrows, according to Newsday.
An Indigenous Mascot Advisory Group made of tribal leaders had rejected the idea that the names honor Native Americans. A representative for the Shinnecock Indian Nation, Tela Troge, told Newsday the decision is “long overdue.”
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