Union Public Schools, a suburb district of Tulsa, launched a new campaign last week aimed at getting parents to be better listeners with their children. But when it comes to complaints about offending Native Americans, school officials might rather wear earmuffs.
Around the time Union was unveiling its “Be There” campaign, the Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism and the Society to Preserve Indigenous Rights and Indigenous Traditions were calling for an end to Union’s Redskins mascot, according to a story in the Tulsa World. The groups rallied just before Union’s yearly game against rival Tulsa suburb Jenks. The rally took place outside Union’s football stadium.
At the school district, Union Superintendent Cathy Burden said the “Be There” campaign seeks to encourage parents to communicate better with their children about school.
“Your participation and communication has direct relation to how your student will do at school,” Burden said at a press conference.
Just don’t participate if the mascot offends you.
“TICAR has attempted to meet with Union school board officials and has never been placed on the Union school board agenda,” the organization said in a press release. “TICAR calls on Union to reconvene an open task force of school officials and Native Americans to study the use of the mascot.”
Native American groups have fought with Union over the mascot for years.
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2008.