Clinton Community Schools (the "Redskins) and Tecumseh Public Schools (The "Indians") - both of Michigan - are once again in the spotlight due to their Native-American themed logos. A complaint was filed by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to the United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) on February 8th. The complaint asked OCR to order an end to the use of American Indian mascots, names, terms, graphics and/or other imagery as a violation of equal protection for primary and secondary students.
At a meeting soon after, the Tecumseh board said there was no immediate cause for concern. "Just because it's been filed doesn't mean it's going to go anywhere," said Tecumseh Superintendent, Mike McAran.
"We have a long heritage of respect for Native Americans," said Board President Ed Tritt.
In 1989, the school was under fire for its use of war-like images at the Tecumseh school. They changed their logo to a tamer one, but still kept the Native theme.
From 2008 - 2010, a protest was started by two sisters, Elspeth and Kylista Geiger, Native American alumni of Clinton High School, that the "Redskin" logo and imagery was demoralizing and offensive to Indian students. The community took a poll and... the logo continues today.
