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Massena students pick new mascot; image circulating on social media is not official new logo

Posted 5/22/18

MASSENA -- This week, Massena Central students in grades six through 12 voted to select an image of a Spartan as the new mascot for the school district. However, an image that has been widely shared …

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Massena students pick new mascot; image circulating on social media is not official new logo

Posted

MASSENA -- This week, Massena Central students in grades six through 12 voted to select an image of a Spartan as the new mascot for the school district.

However, an image that has been widely shared on social media is not the final mascot.

Superintendent Pat Brady said the students on Wednesday will be polled a second time where they will choose between three variations of a Spartan to determine the logo associated with the new mascot.

Students conducted the initial voting through an anonymous online form that included three options for a mascot.

Students were offered three options for a new mascot: a Spartan, a dragon and a bird of prey. They received respective vote tallies of 513, 374 and 216.

The three Spartan logo images are designed by a company called 48 Hour Logo.

“The designs were inspired by student artwork submitted through a contest conducted earlier this year. These images have not yet been released in order to provide all students equal opportunity to a fair vote,” according to a news release from BOCES sent on behalf of the Massena school district.

A Mascot Committee that included students, staff, and community members came up with the three mascot choices. Committee members researched the meaning of the term “raider” and assessed examples from schools throughout the nation, according to the release.

The former “Indian Chief” mascot was removed in 2004, and the district underwent a rebrand, resulting in the capital “M” logo that is used today. However, the former Indian head logo image was still being used in some circles, such as parent sports-booster groups. The image had been removed due to the perception that it was demeaning to Native American students, who make up approximately 10 percent of the district’s student population.

In the fall of 2016, several Massena Central School students approached the district administration with concerns about racial sensitivity. This prompted the formation of a School Climate Committee comprised of students, administrators, and staff. Through these discussions, students expressed concerns about the lack of a school mascot, according to the release.

In June 2017, student representatives addressed the Board of Education about their concerns. After much consideration, the board agreed that the students could move forward to develop a process to create a new mascot. In August, the Board adopted their annual goals with the exploration of a new school mascot included, the release said.

In November 2017, representatives of the School Climate Committee recommended that the term “Red Raider” continue to be used as research indicated that it did not have a racial connotation but rather was related to the color of football uniforms in the 1930s, according to the release. The board recommended a change in the mascot symbol that would correlate to the “Red Raider” name.

“In keeping the name but changing the symbol, the School Climate Committee sought to indicate there are varied perspectives on the issue and long held views based on school experience. They wanted to be respectful to that tradition and at the same time attend to the needs of our current students who we want to be respected when attending the school,” Brady said in a prepared statement. “This has been a student-led initiative from beginning to end, and I am pleased to see our young people take such pride and ownership of their school in this fashion.

“I am proud of the work our students have done to achieve a fair balance between the ‘Red Raider’ name and the new mascot symbol.”

When picking from the Spartan, dragon and bird of prey options, students were able to choose their favorite and provide additional comments. Comments, according to the BOCES release, included:

"Being a red raider means being strong and I think The Spartan symbolizes that."

“Coming to school everyday without a school symbol or mascot and seeing every other school has one makes me feel as if our school isn’t united. Going to games and events with a mascot to rally behind will really unite our school.”

“I’m pleased that we were able to do away with the negativity that had been surrounding the mascot for so long. I’m proud that we are finally able to come together and agree on a mascot that we would be proud to support.”

“Being a red raider is a pride thing. Every school knows our history and who we are, all over the state. When I think of a red raider I think of a warrior type figure like a spartan. I don’t see a red raider as a hawk or a dragon. The name that’s fits best is a warrior type figure like a spartan.”