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It’s Too Early To Make Decision On JHS Red Raider Nickname

What is a Red Raider?

The answer to that question will determine whether or not Jamestown High School changes its long-held Red Raider nickname or not. In our opinion, last week’s Jamestown Public Schools board meeting was too early in the process to make such a change.

Board members Nina Karbacka, Paul Abbott and Pat Slagle all make good arguments for changing the nickname and for keeping the nickname. In our view, the nickname’s fate will become clearer as the district’s mascot committee continues its work.

Local radio station WRFA reported that Karbacka made the recommendation to change the nickname from Red Raiders. That motion failed to garner enough votes to pass last week.

“I feel that though that name had historically not represented Native Americans, it has represented Native Americans for 50 years and is very closely associated with that,” Karbacka said, according to WRFA. “And I feel that our board and school system has a strong feeling of inclusivity and respect for our students and that name does not reflect that.”

As The Post-Journal has detailed recently, the term Red Raiders has a history that predates any Native American imagery — but no one knows exactly what the Jamestown Red Raider was supposed to be. That means Jamestown doesn’t have the history with the nickname that a place like Texas Tech University does. The university uses the Red Raider moniker, but according to the university’s website, the the university’s nickname came about in 1936, inspired by Texas Tech’s all-red uniforms and rigorous coast-to-coast schedule.

And, to Karbacka’s point, Jamestown High School’s history with Native American imagery means the district can’t use something like Texas Tech’s logo — a cowboy with a striking resemblance to Yosemite Sam.

In our opinion, it’s too early yet to make a decision on the nickname. The district’s mascot committee has more work to do before the board should take action. Before changing the nickname itself, the committee should create some options for new logos, ideally tying the nickname to the district’s 1940s and 1950s history, and then get the Seneca Nation of Indians’ input on those options.

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