Conard Powwow

Human Rights Day How To Honor Students Speak Survey Results Pg. 3 Pg. 5 Pg. 7 Pg. 8 CONARD POWWOW Volume fifty seven issue IV Providing 57 years of news January 2015 Editor’s Note HISTORY OF THE CHIEFTAIN Editors-In-Chief, Molly Bugos & Emma Kutscher This issue of the PowWow of the PowWow is for people to By: Emma Dowd “Braves” to the “Bobcats” in 2002, and is taking on a topic that has been develop their own opinions be- Conard High School chose Stanford switched from “Indians” to discussed even more than the cur- yond the influence of strong-willed its mascot, the Chieftain, in 1957 “Cardinals” in 1972. rent MIA status of Homecoming- friends, or influential teachers. We when the school first opened. The Even though many colleges have the Chieftain. In fact, the topic of encourage everyone to read the mascot has remained the same ever changed their mascots, there are still a our mascot is so important to the variety of viewpoints provided in since. But this year, something has large number of high schools and pro- Conard community that we’ve this edition, and to form their own changed. As fall sports came to a fessional sports teams that have mas- devoted an entire edition of the opinions based on what they alone close, many athletes who received cots related to Native Americans. So Powwow to it. believe is right. We have done our certificates for their sport noticed why does this mascot appeal to Ameri- This debate came to light very best to provide an equally bal- that something was missing: the cans so much? Many high schools in recent history at Hall High anced amount of editorials in favor image of the Chieftain head on the might have wanted to pay tribute to the School, and spread across town of keeping the Chieftain, in favor certificate. Last year each certifi- qualities of Native Americans related to Conard, drawing into question of changing the Chieftain, and the cate featured a Chieftain head on to being fearless, fierce, and resilient. the use of the “Chieftain” and many opinions that aren’t as easily the sports certificate and this year, These are qualities that athletes, fans, “Warrior” as school mascots, and categorized. the Chieftain head has been re- and coaches all admire. if the use of Native American The PowWow as a publica- placed by a large red “C”. Changing a high school mascot imagery in association with the tion is not taking a formal stance is not easy. One reason is the cost. To names is respectful. Instead of on this debate, and all editori- change the Chieftain mascot, Conard taking ownership of this contro- als printed are reflections of the would have to change all the signs and versy, the Board of Ed left it to author’s opinions, not our own. pictures around the school. The school the schools to initiate discussion. We hope that this issue is district would also have to buy new The Board’s “hands off” eye opening, and makes our read- uniforms for the sports teams whose approach has turned this topic of ers consider a side of the debate uniforms have the Chieftain name or discussion into an ugly debate at they may not be as familiar with. the Chieftain head. In addition, there Conard, as there has been no for- We always encourage feedback would have to be a process to select a mal stance taken by the “powers from our readers, so if you feel new name. Some public high schools above us.” However, in Febru- strongly about anything printed, have surveyed the students, alumni, ary, the Board will finally be please send us a Letter to the Edi- and parents, about alternate names to making a decision regarding the tor. the Indian mascot theme. This process mascots- and on February 12th Happy reading, we hope The word “chieftain” can sometimes be controversial with they will be holding a public to see you at the Board of Educa- means the leader of the people, or people having strong opinions on both forum for discussion. tion’s public forum in February! a powerful member of an organiza- sides. Finally, since so many fans, ath- The purpose of this issue tion. The use of Native American letes, parents, and alumni already refer figures or names as mascots for to Conard as the Chieftains, change schools is very common. In Con- could take a long time to implement. The BoarD of eDucaTion Will necticut, there are 26 high schools with Native American mascots, Be holDing a forum for PuBlic including the Hall Warriors, the iscussion BouT our ascoT Glastonbury Tomahawks, the D a m Newington Indians, and the Kill- ON FEBRUARY 12TH, 2015 IN THE ingly High School “Redmen”. Also, a recent search on a website ToWn hall auDiTorium called “Mascot DB” revealed that 128 high schools around the country have the mascot of “Chief” or “Chieftain” and 828 high schools have the mascot “Warrior”. Many colleges and profes- Days ‘Till sional sports teams have mascots that refer to Native Americans, Groundhog Day...................................6 most notably the NFL’s Washing- Mr. Conard............................................7 ton Redskins. This mascot alone has been the source of significant Board of Ed Hearing.............................16 controversy in Washington, DC Valentine’s Day.....................................18 and around the country. In recent years, many colleges have dropped Variations of the Conard Chieftain logo, Winter Semi-Formal.............................25 their Indian-related mascot and found in the Conard Graphics room. All are “Promposal” Season..........................??? switched to another mascot. For hand drawn. Similar logos are still found example, Dartmouth switched around the school, including a mural in the Freshmen Graduate..............998,586,714 from the “Indians” to “Big Green” cafeteria. in 1974, Quinnipiac Univer- sity switched its mascot from the Volume Fifty Seven Issue IV page one Chieftain Features inTervieW WiTh Quyen Troung What the Woman Who Created One of Conard’s Chieftain Logos Thinks About it Now By: Leah Kelly Recently, I had the fortune of we were honoring Indians. I knew reotypes were imposed on me. over her past naïveté. Although she interviewing Quyen Truong, Review very little about Native Americans Now, I realize that there were no still has plenty of Conard pride, she and Evaluation Coordinator with the and had no reason to challenge the Native American voices to speak no longer believes that an Indian North Central Regional Mental Health mascot.” up against the Chieftain mascot. head logo should be the center of Board, part-time artist, and a class of Over time, however, Truong’s In the same way that I found Asian that pride. In the end, she has come 2001 Conard graduate. She received a opinion of the Chieftain changed stereotypes offensive, I now find to one conclusion: BA in visual arts from Brown Univer- dramatically. “When I went away Native stereotypes damaging.” “To honor someone is to give sity. to college, I started meeting Native Truong isn’t finished here. them equal rights, equal access, and During her years at Conard, Tru- Americans,” she recalls. “I started She has a lot to say about her past equal voice. We fail to honor Na- ong was recognized by her peers and to question the premise of ‘honor- and present beliefs, as well as what tive Americans when we perpetuate teachers as a talented artist. Her art- ing’ people that I didn’t actually she would do if she were a Co- racial stereotypes. As a high school, work was so widely appreciated that know. I started to feel uncomfort- nard student today. “I want to talk Conard should uphold educational the school administration requested able about the use of Chieftains as about privilege and race a little bit. principles, not ignorance. To do so, that she design several of the Chief- the Conard mascot. I realized that I think there is a connection here Conard must recognize the prob- tain logos that remain at Conard to- putting people on a pedestal as a with what’s happening in Fergu- lematic basis on which our mascot day. “I took pride in being asked to mascot dehumanizes them. Far son. I think rifts in understanding was established and honor Native depict the Chieftain,” says Truong. from honoring Native Americans, and compassion start with micro- Americans by abolishing the Chief- “I was asked to create original Chief- using Chieftains as mascots objec- aggressions. Using the Chieftain tain as a mascot.” tain artwork for the yearly agendas. I tifies people and perpetuates myths mascot without consulting Native created Chieftain logos for track and and ignorance about indigenous Americans and then saying that we cross country shirts. In addition, I was culture.” are honoring them is at best willful commissioned by the head football She remembers that growing ignorance.” coach to create a clay Chieftain head up as an Asian-American in West Truong has had years of expe- that I believe still sits in the trophy Hartford was difficult. In this way rience to consider the problematic case at Conard.” she believes she is better able to circumstances surrounding Native Truong admits that at the time she relate to the Native American com- American mascots and how they knew very little about the potential munity. “In high school, I felt un- reflect our beliefs as human beings. controversy that the mascot inflicted. able to articulate my frustrations Long after creating the Chieftain “In high school, I felt that the Chief- with growing up in a mostly Cau- logos and receiving much recog- tain was a figure of pride.

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