Owego-Apalachin district seeks input on new mascot: What to know about change

Emily Barnes, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
·3 min read

The Owego-Apalachin Central School District is asking students, staff and community members to provide input on their new school mascot.

This comes after the New York State Board of Regents ordered school districts to retire their Native American-themed mascots by the end of the academic year and transition to new team names and imagery by June 2025.

A student advisory committee reviewed the potential names submitted by the school community, according to the district's website, and the committee will make the final recommendation to the Board of Education.

The poll is the first of several to be conducted by the committee to move the district closer to a new name.

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Why they are changing their mascot

In an April 19 district letter, the district said two committees, an Owego Free Academy student advisory committee and a community stakeholder committee, would be working simultaneously to comply with regulation, seek feedback and "focus on how to respectfully remember and honor our district's history within regulations and continue to teach the historical significance of our area to current and future OA students."

The New York State Board of Regents had voted unanimously the day before to ban the use of Indigenous mascots, nicknames, and imagery by the state's school districts.

The Board of Regents order came five months after the New York State Department of Education alerted school districts that Native American mascots had to be eliminated.

Officials said school districts not in compliance could face the loss of state aid.

According to the district, OACSD's state aid funding is roughly $30 million per year, which makes up more than half of their overall budget.

Owego Free Academy's District Office is located on 5 Sheldon Guile Blvd. in Owego.
Owego Free Academy's District Office is located on 5 Sheldon Guile Blvd. in Owego.

Response from Cayuga, Mohawk Nations

Districts throughout the state could seek approval from federally or state-recognized tribes to continue using their name, mascot or logo by April 30. Owego-Apalachin sought open dialogue regarding a change or approval from five nations — Cayuga, St. Regis, Mohawks, Tyendinaga, Onondaga and Nanticoke — in February.

In a letter dated March 27 from the Cayuga Nation Haudenosaunee, they declined the district's request, stating the district's attempts to normalize the use of "Indians" as a mascot is just as offensive as the use of the word itself.

"Decades of racial insensitivity by your district does not make it right to continue that use," Clint Halftown, Cayuga Nation Federal Representative and council member wrote. "The Cayuga Nation's non-negotiable position is that school mascots based on Native imagery are symbols of disrespect that degrade, insult and harm Native people, particularly our youngest generations.

"The Nation urges you to follow the lead of the New York State Education Department and replace the offensive mascot with one that is inclusive and sensitive to all races."

And in a response letter from Chief R. Donald Maracle of the Ontario-based Tyendinaga Mohawk community on April 20, Maracle wrote "we do not feel we are in a position to speak to this issue on behalf of all Mohawk communities," and urges the district to continue conversations with tribes in the area and respect their positions on the topic.

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What names are in the running

The poll includes 10 potential names, which have been narrowed down by the student advisory committee:

  • Bears

  • Copperheads

  • Eagles

  • Falcons

  • Mustangs

  • Ospreys

  • Owls

  • River Hawks

  • Wolves

There is also an option to choose no mascot name or to write one in. A list of all community-provided names can be found on the district's website as well.

Who can vote for Owego-Apalachin's new mascot name

Owego-Apalachin students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents and community members can provide input, according to the mascot rebranding poll.

For more information and to vote, visit oacsd.org.

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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Owego-Apalachin needs a new mascot: What to know about the change