1994 Area schools taking a critical look at Indian mascots
1994 Feb 6, Hartford Courant West Hartford – A national debate that has drawn hundreds of protesters to march outside football and baseball arenas has funneled down to some high schools in Connecticut where students are objecting to the use of mascots depicting American Indians. Whether they are called Warriors – as at West Hartford’s Hall High School and Canton Senior High School – Chieftains or Indians, some students say the mascots are stereotypical and should be changed. “Here we are being taught about diversity and how great it is and yet our mascot is stereotyping a group of people,” said Marissa Weiss, a sophomore at Hall High School. “Not all Native Americans are warriors who fight and wear face paint. My school is sharing a stereotype, and I don’t want to be a part of it.” Weiss and about 30 classmates took their concerns to the school principal last week. Similar concerns have also been raised by students at Farmington High School and Manch