Anderson High School debates changing Redskins mascot

When Anderson High School administrators decided in 1936 their athletic teams would be "the Redskins," Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president of the United States and representation of Native Americans in mainstream media was, to say the least, deeply wanting. In the 82 years between that date and Monday night's Forest Hills Board of Education meeting, many other athletic programs that once used Native American mascots have retired them in favor of team names that don't attract protest from real Native Americans. "The use of the term 'Redskins' is derogatory and racist," wrote the chiefs of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Muscogee nations in a 2013 resolution. "The term perpetuates harmful stereotypes, even if it is not intentional, and continues the damaging practice of relegating Native people to the past." Earlier, facing similar criticism, Miami University decided in '96 it would cheer for the RedHawks; Dartmouth has been represented by the Big Green rather than the Indians since '74; and Seattle University opted to leave the Chieftains in the 20th century.