Berlin Area Schoo! District ‘Thomas L. Sobieski Memorial Drive 1N8161 State Road 49 Berlin, WI 54923 Bertin, Wi Re: Berlin indian Mascot situation Oct. 14, 2010 Dear Schoo! Board Members: We are all aware of the situation with offensive school mascot names the past 15-20 years, specifically those of Native Americans. It seems as though the direction has clearly been set. Many schools in our area have dropped the Indian mascots. Some of those schools are Marquette University, University of Wis, = La Crosse, Seymour, Oshkosh West, and just recently Kewaunee, Mukwonago just this past week was ordered by the DP! to drop their Indian mascot name within one year. Wisconsin and fowa University will not schedule any non-conference games against teams with Native American mascots. | believe that the time has arrived for Berlin to take action to drop the indian mascot name. It would be 50 much better to be pro-active in the change than to wait until we are ordered to do so under state mandate. | am confident that today’s students after studying the issue, and becoming more knowledgeable on the subject would become very receptive to the change. { think that the student ‘body would rather be given the chance to promote change rather than be forced. We do know that many times youth are more willing to change than many of us adults... itis just human nature. Mascots should be fun, not demeaning. The common reply is that the Indian mascot honors Native Americans. | doubt very much that was the intent when the indian mascot was selected years ago. Rather it was probably selected in regards to ability to do battle, in this case, athletic events. When other area mascots are considered, for example Foxes, Wolves, Tigers, Bulldogs, Polar Bears, Wildcats and Mustangs, it becomes clear that the difference is obvious. Is Ripon really honoring or paying tribute to the Tiger? Native Americans are a people not animals. | have studied this issue for some time now. | must say that my opinion at the present time is completely different than it was when the issue first surfaced nearly 15 years ago. It was mainly education not just age and being politically correct that led me to reverse my opinion. | have corresponded with Louis Clark Il! the past couple years. He is an Oneida indian from Omro. He wrote some outstanding editorials during the issue in Oshkosh when they were debating the Indian mascot situation. He ended a letter to me as follows, “Please know how grateful | and my family are, knowing that good people like you are willing to stand up and be counted. Know also that my faith in the ‘American People and our next generation is such that with education, knowledge, and wisdorn, itis a foregone conclusion that we will be rewarded for our efforts. We will see this issue become moot in the coming years.” Sincerely, ‘Thomas L. Sobieski