5. Since 1990 over 35 school districts in Wisconsin changed their mascot to honor these requests. Also Marquette University, Ripon College and LaCrosse University have changed their race-based mascots. At the Jan 15, 2014 school board meeting, Bob Sillanpa and Larry Zarnott, two former administrators who served the district for over 60 years advised the board members that it was time to retire the “Indian” mascot. Those who support the retention of the mascot say that it is a way to honor Native Americans. Leadership among the tribes has told us for years they are not honored by these mascots. If one could read all of the editorials that have been written in support of the mascot you could see that all of them have one common denominator....that is they give no concern to how Native Americans feel about the issue, the very people whose names and images are being used. We are repeatedly told by the Native Americans, “WE ARE PEOPLE, NOT MASCOTS.” When Governor Walker signed the new mascot bill, in his letter to all tribal leaders he stated, “A better alternative is to educate people about how certain phrases and symbols that are used as nicknames and mascots are offensive to many of our fellow citizens.” Until the education process takes place in Berlin they will continue “playing Indian” with no regard to the feelings of Native Americans. Tom Sobieski BHS 1962