É«ÖÐÉ«

The É«ÖÐÉ« would like to thank the more than 1,300 individuals who already have participated in our mascot suggestion survey.
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The district understands that the É«ÖÐÉ« community feels a great connection to the Warrior nickname and that the majority of people do not want to see it replaced. We wholeheartedly agree with those sentiments, and would prefer to use our time, energy and resources to focus on more important topics. Unfortunately the state has given us no choice in this matter.

The É«ÖÐÉ« is monitoring several lawsuits filed by downstate school districts regarding this matter. Those lawsuits could have an impact on whether a nickname change actually takes place. In the meantime, the district will continue with the survey process so that if these lawsuits are dismissed, it will be able to make the change in time to meet the state’s deadline.

As of now, the majority of participants have been É«ÖÐÉ« alumni, some of whom may no longer live in the area and are not aware of what has led to the possibility of a mascot change.

Twenty years ago, school districts across New York State were told they could no longer use Native American imagery as a school mascot. The district abided by this decision. After convening a mascot committee and holding a community vote, the district adopted the current Warrior logo.

During the early part of the 2022-2023 school year, districts were advised that the New York State Board of Regents was reviewing the use of Native American culture in schools. At that time, the district and Board of Education believed it had done its due diligence all those years ago by changing the logo.

Unfortunately in April 2023, the New York State Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve new rules banning the use of Native American culture in schools. This regulation requires school districts which currently use indigenous team names, logos, and mascots to eliminate the use of all indigenous names, logos, or mascots by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. That includes anything that may have had a previous connection to Native American culture, which is why É«ÖÐÉ« finds itself in this position.

Add to that, any district that does not change its mascot or nickname that has a connection to the Native American culture will lose out on an unspecified amount of state aid which is crucial for the district.

After the decision, the É«ÖÐÉ« petitioned the NYS State Education Department to keep the Warrior nickname based on its past actions. That petition was denied.

District administrators also met with leaders of the Onondaga Nation to discuss the use of the Warrior nickname. The leaders shared the history associated with Warriors, and why they agreed with the Board of Regents’ decision.

The district held a community meeting in December 2023 outlining where it was in the process of changing the nickname, and sought out community members to join a new Mascot Committee. Once the recently released survey is completed, that committee will meet to narrow down the suggestions to a group of finalists, and conduct a community vote to determine a new mascot.