Committee Roster
Adam Gill,'02, Chair
Henry Chandler,'67
Ben Dillon,'86
Maggie Dosch,'17
Angelica Duarte
Lynn Goralczyk
Marty Harshman,'93
Eric Horvath,'87
Fr. Geoff Mooney,
School chaplain
Michael Ryan,'60
Sydney Storey,'07
Two current students
Non-Voting Members:
John Kennedy,
Principal
Maura Ratigan,
School Board President
David Maugel,
Associate Superintendent, Diocese FWSB
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Dear Saint Joe Community,
Welcome to the SJHS School Nickname Evaluation Committee Newsletter where we will communicate news related to the process to evaluate the school nickname. Through this newsletter we will share upcoming events, updates from Town Hall gatherings, and general content related to the committee.
The goal of this committee is to evaluate the climate surrounding our current school nickname, Indians. Factors for the committee to consider include:
- Alignment with and representation of the school's mission, vision, and core values, considering the school's best interest now and in the future;
- Consistency with Catholic social teaching and Catholic values;
- The impact on school spirit, pride, and unity within the student body and SJ community;
- The thoughts and opinions of the SJ Community (students, parents, faculty/staff, alumni, and supporters);
- The official position of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi on this issue.
After gaining input from these areas of study, the committee will recommend whether or not the nickname should be changed and present our recommendation to the School Board.
We ask that you please respect all people during this process. As this issue is inherently sensitive, we expect all people to be treated with dignity, regardless of opposing convictions.
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Upcoming Events: Town Hall Meetings
Our Town Hall schedule is below. Alumni, parents, and other stakeholders may attend either Town Halls #2 and #3. We ask that you do not attend both.
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Notes from Pokagon Band Representatives
On Thursday, January 26, four Pokagon Band of Potawatomi representatives (the Vice Chair of the Tribal Council, two Council Members, and the Vice-Chair of the Outreach Board) spoke with the School Nickname Evaluation Committee. They offered perspectives, personal experiences, historical facts, and the negative effects of native-themed nicknames for our consideration.
The representatives, who attended this meeting on behalf of Tribal Chairwoman Rebecca Richards, expressed appreciation to Saint Joseph High School for removing many of the native-themed images and symbols from use at the school. They then explained that since the last time this issue was discussed with the Saint Joe administration, the Tribal Council and members of the tribe engaged in research and discussion that concluded with them taking an official position on this issue. Their position is expressed in an official Tribal Council resolution signed in March of 2021. The last three paragraphs of the resolution state that the Pokagon Band of Potowatomi Indians resolve that:
- The use of Native American / Indian mascots, imagery, symbolism, logos, and nicknames by non-native institutions has a detrimental effect on Native Americans and promotes harmful stereotypes of Native Americans.
- They condemn the use of Native American / Indian mascots imagery, symbolism, logos, and nicknames by non-native institutions.
- They encourage all non-native institutions to eliminate the use of Native American / Indian mascots imagery, symbolism, logos, and nicknames.
You can read the Council's official resolution, linked here. Gary Morseau, Sr. will return to Saint Joe to present to the student body at the February 14 Town Hall meeting. The committee is grateful for their willingness to dialog with us.
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This message is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed. Any review, retransmission, or dissemination of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. |
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