Alumni take Cherokee fight to students
Association provides assemblies for students to explain why symbol is important

Redwood City Almanac, Nov. 1, 2001

By John Baker
STAFF WRITER

Following the lead of students and teachers who last year advocated an opposite position, members of the Sequoia High Alumni Association last week made presentations to students advocating the retention of the school's "Cherokee" nickname.

Since the beginning of last school year, a group of students, advised by English teacher Sheila Billy have been attempting to force the 106-year old high school to move away from the Cherokee. The group has spoken to classes, at faculty meetings and during impromptu assemblies to students and teachers.

"What we've been doing is just kind of raising the issue with students," said social studies teacher Francisco Valdiosera. "Hopefully they will understand that Native Americans as a whole feel disrespected by being used as mascots, no matter how you use the word: mascot or symbol. It is something they feel they were never asked about."

Last week alumni, who have protested in favor of remaining Cherokees to newspapers and the high school district's board of trustees, made an appeal directly to students in a series of assemblies.

"Both sides are opposed to a Cherokee mascot - mascot meaning something you see at a football game, someone in costume, representing something that is supposed to give you good luck," said alumnus Ken Rolandelli. "What we are in favor of is retaining the Cherokee name.

"It is critical that the issue is accurately represented."

At the district's recommendation, Sequoia High is forming a task force made up of students, teachers, parents, alumni and Native Americans to discuss the issue.

Sequoia High was named for the lush redwood trees that once graced the hills above Redwood City. The tree, in turn, was named by a German botanist after Sequoyah, a Cherokee who developed a written language for his nation. The school adopted the Cherokee nickname for sports teams in 1925, following the lead of the school newspaper, which was named the "Cherokee" in 1908.

"It is our belief that an inaccurate picture has been painted regarding the goings-on at Sequoia High School with respect to the association with the Cherokee name," Rolandelli told students. "The picture that has been painted is that Sequoia High School is just another on a long list of high schools, colleges or professional sports teams that have chosen Native American team names and associated mascots."

While he said that "no doubt" behavior exhibited by some in the past, such as Indian chants, was offensive, Rolandelli said that he believes that Sequoia High is not currently stereotypical in its association with Native American names.

Students, encouraged to do so in strong words by Principal Morgan Marchbanks, sat quietly and attentive during the alumni presentation, but may not have been swayed either way. When asked by one alumnus whether they would like to be identified as the "Sequoia Trees," there was a hearty "no," but also a cry of "Why not?"

One student said she felt students were being used by both sides in the issue. Others, such as a senior who only wanted to be identified as "Scott," said the mascot was a non-issue on campus.

"Most of the jocks and sports people (care)," he said. "I have no school spirit. I guess anyone with school spirit would care."

Alumnus Jeff Fillipi, who called students "attentive" and said he was pleased with their reactions, said that the Cherokee was just one of the things that made Sequoia different from other area high schools.

"You can have a wrench and go to Mills, or you can go to Aragon, and you can dismantle that whole school. That's all they're made of -- bolts," he said. "This school's got tradition, this school's got character."

Alumni said they wanted to encourage more knowledge of Sequoyah the man. Such knowledge, they felt, would legitimize the use of the Cherokee nickname. Valdiosera did not accept that logic.

"I wouldn't say that I am a Cherokee, I would say that I am a Sequoian," he said. "I agree with every single thing they say except that. I compare it to this, it sounds right to say the Sequoia Cherokees, but would it also sound right to name a school after Cesar Chavez and say the 'Cesar Chavez Mexican Americans?' It's redundant, he was Mexican American, but you do not have to repeat it. But the only reason it sounds well is because we've been trained to think it sounds well."

Knowledge of Sequoyah is limited, if the reaction of one Sequoia student at the assembly is any indication.

"I was wondering when you decided to honor Sequoyah, the man, because I never heard anything about it," she said.

Other students said the issue needs to be explored at other schools as well.

"There's also other derogatory things like the Carlmont Scots and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish," a male student said. "Why don't they address that too?"

Valdiosera said in a school where more than 50 percent of the students are minorities, having an ethnic mascot could be construed as a sign of disrespect. However, he said that Latino and white kids on campus both have split minds on the issue.

The issue, he said, was a good spur for discussion on other matters regarding the European expansion into the New World.

"We agree on having Sequoyah, the man's, image in our school, we want to include that in the curriculum," he said. "Not just the Cherokee, but also the missions in a realistic way and showing both points of view. How they helped Native Americans, but they also hurt Native Americans a lot. ... That's what I tell kids, we are not teaching them to be analytical when we are only teach them one side of an issue."

The Cherokee Nation, in response to an inquiry from an Almanac reporter, released a general statement from Principal Chief Chad "Corntassel" Smith decrying the use of Indians as mascots.

"I think it is a very important issue that no one hurt our Indian children emotionally or educationally with these demeaning mascots or imagery," Smith wrote.

Smith's statement added that although he objects to Indian mascots, he is not campaigning to attack schools that have them. Instead, he said, he wants to have open discussions "of why these demeaning images are so important to schools."

Senior Billy Galvin, who writes for the Almanac, encouraged students to engage in a civil debate.

"If we're changing things today, let us change our attitudes to re-dedicate to studying harder, caring more and continuing to pursue our goals to be better human beings," he said.