MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – The Wisconsin Association of School Boards rejected a resolution that would have banned Native American nicknames, mascots and logos by a vote of 218-101 at the annual school boards convention in Milwaukee.
The measure had been pushed by the Wausau School Board President Tricia Zunker. It argued that Indian imagery made it more difficult for tribes “to portray accurate images of their history and culture.” Eighteen school boards passed resolutions in support of the measure before this week’s meeting.
The resolution would have been non-binding and would have called on school boards to lobby the state legislature to pass a ban on such mascots
There are 30 school districts in Wisconsin that use Native American imagery for their sports teams and school logos.
An earlier state ban on race-based mascots was overturned in court. It set up a process of hearings where the State Department of Public Instruction could have ordered schools to change their mascots and logos. Tony Evers, who was superintendent at the time, had said all Indian-themed mascots were inappropriate.
