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Marcola Teacher Files Suit, Claiming Mascot Violates State Rules

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An Oregon teacher has filed a complaint claiming a school district's new mascot is racist and violates rules prohibiting the use of Native American-themed images.

In 2016, the Marcola School District dropped its "Mohawk Indians" mascot and adopted the “Mustangs” instead.

In the complaint filed with the state Department of Education, Marcola fifth-grade teacher John Etheredge says the horse is "adorned with war paint, feathers, beads and a faux 'Mohawk'-style mane."

Etheredge says the district has simply taken the "same Native American images that were previously on a human head and placed them on a mustang's head."

Marcola District Superintendent Bill Watkins says the symbols on the mascot are used by cultures across the world, and the district has the right to use them.

Born and raised in Eugene, Anni started at KLCC in 2000 as a reporter and co-host of Northwest Passage. After graduating from the University of Oregon, Anni moved to New York City. She worked in education for several years before returning to her true love, journalism. Anni co-founded and co-hosted Dailysonic, a narrative-based news podcast. She interned at WNYC's On The Media, then becoming WNYC's assistant producer of Morning Edition.
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