Schools in New York are now officially banned from using Native American names, mascots, imagery, or logos.
The state Board of Regents on Tuesday voted unanimously to ban the use of Native American mascots at public schools. Last November, the state Department of Education issued guidance to schools suggesting they make changes to their mascots by the end of this school year or have their state aid withheld.
Schools in the Finger Lakes that still have a mascot and nickname related to Native Americans include Watkins Glen, Canandaigua, Red Jacket, Romulus, Southern Cayuga, and Weedsport. They will have to change their mascots by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
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