The climax of the Manhattan High mascot debate is just around the corner and the view of current students about the appropriateness of the Indian mascot varies, as does public perspective.

Many students had the same view, that the mascot is not disrespectful but it honors the Native Americans.

“At Manhattan we honor the Indian name and mascot,” junior Jalin Harper said. “We are proud to be the Indians. It represents strength, courage and respect.”

Junior Caleb Payne shared the same view.

“It’s a sense of pride, it’s a compliment to all of the Indians, not a form of disrespect,” Payne said. “Copying is the highest form of flattery.”

However, junior Jonah Evarts had his own twist on the subject.

“In my opinion it isn’t meant to be offensive, it’s meant to be a symbol of pride and in that sense there is no need for change,” Evarts said. “However, some people may be offended at the use of the Indian mascot when support for Native Americans isn’t greater.”

Many student don’t see how the school can change the mascot when doing so would mean it would take a substantial financial hit.

“What is the point of changing it? It’s very expensive so why waste time and energy on it?” senior Wesley Grogan said.

There could be lots of uses for the money that would be spent on the mascot change.

Junior Dirk Andrade has some ideas for uses for the money that would be used. “That money could be used to buy the school new computers, get us better lunches and pay the teachers more.”

Although there are many downsides to changing the mascot, there are also lots of upsides in the prospect of it.

“I personally believe the mascot is offensive because our depiction of it, the chief with the headdress,” junior Kathy Burton said. “In that depiction we are generalizing the entire race, a race which has been oppressed and misrepresented throughout history. We are depicting them in an aggressive warlike state, which in my opinion dehumanizes them.”

With all the mascot controversy

Wesley Grogan, “What is the point of changing it? It’s very expensive so why waste time and energy on it?”

Jonah Evarts, “In my opinion it isn’t meant to be offensive, it’s meant to be a symbol of pride and in that sense there is no need for change. However, some people are offended at the use of the Indian mascot when support for Native Americans isn’t greater.”

Caleb Payne, “The mascot changing would cost the school lots of money, which the school does not seem to have. The whole reasons for changing the mascot is that it is “disrespectful” to all of the Native Americans. But it is not disrespectful at all. Copying is the highest form of flattery. It’s a sense of pride, it’s a compliment to all of the Indians, not a form of disrespect. It is impossible to please everyone.”

Dirk Andrade, “Why should we waste money on something we don’t need when we could be using it for something useful. That money could be used to buy the school new computers, get us better lunches, and pay the teachers more.”

Cooper Blanck, “It’s absolutely ridiculous, why spend money on something that affects a very small number of people, you can’t please everyone at the same time and the sooner they figure that out the better. The district doesn’t have enough money to be wasting it on pointless things such as an offensive mascot”

Jalin Harper, “It’s all perception! At manhattan we honor the Indian name and mascot!! We are proud to be the Indians it represents strength, courage, and respect! Perception… is the glass half empty or half full! For example people may say it’s making fun of the Indian name and they have to try to find stuff wrong with the mascot! And then there are the people who look for the good and see the athletes, teachers, and students wear the mascot with pride and respect! Before each football game our head coach ask a very important question! He asks us “who are we” we respond “Indians” we say this with power, respect, courage, and a mind set knowing that we are tough and we are going to give it everything we have until the final whistle! We say this as a family as a unit, 1+1=3 . I am proud to represent our mascot and name”

Cade Roberts, “I feel like if you’re changing the mascot then they need to change everyone’s mascot, just because someone is offended by it doesn’t mean it should change. I could say I’m offended by highland park’s because it’s Scottish and no Scottish kids go there”

Hayden Haynes, “It will change the whole history of our school, we have always been the Indians and we should stay the Indians.”

Ethan Kaus, “The mascot name was intended, in part, to honor Frank Prentup, a former football coach of the high school who claimed Indian ancestry. It stands for everything great the teachers and coaches try to instill in us. Plus it would take so much time and money to change to a mascot that could also be seen as controversial to different people”