The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Oxford group calls for end of Braves mascot

County candidates seek to sway voters at forum
2/9/12
Ohio gets $335M in housing help
2/9/12
State child  care fraud forces costly fix
2/9/12
Education law signed locally fading away
2/9/12
A&E show bungles Jungle Jim’s home
2/9/12
> More headlines

By Kevin Hern, Contributing Writer Updated 12:07 AM Monday, February 8, 2010

OXFORD — Talawanda schools proudly call themselves the Braves.

But now that mascot is being questioned by a group who says it’s time to retire the blue and red American Indian symbol.

An Oxford community coalition, led by members of the Oxford Citizens for Peace and Justice and the Oxford branch of the NAACP, are working toward a proposal that would call for the removal of the American Indian mascot from Talawanda schools.

Linda Musmeci Kimball, a leading member of the coalition, said this issue has been building for some time.

“Many people in this community have long been concerned about the issue of the symbol and image of the mascot at Talawanda,” Kimball said.

“We formed a coalition with OCPJ and NAACP to attempt to educate the community, school administrators, as well as the school board on the impact this has on people,” Kimball said.

In support of it’s resolution for a new mascot, the coalition points to a number of colleges, high schools and state school boards that have changed their schools’ mascot names out of awareness of the negative impact these names and symbols can have on students and citizens.

The coalition’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by the community. The resolution has sparked debate around Oxford, a town already known for dealing with mascot changes.

A Facebook.com group titled “Keep Talawanda’s mascot the Braves” has gained more than 1,400 members and includes heated discussion about the topic.

Kimball, who also was involved in the Miami University mascot change from Redskins to RedHawks, says opposing responses aren’t addressing the issue.

“I think there are people who base their views on whatever emotional appeal they have and what they do when they strike back is ad hominem attacks rather than dealing with the issue,” Kimball said.

As of now, Talawanda schools haven’t received anything official from the coalition.

“Nobody has come to talk to us as an official group,” said Talawanda school spokeswoman Holli Morrish.

Share this article