TEWKSBURY — The School Committee voted 4-1 Wednesday night to keep the high school’s team mascot as the “Redmen,” a moniker some argued is politically incorrect while others insisted pays tribute to the town’s Native American heritage.

The vote bucked the recommendation of the school superintendent, but is likely to please most of the more than 400 residents who packed the Tewksbury Memorial High School gymnasium back in January for a public hearing on the controversial issue.

The “Redmen” name was seen by a number of people as a dated, derogatory term for Native Americans. Others view it as a way to show their pride.

Tewksbury resident Bob Payne sported a “Redmen” T-Shirt at the School Committee meeting and was pleased with the outcome.

“We’re really a tight-knit community and we take a lot of pride in our community name,” Payne said.

Jayne Miller, the only School Committee member to vote against the name, expressed her opposition with a prepared statement.

“To pretend that the name refers to anything other than the color of skin and the ethnic group is wrong and sends the wrong message to the greater community and our children,” Miller said.

Miller also said the committee’s decision should not be based on anecdotal evidence, but instead on research. Miller spoke with both resident students and members of the Native American community on the issue.

Superintendent John O’Connor provided a large packet of materials for the committee to review before making its decision. The packet included newspaper articles, questionnaire results from Tewksbury students, a letter from the Greater Lowell Indian Cultural Association and more. Although O’Connor acknowledged that Native American organizations across the country have expressed their opposition to Native American symbols, he added the Greater Lowell Indian Cultural Association said they were tired of being erased.

“We want you to maintain your Redmen logo. We want you to do so with the dignity and respect that it deserves,” O’Connor said the Greater Lowell Indian Cultural Association said.

O’Connor recommended moving on and re-branding the school because the issue is likely to resurface.

Native American symbolism in sports has been an issue dividing sports fans across the country. President Barack Obama has publicly supported the removal of Native American mascots.

Reading from the letter from the local Native American group, O’Connor said: “Our stand on this issue has never really wavered. We will stand by any organization that shows our people the respect and dignity they deserve. All we ask is that mascots and logos are presented in a positive, respectful and historically accurate manner.”

Miller challenged that in her statement by saying the mascot is not historically accurate, adding that if the term was substituted with any other ethnicity “it becomes readily apparent that the term Redmen is perhaps ready for retirement.”

The superintendent also sent out a questionnaire for Tewksbury Memorial High School freshmen, sophomores and juniors to fill out, after advising them to search terms like “Native American imagery in sports” and “Native American mascots” online. Of those students who responded, 87 percent voted to keep the mascot.

O’Connor told the committee that should it vote in favor of keeping the mascot that they should consider creating a “bonafide relationship” with the Greater Lowell Indian Cultural Association. He also suggested that courses be developed on Native American history.

Heidi DeSisto, another Tewksbury resident passionate about keeping the “Redmen” name, said the idea of having classes on Native American history is a good one.

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion and we understand that,” DeSisto said. “However, it doesn’t mean that their opinion is necessarily right.”

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