CRANBERRY TWP — A group of Seneca Valley students and recent graduates spoke with the community Tuesday evening about their proposal to retire the school district's American Indian-related imagery and the “Raider” name.

That proposal, which stems from Native American groups' outspoken opposition to schools and sport teams using their name and likeness as mascots and nicknames, has led to the Seneca Valley School Board considering taking action at its June 14 meeting to retire the “Raider” name, as well as to vociferous opposition from some community members.

In April, six junior and senior high school students approached the school board with a proposition: Given the criticism lobbed by groups such as the National Congress of American Indians toward the use of Native American names and imagery for sport and school mascots, nicknames and logos, it's time to retire Seneca Valley's use of them.

Their presentation sparked backlash, and as the school board moves to consider the retirement of the “Raider” name and imagery, the students and graduates took to the Cranberry Area Diversity Network to discuss with the community why they made their proposal.

“Today's topic isn't a question of politics or culture wars; it's simply one of humanity and decency,” said recent graduate Zachary Donaldson. “We have a sworn tribal affiliation at Seneca (Valley), and the group of people we represent feels uncomfortable with how we represent them. That is a wish we should honor in accordance with the values of respect and morality that our district teaches us.”

Donaldson said while he recognizes the students who sparked the Seneca Valley and Raider names in the 1960s received consent from nearby indigenous peoples, those same groups have reversed course on their support for the use of mascots and names derived from Native Americans.

“While I know it's with good intention, our district's continued use of the Raider mascot simply doesn't coincide with the times we live in,” he said. “1960 and 2021 are worlds apart.”

In fact, as rising senior Vivian Palmer pointed out, Joe Stahlman, an outreach coordinator for the Seneca Nation of Indians, specifically referred to Seneca Valley's “Raider” name and Native American mascots as “an insult.” Palmer quoted Stahlman as saying “you're using discriminatory terminology.

“There's no honor of turning our culture into sports-related slogans, characterizations and silly mascots,” Palmer quoted Stahlman as saying. “The people of the Seneca Nation do not see indigenous mascots as an honor, as many argue.”

The Seneca Valley School Board will consider retiring the “Raider” name and mascot, as well as all American Indian-related imagery, at its June 14 meeting.