Schools Look to Retain Names

File Photo

Two Long Island schools, Wantagh and Wyandanch, have filed suit against the state Board of Regents to overturn the banning of the use of the name, Warriors” for their teams.

The state threatened to withhold school funding for districts that use names pertaining to Native Americans. The two schools agreed to stop using Indian imagery for logos. Advocates of the ban argue that using Indian names is demeaning to Native Americans. Those against say the schools are honoring the island’s rich native heritage.

Jarod Morris, president of the Wyandanch board of education, said in an email that the district already replaced much of its Native American imagery decades ago and should be allowed to keep its Warriors name.

"In America, we use the word 'warrior' when mentioning those who have served this country in the armed forces and even in the church world some identify as a 'warrior for the Lord,'" he said. "And so, we took this step because the state is overstepping and is going beyond its authority as outlined in the law.”