The following story originally ran as a Letter to the Editor in the Oct. 28, 1992 edition of Central Times and is being reprinted here without edits to provide context to our Oct. 21, 2014 main story, entitled “Fight or Flight: A look back at Naperville Central’s mascot change puts recent national events regarding Native American appropriation into perspective”

Dear Editor,

As I watch our school divide itself over a tender issue, I wonder if most people have based their opinions on fact or emotion. The fact is that we are no longer Redskins. Many people don’t like this, but we need to stand back and take a good look at who and what the Redskin issue involves.

First and foremost, American Indians are affected by this “nickname”. People may not intend to offend others by the use of “Redskin,” but it is not a question of what the person intends, it is a question of how it is taken by the people the name is directed at. However, some students say, “They are such a small group and almost none of them go to our school. Does it concern them?” I believe it concerns them greatly. If one American Indian is affected, it is one person too many. Others say, “What about the Indians that feel honored?” They can feel honored if they want to, but it is more important to point our concerns to the ones that are offended rather than to the ones that are not.

I would also like to know where the sudden burst of school spirit has come from. Last year, I remember students mocking school spirit and most could care less about the school song. Now that students are expected to chant “C-E-N-T-R-A-L,” they chant “Redskins” louder than ever. Since the adults on the School Board have removed our name, NCHS students are very proud to don the “N and the Indian Head” on their clothing; and now half of our student body, some of which are freshmen, are “Forever Redskins.” It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Another word I have heard countless times is “tradition.” What an interesting word. I want to take this opportunity to put that word into context. Slavery was a tradition for a few hundred years or so. Finally, when Abraham Lincoln stepped in and stopped the “tradition,” everyone got mad, and something called the Civil War happened. Since slavery was a tradition, why wasn’t it kept? Because it was wrong. Just because it has gone on for 54 years, or 200 years, does not make it right.

Many athletes have expressed a concern for their performance in athletics as “no-namers.” They believe they cannot perform as well without having anything to fight for. What are you really fighting for, being an athlete on a team or being a Redskin? No matter what name we are, we can still carry on the excellent history of our sports teams.

The Redskin issue is not a question of losing greatness. NCHS is not great because of its name; it is great because of the people who come to school every day and make it a place to be proud of. It is time for our student body to spend the kind of energy they had going to School Board meetings and gathering public support, and instead do the same thing for a cause that will show a tangible benefit to people, such as food drives, fundraisers, or even finding a good, positive name to give our own school.

How important is this issue, in a logical sense? To someone caught up in all the pandemonium, it is very important, but in the big scheme of things, this issue is not a large thing to spend hours of debate on. It is over, and it is time to move on.

– Junior Chris Ryan