School Board Declines to Take Stand on Woodbridge High Mascot

Woodbridge High students came to the defense Tuesday of the school’s Warrior mascot, which some Native Americans say is offensive to them.

Five students told trustees of Irvine Unified School District that the school has taught them to respect the image of the warrior and to hold it in high esteem.

“I am a Warrior. I am a person who has strength, honor and pride in my community,” student Stephanie Bennett said.

The issue was raised earlier by Daniel Chapin, who urged the school board to do away with the symbol, saying it mocks his heritage and culture. He and others restated that position at Tuesday’s meeting.

“You would never put the face of an Asian on a wall and make fun of them,” said Mary Eichman, who identified herself as Apache and Cherokee. “We are not animals, we are people too.”

Board President Jeanne Flint said the issue must be resolved through dialogue between the school and the Native Americans. The board took no action on it.

Schools across Orange County have mascots depicting people, such as Westminster’s Bolsa Grande Matadors and La Habra High School’s Highlanders. Irvine High School has the Vaqueros; Fullerton High School, the Indians; and Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, the Comanches.

In a telephone interview before the meeting, director Fern Mathias of the American Indian Movement of Southern California said she is glad Chapin is calling attention to the situation.

“You wouldn’t call them the Woodbridge Jews. That would be racist,” she said. “Why doesn’t America believe us? We’re sick of schools saying they are honoring us when they are not.”

Woodbridge Principal Greg Cops said the Warriors mascot has been challenged about three times in the school’s 20-year history.

“It was always one person stepping forward and asking questions about it,” Cops said. “There was a time 10 to 12 years ago when some people were putting a cartoon character on school T-shirts. That has all disappeared, though. It was seen as bad taste.”