Sexton High School is dropping the ‘Big Reds’ mascot

LANSING — Lansing Sexton Excessive Faculty college students will not be referred to as the Huge Reds: The varsity district is dropping the Native American mascot and beginning a seek for a brand new one.

The transfer comes with the assistance of an $87,500 Native American Heritage Fund grant, which helps initiatives aimed toward decreasing the variety of insensitive college mascots whereas honoring Native American tradition and historical past. 

Lansing Faculty District made the official announcement Thursday morning.

“Everybody who is aware of me additionally is aware of I’m the most important ‘Huge Crimson’ alumna (Sexton class 2000) and booster,” stated Gabrielle Lawrence, president of the Lansing Faculty District Board of Schooling, in a press launch. “Most all of my classmates and buddies perceive it’s time for a change. This rebranding is the suitable factor to do and now’s the time to do it. Sexton will at all times be the identical nice college, we’re solely making it higher. Alumni will even get to take part within the branding course of by neighborhood suggestions boards.”

The mascot and brand transition comes after quite a few adjustments through the years, with the Huge Reds brand remodeling from a Native American carrying a headdress to a pink block “S” with a 2 within the prime proper nook.  

The Native American Heritage Fund grant permits the college district to proceed the rebranding course of. Enter will likely be sought from college students, alumni, academics and the neighborhood.

“This will likely be a whole reboot of the Sexton model,” stated Superintendent Benjamin Shuldiner, within the press launch. “This can be a very thrilling alternative to incorporate our faculty district household and are available collectively to create one thing actually terrific all of us will likely be happy with sooner or later.”

The grant will promote dialogue throughout the college district to coach college students and workers on Native American tradition and clarify how the previous Huge Reds mascot and logos have been “culturally insensitive,” in line with the press launch. 

“If we fund the decommissioning of racist mascot imagery now, we may have more cash sooner or later for proactive program and curriculum programming,” stated NAHF Chairperson Jamie Caught, who can also be the Tribal Council Chairperson for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, in a press launch.

Sexton Principal Dan Boggan stated the district plans to have the brand new brand and mascot in place in 2023, in line with the press launch. 

The Huge Reds mascot has served as Sexton’s nickname because the college opened in 1943 in what was then Central Excessive Faculty. When the college opened, the previous Central Excessive Faculty inhabitants remained, bringing its Huge Reds mascot with them. 

Lansing Faculty District’s determination to drop the Huge Reds mascot comes amid one other Native American mascot rebranding at Okemos Excessive Faculty. 

Extra: The Okemos Chiefs face a reputation change 30 years within the making

The Okemos Public Faculties Board of Schooling voted in Could 2021 to drop the previous Okemos Chiefs mascot and, in February, adopted “Wolves” as the brand new mascot. The rebranding work is estimated to value $400,000, together with to replace uniforms, athletic fields, merchandise and different gadgets with the brand new brand. 

The Okemos Public Faculties rebranding can also be supported by the Native American Heritage Fund by a $213,663 grant. 

Lansing Faculty District beforehand acquired a separate, $47,712 Native American Heritage Fund grant final 12 months to help the transition from the Riddle Elementary mascot — previously the Little Reds, which featured a bear mascot carrying an American Indian headdress — to the Rhinos, named partly after the black rhino calf, Jaali, on the Potter Park Zoo. 

Contact Mark Johnson at (517) 377-1026 or majohnson2@lsj.com. Comply with him on Twitter at @ByMarkJohnson.