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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2001

The Department of Education is calling on Native American students in four South Dakota school districts to testify about Indian mascots.

The department says the testimony will be part of its evaluation of mascots at the districts. The department's Office of Civil Rights is investigating claims the mascots are damaging to Indian students and wants to hear from students themselves.

It is not clear from The Sioux Falls Argus Leader report whether the department will accept testimony from former students or parents of students. The civil rights activist who filed the complaint, Betty Ann Gross, says the low number of Native students in overwhelmingly white schools could discourage them from speaking out.

School superintendents are also questioning whether students would feel comfortable speaking out. Some say they would allow their students to provide evidence.

Get the Story:
Mascot foe hits setback (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 11/21)

Relevant Links:
Office of Civil Rights, DOE - http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR

Related Stories:
Letter: Be quiet, Indians (11/6)
S.D. schools sued over mascots (10/17)
Affirmative action foe up for civil rights post (6/27)
One woman's mascot battle (8/27)
Schools don't attend mascot meeting (7/11)
Action on mascots by Commission questioned (4/18)
S.D. mascots discussed (4/6)
School debates made-up Indian legend (3/15)