Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and administrators at a Pennsylvania high school have something in common.
The use of the team mascot stays, at least for now, in the case of the high school.
According to the Student Press Law Center, as reported by Deadspin.com, the editors at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pa., took a vote among their staff members and voted to stop using the name "Redskins," which is the school's nickname and mascot.
The school's administrators, however, intervened, saying that the staff doesn't have the authority to enforce that decision.
The newspaper, "The Playwickian" published an editorial in its October edition, explaining that the staff no longer would use the word itself or any derivative of the word, the Student Press Law Center reported. The 21-member staff voted 14-7 that "Redskins" no longer would be used in an editorial titled, "Unsigned Editorial: Why we won't publish the R-Word."
Calling it one of the most controversial issues in the school's history, the editorial said, ""The word 'Redskin' is racist, and very much so. It is not a term of honor, but a term of hate."
According to the SPLC, the decision initially garnered a lot of media attention, but the staff didn't expect any fallout from its announcement, Playwickian editor-in-chief Gillian McGoldrick said.
Inevitably, the bureaucratic red tape caught up with the newspaper when Neshaminy Principal Rob McGee emailed the paper's adviser with what its editors said was a "directive."
"McGee said, 'I don't think you have the right to not use the word Redskins,'" sports editor Reed Hennessy said, adding that the email said the paper had to continue to use the term at least until a Nov. 19 hearing scheduled by McGee to discuss the issue.
The Oneida Nation Native-American Tribe has tried to get Snyder to listen to their pleas to get rid of the name from his team, but has been unsuccessful as well.
Nor can the staff reject any advertisements with the use of "Redskins," McGoldrick said.
Shortly after overturned decision, a full-page advertisement was submitted that reads "Neshaminy Redskins, nearly a century of school and community, history pride and tradition, go Skins," McGoldrick said. A Neshaminy 1972 alumnus paid for the ad.
"It's really upsetting that our rights are being questioned and that we are being forced into this situation," McGoldrick said. "We really didn't do anything wrong except voice our opinions."
School board President Ritchie Webb told the Student Press Law Center that he was familiar with the paper's editorial but argues against the opinion that the term is offensive.
"Whenever we use the term 'Redskin,' it is only in a positive light," Webb said.
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