The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

PA Human Relations Commission recommends mascot change

A mural of the Neshaminy High School mascot has been painted on a campus athletic shed.
A mural of the Neshaminy High School mascot has been painted on a campus athletic shed.

By Reed Hennessy
Editor-in-Chief

According to a source of the Playwickian’s, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) has found probable cause of discriminatory practice by Neshaminy High School in its use of the term “R——”. The PHRC issued 10 “Terms of Adjustment” on Jan.9, advising the district to take actions on their mascot, including finding a new mascot name within 90 days, ceasing and desisting all discriminatory activities utilizing the name “R——-”, and eventually phasing out all references to Neshaminy’s current mascot.

On Feb. 9 a conciliation meeting was held to address the terms of adjustment and set a timeline for enacting the terms set forth by the PHRC, but the school district disagreed with those terms. When two parties disagree on the terms set in a PHRC case, a final, public hearing will be held in which a final decision will be made by the PHRC. This may be the case for Neshaminy, but no second hearing has been scheduled.

“[The] Respondent shall immediately begin to investigate suitable, non-discriminatory name and mascot for its teams and schools. Respondent shall have a period of 90 days to select his name and mascot and will be given a reasonable time in which to transition to district wide use of this name and mascot,” said the PHRC in its terms of adjustment.

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Several school board members and administrators were contacted for comment on the matter. Board member Stephen Pirittano denied that the PHRC had made such an order, “As explained at the [School Board] Policy [Committee] meeting this past Tuesday in a statement put forward by students representing the Playwickian, Mr. Levin, special counsel on this issue, replied ‘No such action exists,’” said board member Stephen Pirritano via email. The only other board member and or administrator to reply on the matter was board member Anthony Sposato, who stated in an email that he could not comment on the matter under the advice of legal counsel.

In addition to the school district having 90 days to select a new name and mascot the terms of adjustment state that the school district must “cease and desist from holding any events utilizing the mascot name,” and that the school district “shall receive training for its Board of School Directors, administration, staff, and the students designed to educate participants on the right of all persons to be treated in a non-discriminatory manner regardless of their Race and National Origin.”

In all, there are 10 terms of adjustment all dealing with the process of changing the mascot of Neshaminy High School. Also stated in the terms of adjustment by the PHRC was that the school district “shall sponsor one half-day or full day symposium for the community on the historical significance and harmful effects of the use of racial monikers as mascots in sports.”

If the school district maintains its current course of action the PHRC will intervene in the matter. Should this be the case a public hearing will be held and the commission will issue a final order.

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PA Human Relations Commission recommends mascot change