Schools

High School's 'Arab' Mascot is Focus of Coachella Valley Unified District Meeting

The Coachella Valley Unified School District will hold a special board meeting Friday to discuss Coachella Valley High School's "Arab" mascot, which recently drew fire from a national anti-discrimination group.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 15 in the school's gym, according to the school district.

On Nov. 1, the Washington, D.C.-based Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee sent a letter to the district stating that the group was "appalled" by the mascot, depicted as "a man with a large nose, heavy beard, and wearing . . . a traditional Arab head covering" at school functions and sporting events.

The letter also referred to a girl dressed as a belly dancer who appears during halftime shows.

"These are examples of gross stereotyping, which must not be tolerated, and must immediately be addressed," the letter stated.

The group also posted a petition on its website asking the district to address the matter.

In a letter published today in The Desert Sun, Coachella Valley Unified School District Superintendent Darryl Adams wrote that the district is taking the matter seriously, and the mascot "was never intended to dishonor or ridicule anyone."

He wrote that the name and logo, in some form, was introduced in the 1920s to "depict the tremendous spirit of the CVHS sports teams and show both respect and honor for the Middle Eastern cultures and crops known to be strong throughout the Coachella Valley."

He wrote that the upcoming discussions will be "guided by a strong desire to honor everyone in the process and with the goal of finding an amicable solution for all."

The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee stated in its letter that the group "understands the context in which the nickname was initially selected. However, in the 21st Century, such justifications for these actions are no longer tolerable."

Abed Ayoub, the committee's legal and policy affairs director, told City News Service no one from the group would be attending the meeting, but representatives would come to the Coachella Valley next week to meet with school district officials and alumni. He said they wanted tomorrow's gathering to be a community meeting and didn't want to cause distraction.

He said local residents have been "very professional, very courteous" about the issue, and the community and Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee respect each other.

"I think it'll be the basis for a very strong relationship moving forward," he said.

The controversy comes as the owner of the Washington Redskins football team has faced criticism from a Native American nation and others for continuing to use the name.

Reported by City News Service


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