Description
The school's mascot is the tomahawk, but known by many as the "T-Hawk." The school's colors are maroon and gold.
The Northborough high school's website contains an explanation of its rationale for maintaining the Tomahawks team name and logo.
"The student body has chosen to retain the tomahawk as our symbol because it embraces our sense of tradition and school spirit," it reads. "We will strive to promote the positive aspects of our heritage and deter, in any way, representation of the tomahawk that would be demeaning to Native American cultures.
Sachem is the literary and art magazine of Algonquin. It is published once a year and is entirely student-run. All poems, stories, artwork, and photography are contributed voluntarily by students. In the 2010-2011 school year it won the Gold Circle Award from Columbia Scholastic Press Association, a prestigious award for literary magazines.
FROM THE PETITION
"There is no record of the Algonquin tribe consenting to the Northborough-Southborough School District’s decision to name the high school and mascot after them,” said Students for Justice, a group featuring alumni of the district, on the petition's page. “The Algonquin name in conjunction with the Tomahawk mascot – which is an ax-like weapon – perpetuates racist stereotypes, classifying Natives as violent and barbaric. Since Algonquin Regional High School’s conception in 1959, racist attire, chants and behavior have been commonplace – disguised as school pride and excused as an attempt to honor Native people. This racism is unacceptable and must change immediately.”