USD 383 Board of Education-courtesy photo
By DEANGELA MCDOUGALD
MANHATTAN -In a unanimous decision, the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education voted to retain the Manhattan High School Indian image and name, according to a media release.
Board members debated the decision for nearly an hour during the December 7th meeting before ultimately agreeing upon an official course of action and voting to retain the Indian name and image – with conditions.
Those conditions include the creation-formation of a committee in January 2017 of stakeholders, administrators, students, community members on either side of the argument, etc. to address at least the following statements and return to the Board with a decision on a further course of action by their September 6, 2017 meeting:
Find a proper way to honor Frank Prentup and his legacy; creation of a scholarship (Board member offered to put up money that will be matched by community members), naming of a building, structure, some space with the Prentup name
Creating and implementing a teaching program for students, and staff – suggestions included a freshman orientation highlighting the Native American plight and how to properly honor and respect Indigenous peoples
Explore the creation of a mascot for students to rally around distinct from Indian name and image
Establish true cost and timeline for phasing out or removal of Indian image/name
Board President Marcia Rozell stressed that the decision was to retain the mascot, and the creation of the committee will not be to remove the Indian name and image but to find a common ground and proper way to honor Frank Prentup.
Frank Prentup was a beloved Manhattan High School football coach that brought prominence and a winning tradition to the school. Students and staff would often refer to Prentup, a Native American, as Chief – a term of endearment for the man who brought pride to Manhattan High School.
In 1940 the student body voted “Indian” as their school mascot/symbol.
Prentup’s son, Duke, spoke at an open forum last week begging the Board not to remove his father’s legacy from the high school and to retain the Indian name and image.
For now, Manhattan Indians still stands.