School Committee Stands by Foxborough Warrior Name, Logo

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Despite the filing of a bill in the state Senate that would outlaw the use of Native American names and logos for schools, officials in Foxborough say they haven't heard any local complaints of the Warrior name or mascot.

Committee member Chris Connolly brought up the proposed bill at last Monday's school committee meeting, backing the longtime name and logo, which is a modified version of the Washington Redskins logo.

"I never really took (warrior) as an offensive word. When I was growing up, I remember watching the Ultimate Warrior wrestle and it was a complimentary name. It actually means a brave and experience solider," Connolly said.

Superintendent Debra Spinelli said the issue comes up periodically on the national level, but the controversy has not caused debate in Foxborough.

"If you ask anyone for us, it means strength and pride," Spinelli said. "Our depiction of the Native American, no one has ever told me it's disrespectful"

State Sen. Barbara L'Italien, a Democrat from Andover, filed a bill last month on behalf of a group of constituents. If passed, the bill would ban high schools from using Native American team names, mascots or logos.

Click here to read the bill.