Syosset Students Chose Not to Paint 'Native American' Head in School's Parking Lot

Syosset students have chosen not to paint a mural of a "Native American" head after the school's mascot in the parking lot after a petition was started online.

The students held a forum of about 50 students to discuss the mural and the student government ultimately chose not to approve the mural, according to a report in Newsday.

Senior Janvi Pamnani started an online petition on Change.org who said the school was planning on creating the mural based on the mascot for the Syosset Braves team in order to "increase school spirit."

"Despite being heavily offensive toward the local Native American communities, Syosset is continuing with this appropriation," Pamnani wrote on the petition. "While school spirit is crucial to the social health of the school, Syosset should not degrade Long Island tribes by dehumanizing them to a mascot, equivalent to bulldogs and bears for other schools."

The petition received over 200 signatures.

According to Newsday, a spokeswoman for the district said that administrators were not informed of the plans to paint the mural and did not approve the plan.