Mukwonago School District Fights To Keep ‘Indians’ Nickname

The Mukwonago School District superintendent hopes the district won’t get fined as two lawmakers try to help it keep its Indian nickname and logo.

The district is fighting a 2009 state law that requires districts with race-based nicknames, logos, mascots and team names to change them if someone files a complaint. A former student at Mukwonago filed a complaint in 2010, saying the name promoted stereotyping, harassment, and discrimination.

Superintendent Shawn McNulty says the law is unfair because it allows districts where complaints haven’t been filed to keep their race-based names.

“If the state law been all schools in the state of Wisconsin have to eliminate their Indian logo and nickname, I think our board would have understood it much better instead of the way the law is written right now,” says McNulty.

Mukwonago faces fines starting in mid-August of $500 to $1,000 for every day it keeps the Indian name. Meanwhile, state Rep. David Craig, R-Big Bend, and Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, are working on legislation to repeal the law.

Earlier this week Mukwonago’s School Board voted to ignore state orders to change its nickname and logo.