Bellefonte community rallies around its Red Raider
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Bellefonte residents came out in force on Saturday to show their support for the Red Raider nickname at the Centre County Courthouse.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Rachelle Edmiston of Pleasant Gap, at right, is a Native American who graduated from Bellefonte Area High School. She said that she has never been offended by the Red Raider mascot or logo. In fact, she has Native American tattoos on her forearm and wrist.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Rachelle Edmiston of Pleasant Gap, at right, is a Native American who graduated from Bellefonte Area High School. She said that she has never been offended by the Red Raider mascot or logo. In fact, she has Native American tattoos on her forearm and wrist.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Parker Goodrow, a junior at Bellefonte Area High School, and Jennifer Palmer of Bellefonte show their support for the Red Raider nickname on Saturday at the Centre County Courthouse.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Bellefonte residents came out in force on Saturday to show their support for the Red Raider nickname at the Centre County Courthouse.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Rachelle Edmiston of Pleasant Gap, at right, is a Native American who graduated from Bellefonte Area High School. She said that she has never been offended by the Red Raider mascot or logo. In fact, she has Native American tattoos on her forearm and wrist.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Rachelle Edmiston of Pleasant Gap, at right, is a Native American who graduated from Bellefonte Area High School. She said that she has never been offended by the Red Raider mascot or logo. In fact, she has Native American tattoos on her forearm and wrist.
CHRIS MORELLI/THE EXPRESS Parker Goodrow, a junior at Bellefonte Area High School, and Jennifer Palmer of Bellefonte show their support for the Red Raider nickname on Saturday at the Centre County Courthouse.
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BELLEFONTE -- With a critical school board vote looming on Tuesday, the Bellefonte community came together one more time in what appears to be a last-gasp effort to save the Red Raider nickname.
On Saturday afternoon, around 50 supporters rallied outside the Centre County Courthouse. There were current students, parents, residents, alumni and taxpayers in attendance. They wore T-shirts and sweatshirts with the words "Bellefonte Red Raiders" on them. Some wore Red Raider masks. There were plenty of signs -- both homemade and professionally printed -- in the crowd. Those who drove by on Bellefonte's "Diamond" honked horns and gave the crowd a "thumbs up" out of their car windows.
If the Bellefonte school board votes to remove the Red Raiders nickname at Tuesday's special meeting, it won't happen without a fight.
Kathy Evey, a lifelong Bellefonte resident and graduate of the high school, said that she came out to try and save the Red Raiders nickname.
"I think it's ridiculous. I was a school board member back in the 90s and they tried to get rid of the mascot and the name then," Evey said. "It's a small group that wants it (to change) and they are not from here. We have more important issues to address right now."
Evey said that the board needs to focus on education and building a new elementary school. With COVID-19 still wreaking havoc and causing school closures, the mascot issue should have been pushed to the back burner, she said.
"How are we going to catch the kids up? I'll be curious to see what the (standardized) test scores are like. That's what the board should be focusing on -- education," Evey said.
At a special meeting on April 13, the board voted 8-1 to retire the Red Raiders logo. All Native American imagery will be removed from all schools in the district over the course of the next year.
Parker Goodrow, a junior at Bellefonte Area High School, has been a Red Raider since kindergarten. He doesn't want to graduate next year with a new nickname. Or worse yet, without one.
"I really want to graduate as a Red Raider. I think there is a lot of pride in that. That's why I wanted to come out and support this," Goodrow said.
Chad Haagen and his family came out in force. The Bellefonte residents sported their Red Raiders gear and held signs.
"The Red Raider is pride, it's loyalty, it's history, it's something to be proud of," Haagen said. "You're going to change it to something that means absolutely nothing. There will be nothing to have pride in."
Rachelle Edmiston of Pleasant Gap, a Native American herself, said that she was never offended by the Red Raiders logo or nickname.
"It's emotional for me. As a Native American, it's hard. It feels like a part of who I am is about to disappear," Edmiston said, her voice breaking. "It's sad ... seeing this being wiped out is heartbreaking."
Edmiston, who graduated in 2005, said that growing up as a Red Raider "hit different."
"This is not racist or derogatory. We are a culture that is more about celebration and pride," Edmiston said. "Watching this happen has been hard."
Brenda Reichert, a resident of Bellefonte's Brockerhoff House, helped organize the rally. She handed out red and white signs that read "Keep the Red Raiders."
She said that she intends to speak at Tuesday's school board meeting.
"The taxpayer money needs to go toward a new elementary school," Reichert said emphatically. "Our elementary school is in bad shape. The people who want this (name) change should dig in their pockets and they should be the ones paying for it. Not the taxpayers."
Reichert suggested that the board hold the meeting at Rogers Stadium so they can face those who oppose the change instead of "hiding behind a computer."
Shirley Confer, a 1986 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School, drove in from Jersey Shore for the rally.
"This (change) has been led by people who did not grow up in this area. This school district can not afford between $250,000 and $2 million for this foolishness," Confer said. "I have always been proud of being a Red Raider. They are trying to erase history. This cancel culture stuff needs to stop.".
The board will discuss and vote on the nickname "Red Raiders" during a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The meeting is closed to the public, but available on the district's website. Those wishing to speak must pre-register prior to the meeting.