Speak When No One Else Will
“Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.” — Martin Niemöller
Dear allies, supporters and contributors, lovers and haters,
My name is Timothy Cho, and I am the former 2015–2016 Editor-in-Chief of The Playwickian, Neshaminy High School’s student newspaper. During my tenure, I guided each editor and reporter to articulate and actualize their goals in order to create a professional atmosphere that reflects our collective journalistic values. In the past three years, we’ve weathered a controversy that today, places our publication in peril.
I recounted these details on June 30, 2016 — I joined a panel discussion at the The R Word documentary fundraiser launch, taking place at DCTV, NYC. At this panel, I shared my experience as a departing editor — I am the last remaining member of the original The Playwickian editorial staff who voted to redact the name of our high school’s offensive Native American mascot in 2013. Our decision marked a significant student protest against our racist mascot, and directly opposed our administration’s wishes. At this panel, I shared news of recent events at Neshaminy High, which has me worried about the future of The Playwickian’s policy to ban the use of R — — — .
Relations between The Playwickian and administration have been tense since we’ve redacted the term. But more recently in April, our relationship became increasingly strained when an editor wrote an article covering the annual male pageant show, titled
“Mr. R — — — .” Administration directed us to publish this article on our website, with no edits made to the mascot’s name. The editorial board examined our options and agreed to follow the precedent set by our original vote. As the sole editor with access to our website, I published the article, with the name redacted. Within the hour administration removed the article and suspended my access indefinitely. My principal, Robert McGee, handed me an ultimatum: with either publish the article with “Mr. R — — —” unedited and restore my rightful access to The Playwickian website, or if I refused to publish the article according to their wishes, which meant ignoring our editorial decision, administration will withhold my access to the website and publish the article with the racist slur unedited. Given these two choices which would either lead to the same depressing result, my decision was quick: I refused to compromise my beliefs and values in a perverse exchange. As a result, the article was published with the name printed in full, and my online access withheld. This bodes an ominous direction for the future of The Playwickian.
We received an immense amount of support from new and old supporters, some of whom were in attendance at DCTV. Sympathy and outrage defined the key emotions audience members felt after hearing about these recent developments; our administration ignored our collective journalistic values. I realized that while my time with The Playwickian is over, the values I gained will serve me during my next four years at New York University
It is clear why this documentary is of incredible importance, not just to me, or those directly involved with the film, but to all members of human society. This movement to remove offensive Native American mascots has met obstinate resistance by those in favor of remaining with the status quo, but this obstinacy acts as a barrier to cultural competence and inclusion, and this stubbornness is what fuels our fire.
Take note: the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission has already ordered the removal of Neshaminy’s mascot and that administration must hold a public forum to discuss the historical significance and harmful effects of offensive mascots. Neshaminy still has not followed these orders. In hindsight, I realize that The Playwickian acted as this forum, allowing editors, staff writers, members of the student body, and community members to openly discuss our mascot’s significance. How we arrived at our decision modeled the very awareness-building that our administration failed to provide. Through debate and discussion, we editors sought to create an inclusive environment that encouraged diverse, even unpopular thoughts.This process spurred an intense deliberation that challenged and enriched our beliefs and values. Our administration has remained silent and continues to ignore the Commission’s orders, while suppressing conversations about the mascot issue by keeping them behind closed doors and between administrators and school board members.
This mascot may represent Neshaminy: but only a handful of adults, not its 2,600 students, determines the mascot’s future. The status quo has not been written by us.
Timothy Cho
Events between The Playwickian and Neshaminy High School are featured in The R Word documentary. Timothy represents but one example of solidarity with a concerned Native American mother, challenging a school district that claims their 80-year old mascot tradition honors Native Americans.
The R Word is currently fundraising for additional production costs — view the campaign, other videos on the topic, and learn more about the project here. Consider making a contribution to make this documentary possible and join the movement to change the mascots!
