School on Standing Rock Votes to Stop Using ‘Midget’ Mascot

MCLAUGHLIN, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota school district on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation is changing its mascot following a request from a national group representing little people.

The American News in Aberdeen reports the school board for the McLaughlin School District voted this week to no longer use the "midget" as its mascot.

Superintendent Juliana White Bull-Taken Alive says they were recently contacted by the nonprofit group Little People of America asking that the mascot be changed.

White Bull-Taken Alive says there was little opposition to removing the mascot. She says the idea of changing it had been talked about for several years and that students and faculty had already removed the logo from their sports uniforms.

Students are in charge of creating a new mascot and nickname.

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