Hot Springs trustees to take comments on proposed "Savages" change

HOT SPRINGS — During the June 18 meeting of the Hot Springs school board, trustees will be taking public comments on proposed changes to the Hot Springs "Savages" mascot name.

All three proposed new mascot options retain the word "Savage."

The Hot Springs student body reportedly narrowed the choices for the mascot change to these three: Hot Springs Savage Heat; Hot Springs Savage Outlaws; and Hot Springs Savage Pride.

The school board is expected to make a decision on the mascot change during the June 18 meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the high school library.

The students, concerned about the recent ruling by the Montana Human Rights Bureau, that found the Ronan schools' use of "Chiefs" and "Maidens" mascots to be discriminatory, held a contest to re-name their school's teams.

Tribal member LeRoy O’Bennick, who is among the Hot Springs residents who think the new mascot name should not retain the word “savage,” plans to bring the proposed mascot logos to the Tribal Council.