Now that the Cleveland Indians are in the World Series, Chief Wahoo, the team’s controversial logo and mascot, has once again gained national attention.

Many find that caricature demeaning to Native Americans, while other fans refuse to let go of the image, alluding to team pride.

Middletown High School students are asked what they think of Cleveland’s mascot.

MHS junior, Ethan Grossnickle said, “It’s not offensive. It’s the same as the Redskins’ logo and I support them.”

The Indian’s mascot is a light purple and yellow, furry bird. The mascot walks around the stadium sporting an Indian’s baseball jersey and baseball cap.

“I don’t think its offensive at all, it’s just a pink looking animal with yellow hair,” said Richie Brehm, a MHS junior.

The head of the Cleveland American Indian Movement has described the the use of Chief Wahoo as “exploitative, bigoted, racist and shameful.”

Brehm added, “If they actually made it look like a human and he had red skin and not-so-crazy hair, then it could be a little offensive.”

Although the mascot isn’t a human or red skinned, the Cleveland Indians’ logo is red and Chief Wahoo wears a feather. This cites why many people believe the logo is offensive.

“I don’t really think it’s offensive, the mascot isn’t even an Indian,” said Clayton Dean, a MHS junior. He added, “I’ve never heard of an Indian tribe or person say they are offended by it.”

Maybe the reason Chief Wahoo is such a big concern of a controversial issue right now is because the Indians are playing famously in the World Series. Or maybe it’s because the logo has truthfully been offending people in the nation for a while, and the attention is only growing now.