After an override of a veto of a bill to protect the right of Native American students to wear tribal dress during graduation, many locals are supporting expanding the legislation to all graduates.
The Oklahoma legislature recently overrode several vetoes by Gov. Kevin Stitt, including one on SB 429, which protects the right of Native students to have the right to wear tribal dress at school graduation ceremonies.
State Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, voted in favor of the bill and shared his thoughts on possibly expanding that protection in the future to allow all graduates to wear their favorite gowns.
“Yes [Native students] they want to wear their tribal dress and if you’re Scottish and want to wear your kilt, I don’t see a problem with that,” Culver said.
However, Culver said any future legislation should not open it up to anyone being able to carry anything.
“But if it’s because of your culture or heritage, it’s appropriate and it doesn’t disrupt the graduation ceremony, I don’t see a problem with that,” he said.
District 9 state Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, was in favor of overriding the veto and voted to do so. Pemberton said she doesn’t think students should be allowed to bring whatever gift they choose to graduation.
“As a former principal who oversaw graduations, I believe most schools in the state have a very open policy on various racial issues and ethnic dress,” Pemberton said. “Since prom is the schools’ official graduation ceremony, I think they should have the ability to set guidelines and set boundaries to keep it respectful and professional.”
During a Saturday, May 20 Facebook forum, Tahlequah Daily Press readers were asked for their thoughts on Stitt’s vetoes, overrides and, if they supported them, expanding the protections to all graduate students.
“[Stitt] he was being childish and hissing because [legislators] I would not support their education bill. That’s the simple reason, he said, “If you don’t support my bill, I’m just going to veto everything,” said Tahlequah resident Shane Morrison.
Sequoyah High School graduate Jason Santana said he wasn’t sure how the bill was worded, but said if it didn’t specifically allow for “Native American regalia,” then it was a good decision to veto the bill .
“If it’s not specifically scoped, you’re going to open the door to badges or gifts for some things that most people will find highly offensive or inappropriate for a graduation setting,” Santana said. “It should be a decision of each school district or school board.”
what you said
In a website poll, TDP asked readers if they approved of allowing students to wear their favorite outfits to graduation. Just over 63% said they fully approved; 18.2% said they somewhat approved; 4.5% said they somewhat disapproved; 9.1% said they strongly disapproved; and 4.5% said they were unsure.
