NEWS: NCAA "Strikes Out" Against Racist Mascots

CULTURE: NCAA "Strikes Out" Against Racist Mascots

This week the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the arbiter of intervarsity sports, have issued a press release of their ruling on the "Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events"

I was on campus at the University of Illinois, home of the Big Ten Conference, Fighting Illini. The University could be recognized for its recent near success against North Carolina in the NCAA basketball championships or three of their top players who were all selected for the NBA draft. Instead we are known for the controversy surrounding the University's Mascot and Logo, "Chief Illiniwek" less formally know as the "Chief."

Many of those who protest the Chief as a racist symbol were expecting for the sports governing body to come down a little harder on what the NCAA itself referred to as "hostile or abusive references." Instead, they demanded that by 2008, all such references need to be removed from post-season play, but only offered strong advice to the eighteen remaining schools to remove their Native American mascots.

Anyone who caught what could only described as some amazing post season play could tell you that the "Chief" was nowhere to be found at the post-season games as it is. "U of I teams don't travel with its mascot to begin with" said one UI Alumni, who claimed that he was fairly ambivalent about the issue to begin with. Others on campus may not agree. There has been a strong outcry from Native American Group, I-Resist, who issued a statement at the conclusion of the Championship season.

Overall, the decision seems to have left both sides shaking their heads at the lack of a definitive response to a hot button issue at college campuses across the country-- particularly at the U of I.

I find this sort of thing really counter-productive in regards to furthering the Native American cause in any way.

Given I'm not an Indian, but I am proud of my German roots, all I know is I'd be happy if it were the UCLA Krauts, or the Kaisers, or something.
*Maybe the Berkeley Nazis wouldn't be so cool, or would it?

Self hating Indians aren't nearly as funny as self hating jews.

[Edited on Aug 07, 2005 1:35PM]

Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Racist!!

C'mon, we all know the micks are a bunch of boozing brawlers.

My next door neighbors are rabid Florida State fans, their dogs are named after coaches, one has NOLES on their license plate.

The seminole tribe has even stated that they do not feel that the schools use of the name Seminole is racist in anyway, and had a vote in the tribe about it. I can't seem to find the link though.

There is nothing wrong with the Chief, for Christ's sake! This whole PC thing is going way too far. Personally, I think that, if the NCAA is going to do this, all of the Irish people in the country (myself included) should claim to be offended at Notre Dame's mascot because it perpetuates the stereotype of Irish people being short, red haired, violent, and probably drunk.

We are not! I'm tempted to punch you on the nose after I finish this bottle of Jameson.

But really; where would the Fighting Irish fit into all this? Or the Tarheels? "Tar Heel" was originally a pejorative. I'm sure there are others.

never mind.


[Edited on Aug 07, 2005 3:06PM]

maybe if they stopped selling firewater at the games they wouldn't have to ban those indian mascots to avoid the drunken brawls they cause.

Did you really just say that?

It's more complicated then that. The Seminole tribe has several different ruling bodies spread out over several states. One of these governing bodies has said that FSU use of their images and names is fine, the other groups are strongly against it.

Interesting that the comments about the Irish drinking didn't get a similar response.

The Central Michigan University Chippewas kept their name, but they removed the tomahawk from the jerseys and banners several years ago, according to a compromise with the Isabella County reservation. They use a C with motion lines now.

In 1991, the Eastern Michigan University Hurons became the Eagles after they decided it probably wouldn't behoove them to use "Hurons" anymore.

I have mixed feelings about this. I agree they shouldn't use tomahawks and headdresses and paint their faces red, but I think it would be an honor if the local university wanted to name their team after the local tribe. I was really surprised when EMU changed their mascot. Countless streets and parks in this area use Huron in the title, not to mention Huron High School (which is off Huron Parkway and near the Huron River).

I usually stay out of racial discussions, because people are going to believe what they want to believe(I know, I know.. then wtf am I typing for?), and I'm not one to try and change people's minds in that realm.

The Native American history was a rough one (I shake my head at those Lewis and Clark movies), and I personally think, if they feel it's offensive then the NCAA, NFL, MLB. or whatever should listen. Look, I'm a Redskin fan (yeah, we suck), but if the name and mascot changed I wouldn't be bitter.

Maybe their disgust is out of respect of cultural history, and who are we to belittle what matters to any culture? I don't think it's "self-hating" because they don't want a symbol of their people in popular culture running up and down a field or court, surround by ads, and wrestling and pokin' other rival mascots in satire. Most americans know as much about Native Amer. culture as they do Tibetian... I think they are just trying to keep an intangible concept from being a tangible symbol for conventional events that lessen the respect of their way of life.

I said way too much ..... bad thing is I have more to say.


[Edited on Aug 08, 2005 2:16AM]

People who try to remove mascots that they feel are offensive need a damn hobby. Where does it end? Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, Florida State Seminoles....these are only nicknames and are not meant to be hurtful towards native americans. Naming a team after a group of people is a honor, like the Patriots, Vikings, and yes the Indians. If people really cared about them, why don't they get them thier land back. How PC does a francise have to be?

[Edited on Aug 07, 2005 4:03PM]

I do take issue with "Redskin". That one has never sat well with me.

Do I have permission to beat the everloving crap out of the first person who says something to the effect of, "What's next? Are the Baltimore Orioles going to have to change their names because the avian community is pissed?!?!"

And alright, if the Irish don't care that ND is named the Fighting Irish, that's their right, but that doesn't make the Native American claims of racism any less valid.

yeah, same here.

Specifically, the Cleveland Indians were named that to honor an indian pitcher, and they changed their name from, I think, the Cleveland Spiders.
I suppose if this had happened in the 1990s, they would be called the Cleveland Native Americans, or Cleveland Dispossessed Anoriginals, or some such PC gobbledygook, but whatever.

And this is the point at which someone fires up Snopes to determine that I'm wrong, but I heard it on TV. It must be true.

Roethke, queen of saying in one sentence what it would probably take me a half hour of typing to finally express.

Part of the problems are the mascots themselves. Often they are shown in full ceremonial outfits....sort of like having a mascot dressed up as the pope running around doing cartwheels on the field.

I think we should also rename all things with Indian names in them.

Like all the state names etc.

I am of Indian decent and think the use of Indian names brings honor otherwise a lot of people would not even know there were Indians.

this issue was brought up in the sports group already where I got a bit headbashed for going on an anti PC rant.

I'll cut and paste my comments from there anyhow.

1st:
people need to get lives.

if they had the mascot sitting on the sidelines swilling firewater and giving away large pieces of land for seashells or being marched at gunpoint to a far corner of the stadium where they were then deprived of all their rights....that would be offensive.

having a mascot dressed up as a tribesmen and whooping it up to get the home crowd into the game...that's just sports.

FUCK THE PC BULLSHIT NONSENSE ALREADY!

I'm sure there are plenty of people who are offended by the entire role of cheerleaders. how long til they are banned? or sports in general. some people find the idea of athletic events and the amount of money spent on them to be offensive...JUST BAN SPORTS.

EVERYONE GO SIT IN YOUR ROOM IN THE DARK AND BE NICE TO EVERYONE WHO ISN'T THERE.



and the world will be a happy place.


/rant.

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after that some source cited were shown as far as Native American councils that had indeed been offended

my 2nd post:

sorry I just never bought the ticket to get on the PC wagon.

look. I can see how the "redskins" would be offensive. it's a dergatory term.

but naming a team after an actual tribe that is from that area...how is that offensive?

ok. if Native Americans are the ones finding it offensive I can give that some credence. I took it to be the NCAA trying to be PC about something that seems a relativly minor issue compared to...I don't know...actually attempting to make the lives of modern day American Indians better.

so the problem isn't so much the mascots as the stereotyping then?

and I'm not angry about Indian mascots being banned. I'm angry about the PC wave that replaces surface cosmetic shows of "caring" for substantive actual progress.

and the schools don't want to change their mascots because that's part of what is their identity...to the school and to the highly lucrative fan base and alumni.

obviously the banning sports was hyperbole. I'll try to put a limiter on my sarcasm next time.
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the answer is probably a compromise. a bit more tasteful use of the namesake mascot.
but people seriously need to remove the stick.
it's a college sporting event....no one is claiming that the mascots are supposed to even be a faithful representation of any much less all Native Americans.

I'd rather see a college agree to give more full scholarship rides to members of said Indian tribe than wring their hands over wether or not they are offending members of that tribe with the actions of a sporting event mascot.

I still like that an high-school in Illinois (can't recall which city/school district) uses the Chink as its mascot.