NCAA Bans Use of Indian Mascots

[RugbyBuck]

They're especially dangerous in sudden death, but they don't have a lot of range. Really only lethal inside of 30 yards.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

University of Baghdad Fucking Arabs.

I think they are NAIA.

National Arab Immigrant Association

 

[bucknut11]

I suppose if that's what these tribes want... the NCAA should ban the use of their names. Then in 20 years when the next generation is growing up, they will know nothing of any of these indian tribes...


As for the NAIA's name proposed by Mili, I play at an NAIA school and you're offending me with that name!!

 

[LoKyBuckeye]

Florida State hires lawyer; governer calls NCAA action 'ridiculous'

Aug. 10, 2005
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush criticized NCAA officials on Tuesday for their decision to penalize Florida State for using an American Indian nickname and symbols, saying they instead insulted the university and a proud Seminole Tribe of Florida.

The NCAA's finding that the school's Seminoles nickname is "hostile and offensive," instead of honoring American Indians has the opposite effect, the governor said, because the tribe supports the school's use of its name.

"I think it's offensive to native Americans ... the Seminole Indian tribe who support the traditions of FSU," Bush said on his way into a Cabinet meeting. "I think they insult those people by telling them, 'No, no, you're not smart enough to understand this. You should be feeling really horrible about this.' It's ridiculous."

Meanwhile, attorney Barry Richard, who successfully led the legal challenge on behalf of Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential recount in Florida, has agreed to represent the school in its case against the NCAA, Florida State President T.K. Wetherell said Wednesday.

NCAA officials did not immediately return a call Tuesday seeking comment. Florida State, Illinois and Utah are among 18 schools with an American Indian nickname or logo that will be prohibited by the NCAA from displaying them in postseason events, starting in February.

The nicknames will not be allowed on team uniforms and mascots will not be allowed to perform at games, the NCAA announced Friday. Cheerleaders and band members will also be barred from using American Indians on their uniforms beginning in 2008.

Jeb Bush said he fully agrees with Wetherell, who will sue the NCAA if their decision on the use of Seminoles is not rescinded. Tribal officials also support the school in its stance against the NCAA.

"How politically correct can we get?" Bush asked. "The folks that make these decisions need to get out more often."

"If you have the Seminole Tribe and Gov. Bush on your side, how can you go wrong?" Florida State University Vice President Lee Hinkle said Wednesday.

Bush said the NCAA must have better things to do than sit around worrying about the nicknames adopted by its member institutions.

"You know what they ought to be worried about? The graduation rates of most college athletes," the second-term Florida governor said. "Maybe if they had some suggestions on that, that universities could apply and could implement, they could be doing a service to all of us."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

 

[sandgk]

The Dakota Response -- An Open Letter

Great Read - truly.

He takes the high road and then sucker punches the idiocy of the NCAA and its posturing near the end.

An Open Letter from UND President Charles Kupchella to the NCAA

8/12/2005



<st1:date month="8" day="12" year="2005">August 12, 2005</st1:date><o =""></o>

An Open Letter to the NCAA:

The quiet serenity of our beautiful campus was disturbed early August 5 by news reports that the NCAA had decided to address the Indian nickname issue. The early reports were unclear; the words mascot, nickname, and logo were used interchangeably, and the loaded words “abusive� and “hostile� were invoked without definition and without any real clear idea as to how they were being applied. We don’t have a mascot, and our logo was designed by a very well-respected American Indian artist. We couldn’t imagine that these reports would apply to us.

Later, we saw the full release. While it looked like the action taken by the NCAA was insulting, and a flagrant abuse of power, we knew that good, well-meaning people were involved in the decision and we wanted to consider our reaction carefully.
<o =""></o>

We were initially stunned by the charge “abusive� and “hostile,� and then angry. We reflected and gave it a week before drafting this response. I must admit to sinking at one point during the past week to the notion that my Association was guilty of “political correctness run amok� as suggested by some papers.

We want to file an appeal, but first we need to know the basis for your decisions. We need the answers to some questions first, in other words.

I do not wish to take up the issue, here, of any absolute or general “correctness� of using American Indian imagery. Those on both sides of the issue have long ago made up their minds, and no amount of talking over many years seems to have moved anyone from one side of the issue to the other. Suffice it to say, some choose to be insulted by the use of these terms; others are befuddled by this reaction to what they consider to be an honor. What I would like to take up here is a matter of the appropriateness and legality of the NCAA’s action. I mean to take up the issue of whether the NCAA has gone over the edge and out of bounds in the action announced on Friday.
Is it the use of Indian names, images, and/or mascots to which you are opposed? If it is all of the above, which logos, images, and mascots do you indict by your announcement? Is it only certain ones? As I said, a very respected Indian artist designed and created a logo for the University. The logo is not unlike those found on <st1:country-region><st1 ="">United States</st1></st1:country-region> coins and <st1 ="">North Dakota</st1> highway patrol cars and highway signs. So we can’t imagine that the use of this image is “abusive� or “hostile� in any sense of these words. <o =""></o>

Is it the use of the names of tribes that you find hostile and abusive?
<o =""></o>

Not long ago I took a trip to make a proposal to establish an epidemiological program to support American Indian health throughout the <st1 ="">Upper Great Plains</st1>. On this trip I left a state called <st1:state><st1 ="">North Dakota</st1></st1:state>. (Dakota is one of the names the indigenous people of this region actually call themselves.) I flew over <st1:state><st1 ="">South Dakota</st1></st1:state>, crossing the <st1 =""><st1 ="">Sioux</st1><st1 ="">River</st1></st1> several times, and finally landed in <st1 =""><st1:city>Sioux City</st1:city>, <st1:state>Iowa</st1:state></st1>, just south of <st1 =""><st1:city>Sioux Falls</st1:city>, <st1:state>South Dakota</st1:state></st1>. The airplane in which I traveled that day was called a <st1:city><st1 ="">Cheyenne</st1></st1:city>.
<o =""></o>

I think you should find my confusion here understandable, since obviously if we were to call our teams “The Dakotans,� we would actually be in more direct violation of what apparently you are trying to establish as a rule, even though this is the name of our state. This situation, of course, is not unlike that faced by our sister institution in <st1:state><st1 ="">Illinois</st1></st1:state>. <o =""></o>


Is it only when some well-meaning people object to the use of the names of tribes? If so, what standard did you use to decide where the line from acceptable to “hostile� and “abusive� is crossed? We note that you exempted a school with a certain percentage of American Indian students. We have more than 400 American Indian students here. Who decided that a certain percentage was okay, but our percentage was not? Where is the line between okay and hostile/abusive?

We have two Sioux tribes based here in <st1:state><st1 ="">North Dakota</st1></st1:state>. One has, in fact, objected to our use of the name, “Sioux,� applied to our sports teams. The other said it was okay, provided that we took steps to ensure that some good comes of it, in educating people and students about the cultural heritage of this region. This mix of opinions is apparently not unlike that faced by our sister institution in <st1:state><st1 ="">Florida</st1></st1:state>.
<o =""></o>

Is it only about applying names to sports teams? If so, would this be extended to the use of the names of all people, or is it just American Indians? Why would you exempt the “Fighting Irish� from your consideration, for example? Or “Vikings,� which are really fighting Scandinavians, or “Warriors,� which I suppose could be described as fighting anybodies? Wouldn’t it be “discrimination on account of race� to have a policy that applies to Indians but not to Scandinavians or the Irish, or anybody else for that matter? This seems especially profound in light of a letter to me from President Brand (<st1:date month="8" day="9" year="2005">8/9/05</st1:date>) in which he, in very broad-brush fashion and inconsistent with the NCAA’s recent much narrower pronouncement, said, “we believe that mascots, nicknames or images deemed hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin should not be visible at our events.� (my emphasis)
<o =""></o>

As to the flagrant abuse of power question, I want to make sure I have this straight. We’ve recently built some magnificent facilities costing well over $100 million, under rules permitting us to host championship tournaments and otherwise participate fully in NCAA sanctioned activities, in which the very architecture of the building incorporates names and images of American Indian people. Do you really expect us now to spend large amounts of money to erase what we consider to be respectful images and names of Indian people who inhabited this region in the interest of the NCAA Executive Committee?

Hostile and abusive??


Help me understand why you think “hostile and abusive� applies to us. We have more than 25 separate programs in support of American Indian students here receiving high-end university educations. Included among these is an “Indians Into Medicine� program, now 30+ years running, that has generated 20 percent of all American Indian doctors in the United States. We have a similar program in Nursing, one in Clinical Psychology, and we are about to launch an “Indians into Aviation� program in conjunction with our world-class Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. I am very proud when I visit reservations in our state to see that a large number of the teachers, doctors, <st1 =""><st1 ="">Tribal</st1> <st1 ="">College</st1></st1> presidents, and other leaders are graduates of the <st1 =""><st1 ="">University</st1> of <st1 ="">North Dakota</st1>.</st1>


Do you really expect us to host a tournament in which these names and images are covered in some way that would imply that we are ashamed of them?

<o =""></o>
Concerning tournaments already scheduled: Is the NCAA taking the position that it can actually unilaterally modify a contract already made? Perhaps the charge (sometimes heard) that the NCAA exhibits too much of the arrogance that comes from its status as a monopoly – apart from the question of whether it’s an effective organization – does indeed have a basis.


If the NCAA has all this power, why not use it to restore intercollegiate athletics to the ideal of sportsmanship by decoupling intercollegiate athletics from its corruption by big budgets? Why not use the power to put a halt to the out-of-control financial arms race that threatens to corrupt even higher education itself?
<o =""></o>

Yes, I know that in theory the NCAA is actually an association, and that UND is a member of it, and therefore it’s really we who are doing all of these things to ourselves, or failing to do all of these things ourselves. But is the NCAA really a democratic organization? Why did we not put these issues to a vote by all member schools??


In his USA Today essay, Myles Brand proclaimed that this is a teachable moment, suggesting that the NCAA decision is “aimed at initiating a discussion on a national basis about how American Indians have been characterized . . . .� Great idea! Let’s have the discussion – one that we should have had before this ruling was handed down, one that actually includes American Indians and puts this in the perspective of all that is important to them at this time in history. And while we are at it, why not also address the state of intercollegiate athletics – whether or not student-athletes at some schools are being exploited, and whether or not there is an out-of-control financial “arms race� threatening the integrity of higher education itself.
<o =""></o>

In considering how to appeal, we find it exasperating that we can’t tell what the basis for your initial decision was and how you singled us out in the first place. In a letter from Myles Brand to me (<st1:date month="8" day="9" year="2005">8/9/05</st1:date>) he suggests that we could, in an appeal, argue that our symbols or mascots do not create a hostile or abusive environment. But his letter also seems to suggest that as long as some think the environment is hostile, case closed.


By the way, the last time this issue was stirred up on our campus, a formal charge was made to the Office for Civil Rights that the use of our logo or nickname created a hostile environment here at the University. The Office for Civil Rights sent a half-dozen people to our campus. They fanned out across campus and after more than a week here, found no such thing. Did the Executive Committee find some things they missed, perhaps? Or does a committee in <st1:city><st1 ="">Indianapolis</st1></st1:city> trump the Office for Civil Rights here, on the ground, in <st1:state><st1 ="">North Dakota</st1></st1:state>?
<o =""></o>

Finally, I expect that we will file an appeal, because should we wish to take this issue to court, the courts would undoubtedly ask if we have exhausted all administrative remedies. Please send us the appropriate application forms, and give us an indication of how the appeal will be heard and when. If the timing of this appeal were such that your deadline occurs before the appeal is resolved, we would ask that the deadline be put off, otherwise we may well have to go to the expense of seeking an injunction halting the imposition of these policies until all of our questions can be answered satisfactorily.


We thank you in advance for considering our questions.


Sincerely,


Charles E. Kupchella

President


CEK/cw<o =""></o>

<o ="">
</o>

<o ="">NOTE: </o>

Charles Kupchella is President of the University of North Dakota (UND). The University offers some 25 program in support of American Indian students, has a degree program in Indian Studies and has, and has had, dozens of cooperative programs on reservations throughout <st1:state><st1 ="">North Dakota</st1></st1:state>. UND serves more than 400 American Indian students on its <st1:city><st1 ="">Grand Forks</st1></st1:city> campus. The University has competed in seven NCAA National Championship games since 1999 in both Division I and Division II.<o =""></o>
<o =""></o>

 

[Deety]

Might have to create a profile for Charles Kupchella just for the purpose of greenies distribution.

Saw a note in the blog section that The College of William and Mary had been given a one-year extension to "modify" the use of "Tribe." I know for a fact that the school went through a very extensive process during my years there (class of '94) to determine whether or not the nickname was offensive. The overwhelming response from the Native American community that the idea of community and pride the term was intended to encompass was in no way, shape or form offensive, and the school was encouraged NOT to change it.

I imagine that most of the schools on the list went through a similar process... I find it galling that the NCAA has now decided they have the authority to force changes to schools' basic identities, not to mention the wisdom to know when such changes are needed when these silly institutions of higher learning haven't been able to figure it out for themselves.

 

[BB73]

I'm glad he mentioned "Fighting Irish" in his letter. I have some Irish heritage, and I hate everything about that athletic program.

 

[ScriptOhio]

The NCAA will allow Florida State to use its Seminoles nickname in postseason

Associated Press
Updated: Aug. 23, 2005, 3:16 PM ET
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<!-- begin text11 div --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The NCAA will allow Florida State to use its Seminoles nickname in postseason play, removing the school from a list of colleges with Native American nicknames that were restricted by an NCAA decision earlier this month.


The NCAA said it was recognizing the relationship Florida State has long enjoyed with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which assists the university with its pageantry and celebration of its culture and supports the school's use of its name.

"The staff review committee noted the unique relationship between the university and the Seminole Tribe of Florida as a significant factor," the NCAA said Tuesday. "The decision of a namesake sovereign tribe, regarding when and how its name and imagery can be used, must be respected even when others may not agree."

Florida State President T.K. Wetherell had threatened to sue the NCAA immediately after its Aug. 5 announcement that the school's highly visible nickname, "Seminoles," was defined as "hostile and abusive" by a committee.

The NCAA said it would handle reviews from other schools on a case-by-case basis. The Illinois Fighting Illini, Utah Utes and North Dakota Fighting Sioux are among other prominent school nicknames that remain affected by the edict.

Under the NCAA restrictions, teams with American Indian nicknames would not be able to use them in postseason tournaments.


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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2141197

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Now let's sit back and watch as the legal snowball picks up speed...

 

[Dryden]

If there is a positive side to all this PC bullshit, maybe we can get Oklahoma banned from all NCAA postseason tournaments, seeing as how the word 'Oklahoma' is Choctaw for 'Red People' [okla = people, humma = red].

 

[Bucklion]

What a giant surprise, the NCAA's biggest cash cow, the Criminoles, are allowed to keep their name. Of course, if Eastern Michigan was still the Huron, I'm sure they would have just as easy a time convincing them that they should keep theirs too, right?

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Surely the NCAA recognizes that this:

Is more offensive than this:

Maybe not...

 

[Best Buckeye]

The doo doo keeps rolling.
http://www.sportsline.com/general/story/9874686


http://www.sportsline.com/customize/alerts/General http://www.sportsline.com/print/general/story/9874686 http://www.sportsline.com/xml/rss


"GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- A trial challenging an NCAA ban on the University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname won't be held for a year, and the judge in the case is urging both sides to settle out of court. "

Continued;
http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v...~sscs=?http://www.sportsline.com/video/player

 

[JoJaBuckeye]

If the choice of a native american-themed mascot makes one hostile to native Americans, then:

...the choice of an animal --> means you want that animal tortured or extinct
...the choice of a plant --> means you want that plant wiped out
...the choice of ________ --> mean you are opposed to whatever thing, genre, or theme you filled in the blank with

Yes, the PC crowd IS that retarded. With apologies to retards everywhere.

 

[JoJaBuckeye]

If there is a positive side to all this PC bullshit, maybe we can get Oklahoma banned from all NCAA postseason tournaments, seeing as how the word 'Oklahoma' is Choctaw for 'Red People' [okla = people, humma = red].

Indeed, how many state and local place names in the US would have to rename themselves if anglicized Native American terms became illegal? Just for starters...
Oklahoma
Ohio
Alabama
Miami
Wyoming
Sioux City
Cuyahoga County (for just one local name in Ohio...there are prolly hundreds)

What is it about the PC crowd that they can never keep their ignorance to themselves? Their abject stupidity finds meaning only in forcing others to bend to their mental illness ????