The university I currently attend in my hometown is Arkansas State University. The nickname of the athletic teams is the Indians. There is currently a hot debate going on about changing the nickname to avoid trouble with the NCAA's ruling on Native American mascots. I am writing a letter to the editor of a local newspaper and wanted some opinions. Here is what I have written so far. I am looking for something to end it with and I am also wondering if there is anything I should add or take out. I am not looking to steal anybody else's ideas but want something to get more ideas of my own in my head. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
I think if anyone bring sup the point about the 50 or 100 or 150 year history fo the mascot as a reason for not changing the name, you could always ask about the thousands of years of history and tradition that the Native Americans lost when the Europeans came over.
Nice letter. As someone who is American Indian, I don't have a single issue at all with Universities calling their sports teams, the Indians. But you feel strongly about it, so let that letter fly. DD
is that a real t-shirt? Damn that's pretty good. if it isn't a t-shirt, someone ought to make it into one.
Yep, our reservation is in Iowa, we even have a casino. Casino link Jim Thorpe was one of my people.... I am 1/4 Sauk n Fox, my grandmother on my fathers side was full blooded. DD
You should take out the last comma of the first parapgraph. Some of the other language might be less than perfectly efficient, but the comma splice was the only thing that really bothered me. More generally, your second argument bothers me and I personally find it a bit weak. I find it a little offensive when other people try to tell me what my ethnic or other affiliations should be. If someone genuinely believes themselves to be Native American, isn't it presumptious to tell them that they're not, based on some criteria you've made up? I understand your point and I can certainly see people spuriously clinging to this "I'm Indian" argument to establish authority. But, I don't think the best retort is "No, you're not really Indian" (err, Native American). I'm a Frenchman, but my French sucks; does that make me less French? I'm a citizen. This approach also opens you up to accusations of a double-standard. How many people who have some Indian blood are complaining about the names even though they are no more Indian than the ones who like the name? Can you produce some sort of statistics that show that the "truer" Native American you are, the more offended you are about the name? So, people will dismiss the argument out-of-hand as a double-standard. A better approach, imo, is to argue that the ethnicity of the speaker does not add weight to his argument as to whether the name is offensive or not. All of society, the argument would go, should be offended by the objectification of this people-group for exploitation by universities and companies. I don't believe that either, but I think the logic is more sound. The first argument is solid, except that comma.
OK comma is removed. Help me out a little bit. Why do you think there is a double standard in that second argument? I'm not sure I see it. Sorry. Is it because I claim to be part-Native American as well? Maybe I should take that out, huh? My whole point is that people who are actual members of Native American nations should decide if this is offensive not us who are saying we have Native American blood in us. We shouldn't tell them what not to be offended by. I really don't like the fact that people come out of the woodwork with this "I am part-Indian" bit when otherwise they wouldn't even bring it up but I want to make some kind of point about that for sure, I can see sort of where I did do that myself. Thanks for your comments though, I really appreciate them.
I'm a bi, native american, black, jewish, muslim, dominican, korean and white racist and I also volunteer as the Indian mascot for a college sports team, so I'm getting a kick out of these replies. Being all those things makes my opinion weigh more than anyone else. In conclusion, if it offends me, me belonging to a subgroup matters because I represent the subgroup as a whole because I assume that everyone in my subgroup has similar opinions. Therefore, the mascot should be a sombrero wearing, chopstick using, yiddish speaking KKK member with dark skin, a koran and a rainbow colored jesus robe. Either everyone should be offended or no-one, right? It's either that or a f***ing tree.
Thanks. You see, I don't have a problem with it either as long as Native Americans say it is OK. Florida State got the Seminole naton's approval and I respect that. Why can't other schools just seek the approval instead of fighting it, like UND. I mean sitting there telling them how to feel and what not. Hear them out before you judge. People have even written letters stating that Native Americans stole this land as they crossed the land bridge in Alaska to get here. I mean it's just ignorant how they try to justify this stuff.
The university committee that met about this handed down their decision today and they recommend that Arkansas State change the mascot. Mascot Review Committee Recommends To Change Indian JONESBORO, AR--Five weeks ago Arkansas State University formed a committee to determine if it is in the University's best interest to continue with the Indian mascot. Monday, they handed down their recommendation. The Mascot Review Committee agreed to a resolution recommending to the board of trustees that the Indian mascot should be no more. The move is in response to an NCAA rule that bars the use of Native American themes from post season events. After talking with members of the community, most on the Mascot Review Committee had objections to changing the mascot; however according to Committee Chairman Jim Pickens, the decision had to be made. "We basically had two choices. We can vote for change or we could not vote for change and incur ramifications, implications and sanctions from the NCAA," said Pickens. After committee members took several minutes to look over a resolution to change the Indian mascot, the landmark decision was made. "The overriding decision wasn't one that we relished. There is a lot of emotion tied to that, but we had to do what was best for the university and I feel we did that," said Pickens. Randi Romo attended Monday's meeting. She's part American-Indian and a co-founder of the Center for Artistic Revolution a group trying to break down stereotypes. "This didn't happen because it was the right thing, it happened because it was an economical thing," said Romo. She feels the university should change the mascot because it is an insult to Native Americans. "What I keep hearing is the anguish and the sadness that they have to change because they have to by the NCAA," said Romo. While she doesn't feel the university's heart is in the right place, she is happy with the decision. "Regardless of if they felt like their arms were twisted and they were forced into, which seemed to be the prevalent opinion in the room, it is still a step in the right direction," said Romo. The recommendation of the committee now goes to the board of trustees, who are scheduled to meet again in September, but a special session could be held before that time. The committee also passed a resolution to recommend a national sports marketing group is hired to help with the decision of the next mascot, but fans shouldn't throw their Indian apparel away just yet. "I would say the earliest it could be would be the 2008 season," said Pickens. According to Pickens switching to a new mascot will cost the university somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000.
Pun, I've never been in Jonesboro or anywhere close to that part of the state -- but do people really care that much about ASU athletics? People talk about the tradition -- but what tradition does ASU athletics really have? I'm not saying that to spite the university, but more out of ignorance. By ignorance, I mean, I've never heard of anything ASU athletics has done that is something that would build tradition. The only thing I've heard about is getting close to a DI-AA national championship in football and how you guys tore down the goalposts after beating Army sometime in the past couple of years. From what I can tell, at every university I've visited/attended in the state, there is pretty much apathy towards the athletics program at all schools other than the UA and maybe a couple small private schools.
As an Indian, I do take issue with Native Americans trying to Hi-Jack our name and bask in our glory. Stop interferring with our word. I say to all Native Americans and the University of Arizona. You don't have to change the name, just get rid of the feathers and get them a turban. Get it right!
