Next they'll be coming for this guy...
Posted on 08/06/2005 9:51:59 AM PDT by Pikamax
FSU to fight ban on Indian mascot
The NCAA took action against the use of American Indian mascots and nicknames by college sports teams, and Florida State's Seminoles were incensed by the new rules that could affect FSU's teams and traditions.
BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN
Is Florida State University's nickname -- the Seminoles -- a tribute to the Indian tribe's indomitable spirit or an offensive racial stereotype?
Depends on whom you ask.
The NCAA on Friday banned the use of American Indian mascots and nicknames by 18 college sports teams -- including the FSU Seminoles -- during postseason tournaments beginning Feb. 1, 2006. Nicknames or mascots deemed ''hostile or abusive'' will be prohibited from team uniforms during NCAA-sanctioned tournaments and bowl games, and those schools would not be allowed to host postseason events.
FSU President T.K. Wetherell, who played football at the school 40 years ago, was indignant upon hearing of the ruling, and vowed legal action.
''Florida State University is stunned at the complete lack of appreciation for cultural diversity shown by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's executive committee,'' he said in a statement. 'That the NCAA would now label our close bond with the Seminole people as culturally `hostile and abusive' is both outrageous and insulting.''
He pointed out that the Seminole Tribe of Florida in June passed a unanimous resolution declaring its support for FSU's nickname and mascot, Chief Osceola, based on a warrior and tribal leader from the 1830s. Osceola enters the stadium on a horse, wearing war paint, and hurls a flaming spear into midfield moments before the kickoff of football games. FSU has used the Seminole nickname since 1947, and features on its Tallahassee campus a 31-foot ''Unconquered'' statue -- symbolic of the Florida tribe's claim to having never been subjugated.
'On June 17, the Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida spoke unequivocally of its support for Florida State University in its use of the Seminole name and related symbols. Accordingly, I intend to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that this unacceptable decision is overturned, and that this university will forever be associated with the `unconquered' spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.''
`UNACCEPTABLE'
Critics, including the leadership of the Seminole tribe of Oklahoma, charge that using Indian imagery to promote sports is demeaning. Among the schools on the list are the University of Illinois (Illini), Central Michigan University (Chippewas), University of Utah (Utes) and Southeastern Oklahoma University (Savages).
In the past decade, Marquette changed its nickname from Warriors to Golden Eagles, St. John's dropped Redmen for Red Storm and Miami of Ohio went from Redskins to Red Hawks.
''What we are trying to say is that we find these mascots to be unacceptable for NCAA championship competition,'' said Walter Harrison, president of the University of Hartford and chairman of the NCAA's executive committee.
The NCAA does not have the authority to bar Indian mascots at schools, but can keep schools from participating in NCAA-sanctioned events or wearing certain attire at those events.
''The rules as we understand them would have us cover the Seminole name and symbol as if we were embarrassed, and any committee that would think that is a proper and respectful treatment of Native Americans should be ashamed,'' Wetherell said.
The five members of the Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida voted unanimously in June to adopt a resolution that officially grants permission for FSU to use the Seminole mascot.
''We are repeating history,'' said Max Osceola, a member of the tribal council. ``Non-Indians are telling Indians what is good for them.''
He said the tribe has supported FSU using its image and he would hope every tribe would respect their views.
No one from the NCAA consulted with the Seminoles about this, he said. Florida State University and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have had a relationship for more than 30 years.
But ''other Seminole tribes are not supportive,'' said Charlotte Westerhaus, the NCAA vice president of diversity and inclusion.
In Michigan, Chippewa tribe spokesman Joseph Sowmick said: ``The rich relationship that the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has with CMU cannot be determined by an outside entity without contacting the institution and the government involved. Any arbitrary decision made from an outside source regarding university-tribal relations is not acceptable.''
STRONG FSU SUPPORT
Wetherell contends the NCAA is pandering to a small group of malcontents.
''National surveys have shown in recent years that an overwhelming majority of Native Americans are not offended by the use of Native American names and symbols,'' he said. ``In making its decision, the executive committee has been swayed by a strident minority of activists who claim to speak for all Native Americans. It is unconscionable that the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been ignored.''
Sen. Jim King, a Jacksonville Republican and Florida State alumnus, sponsored a bill in 1999 to require by law that FSU keep its mascot and name. The bill died only because the Legislature ran out of time.
King said he's considering his options in light of the new NCAA ruling.
King noted the dislike of the FSU mascot emanated from Oklahoma's branch of the tribe.
''They're the ones that gave up and went to the reservation,'' King said of the Oklahoma tribe. ''If the Seminole tribe of Florida were offended, I'd be the first to propose making a change. They said they were proud. They made it clear, they said they never gave up and that was synonymous with Florida State and [coach] Bobby Bowden,'' King said.
Gov. Jeb Bush, a fervent backer of the University of Miami Hurricanes, also supports letting FSU keep its nickname and mascot, a spokeswoman said Friday.
''The governor agrees with the Seminole Indian tribe that the term Seminole and the symbol of Chief Osceola are not offensive and are a rich part of the Florida State University tradition,'' said Alia Faraj.
Clayton Gledhill, an FSU junior, denounced the NCAA ruling.
''They're not using the mascot or the symbol in any kind of defamatory way,'' Gledhill said. ``It would be letting our whole culture turn over to the politically correct.''
Plus, he said, he likes the Seminole logo.
``Having a good strong logo, something you can be proud of, is important. It gives you the pride to hold your head up every Saturday when you walk into the stadium.''
Herald staff writers Marc Caputo, Jerry Berrios and Gary Fineout and correspondent Ira Schoffel contributed to this report.
Thank God someone is fighting back. Everybody should.
This is about guilty Liberals destroying tradition.
Most Indians in North Dakota think the logos are pretty cool.
Miles Brand, the pencilnecked NCAA facist leader, needs to be pressured into reversing this.
"Wetherell contends the NCAA is pandering to a small group of malcontents."
BINGO!
Political Correctness is nothing more than abridging free speech. It's sad when certain individuals/groups take it upon themselves to dictate what can and cannot be said.
"Miles Brand, the pencilnecked NCAA facist leader..."
Agreed.
How long before he comes after Bob Knight's Red Raiders and their "Guns Up"?
Early on..the indians were complaining that teams etc were using "THEIR" names and it was derogatory. Now they're starting to sing a different tune. If the indians had stayed out of it in the first place, things would have been just fine.
FSU needs to hit this head on. Change their name to the "Bloodthirsty Heathen Savages". Then they could name their mascot "Uncle Tomahawk". Probably wouldn't fit on a booster club sweatshirt though.
what is REALLY interesting is that Miles Brand is the guy who FIRED Knight at Indiana.
''They're not using the mascot or the symbol in any kind of defamatory way,'' Gledhill said. ``It would be letting our whole culture turn over to the politically correct.''
Poor Clayton, he has not sat in enough FSU classes yet to get indoctrinated by the professors and staff. Maybe he's on the distance learning track so he has limited contact.
Exactly.
Next: the State of Utah will have to change it's name since the State is named after the Ute tribe.
SPOTREP - it is time that the ordinary, good citizens of this country stand up to the Political Correctness tyranny sweeping across our good land!!!!!
What is even more interesting is the name of the state-Indiana. This PC crowd should go and perform an unnatural act upon themselves.
If a school really wants to be politically correct, it should change its name to the Pinheads and hire Myles Brand as school mascot.
Do they really think a team would name themselves after an insult? It's a compliment.
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