Posted on 03/10/2002 7:27:34 AM PST by real saxophonist
Team picks white man mascot to make point
Story By Julio Ochoa
An intramural basketball team at the University of Northern Colorado called "The Fighting Whities" is turning the tables on the Eaton mascot issue.
Led by Solomon Little Owl, director of Native American Student Services at UNC, the team chose a white man as its mascot to raise awareness and understanding of stereotypes that some cultures endure.
"The message is, let's do something that will let people see the other side of what it's like to be a mascot," Little Owl said. "I am really offended by this mascot issue, and I hope the people that support the Eaton mascot will get offended by this."
The players, made up of a mixture of American Indian, Hispanic and caucasian students, wear white jerseys with the picture of a white man in a suit on the front and the slogan "Every thang's gonna be all white!" printed beneath.
"It's not meant to be vicious, it is meant to be humorous," said Ray White, a Mohawk American Indian on the team. "It puts people in our shoes, and then we can say, 'Now you know how it is, and now you can make a judgement.' "
Judging right or wrong is hard when you don't understand how it feels to be stereotyped, White said.
"We are looking for understanding," he said. "We want change, but you can't force change."
American Indians could go through the general assembly or town meetings to try to change mascots, but the same message might not get through, White said.
"We all live in the same community and want the same things, so it is good to be standing in each other's shoes for a while," he said.
Charles Cuny, an Ogalala Lakota and member of the team, said he went to an American Indian Catholic high school with a mascot called the Red Cloud Crusaders, after a famous chief of the Lakota Indians.
The problem with Eaton's mascot is a matter of respect, he said.
"There are certain words that are accepted and certain words that are unacceptable," Cuny said. "Really a mascot is something that you look up to, and on one hand that is nice, but maybe we could go about it another way."
Having a white mascot is a way to make people more aware of American Indian issues, he said.
"We live in a politically correct society, and sometimes indians get overlooked," he said. "There are so few indians who have clout that there are a lot of things that go unsettled."
Our son's school used to have sports teams named the Vikings, a name that was carried proudly throughout the city by many winning teams. A few years ago, the powers-that-be decided it might offend some, so the teams are now called the "Lynx" - the "thinking" (if you can call it that) was that the historical Vikings were too violent....
Good point, there was a time the English didn't think so.
Those are all national, national, religious, and national references. Not racial ones.
Let's make it clear that we expect the team to have a 4.0 GPA and have the third highest IQs and SAT scores right after Asians and Jews.
So true--I never killed Indians or held slaves. Yet, I am still sitting here with a guilt complex. However, I think it is long past time that these folks get over themselves and move on.
And again after that up until 1972 when the Washington Senators redux became the Texas Rangers.
Sams club photo Dept. used to make T Shirts. I don't know if they still do.
Most print shops will make them (SILK SCREENING). I used to have them made for my Drag Racing team.
Save Chief Illiniwek, for he is much more noble and more respectful of all peoples than these whiny liberal activists.
Do these people have nothing POSITIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE to do with their time?
Have there been any great contrbutions to American society (especially recent contributions) made by native american indians?
These poeple need to stop taking up valuable oxygen unless they are going to do somthing worthwhile.
...or am I just being insensitive?
I couldn't agree more, but I don't think that's about to happen. Paradoxially, the further away we get from the past of slavery, et al, the more ardent and powerful the PC movement becomes. Sad but true, things are getting worse all the time, not better.
Oh no...you misunderstand. I don't want to pay money for the T-Shirt...I just want one! (Maybe my team mascot should be "Incredibly Cheap WHITIES"). LOL!
I hope these guys win a championship, ha ha ha.
Well being from Viking origin I'd just like to say that Columbus used a Viking Map.
I guess the people that voted that name extinct, werent history teachers,,,,,,,imagine the horror of a culture prior to 1800 using violence to spread its culture, I'm shocked.
UNC Athletic Department Directory
University of Northern Colorado
208C Butler-Hancock Hall
Greeley, CO 80639
All Phone Numbers Area Code 970
General University Phone 351-1890
Athletic Department 351-2534
Athletic Department Fax 351-2018
Administration
Jim Fallis Director of Athletics 351- 2534, Jim.Fallis@unco.edu
Bob Heiny Faculty Athletic Representative 351-2049, Robert.Heiny@unco.edu
I for one, can't wait to get my "Fighting Whitey" jersey!
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