Team picks white man mascot to make point

Greeley Tribune ^ | 10 Mar 02 | Julio Ochoa

[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."

[Classicaliberalconservative]

I got to NYU right now and we still are the Violets. Considering our local population this is somewhat appropriate. I am proud to go to NYU, it is a great place to get an education but I wish that they would change the name of the team. It sounds to darn weird.

[1Old Pro]

Bump as Rush discusses this....

[Nowhere Man]

I love it, it's about time. BTW, I like the retro 1950's looking White guy, very chic. B-)

[SoCal Pubbie]

"Are there any teams out there using a confederate soldier as a mascot? Were there?"

The Savanna High Rebels in Anaheim, CA. Their colors are red and grey and have always had a confederate soldier as their mascot.

[Chemist_Geek]

Teams pick mascots that have some virtue that they want, for example courage, intelligence, strength, power, skill.

If some American Indian on this team needs a white guy as a mascot to give him an identity with a virtue that he is in need of, then let him have the mascot. He is really flattering white guys.

Hear, hear!

[Chemist_Geek]

BTW, I like the retro 1950's looking White guy, very chic.

I agree. All he needs now is a pipe and a martini. (:D)

[Nakota]

Acutually, it was not the University the stood up to the pc crowd at UND. The president of UND had taken the matter "under advisement" and was about to announce his decision on the matter. The donor, not having accumulated the assets that would allow him to make a $100 million contribution to his alma mater without having been around the block a few times, did not contact the university directly but made his decision known to the state board of education. The state board then directed the President of UND on what his decision would be. As usual, it was a small but vocal minority that objected to the nickname "Fighiting Sioux". The logo itself was drawn by a member of the tribe with the blessing of tribal elders, who were rather proud of the nickname and the school's athletic teams. The hockey team is the only Division 1 team in the state and is often a contender for the national title. (Some of this may also go back several hundred years since the state has a population of both Lakota and Ojibiway people, who were traditional enemies before the coming of the white men, and no school has chosen an Ojibiway mascot.)

[Nakota]

Acutually, it was not the University the stood up to the pc crowd at UND. The president of UND had taken the matter "under advisement" and was about to announce his decision on the matter. The donor, not having accumulated the assets that would allow him to make a $100 million contribution to his alma mater without having been around the block a few times, did not contact the university directly but made his decision known to the state board of education. The state board then directed the President of UND on what his decision would be. As usual, it was a small but vocal minority that objected to the nickname "Fighiting Sioux". The logo itself was drawn by a member of the tribe with the blessing of tribal elders, who were rather proud of the nickname and the school's athletic teams. The hockey team is the only Division 1 team in the state and is often a contender for the national title. (Some of this may also go back several hundred years since the state has a population of both Lakota and Ojibiway people, who were traditional enemies before the coming of the white men, and no school has chosen an Ojibiway mascot.)

[Pablo64]

OK. It makes a little more sense now. I guess that even with the PC crowd, money still talks. Regardless, the outcome was correct. I only wish I could say the same for my alma mater.

[Nowhere Man]

I agree. All he needs now is a pipe and a martini. (:D)

Don't forget the grey-flannel suit either. B-)