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."

[Polybius]

I really don't get the 'Native American' point. We don't name our sports teams after them because we think think they were lazy drunks.

That goes for our attack helicopters too.

[BlessedBeGod]

"The Fighting Whities"

I'm honored!

[lsee]

Chief No-Can-Jump.

LOL!

[BlessedBeGod]

Wasn't LaSalle a French explorer?

Oui.

[sirchtruth]

Don't forget the NFL World Champion Patriots!!!

[singletrack]

Patriots, Canuks, Whalers, Canadiens, Cleveland Browns (I'm not sure how that one works out but I'm still gonna be offended if I can). Buffalo Bills. I hope they copyright the White guy logo and market the image.

[kaylar]

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

[catonsville]

Trojans Spartans Crusaders( name of my softball team, years ago) the Jocks guardsman blades troopers musketers, And so on

[NH Liberty]

This Whitey thinks it's FLATTERING!

Let's have some more of it!

[StriperSniper]

If you find out about T-shirts, give me a ping and/or post a link. It will be worth seeing them in the dilemma of refusing the money or seeing this catch on!

[JamesWilson]

Message to little Owl from Kimosabe--

go to school, stay off the firewater, work hard and don't look to big chief government to fix your problems for you.

LOL!

[TomGuy]

Partial suggestion for The Fighting Whities fight song:

We've white on our meat
We're light on our feet
We're loud
We're proud!
You hear?
FEAR!
Go Whitie! Go Whitie!

[Republic of Texas]

Where can I email these guys to thank them for honoring me, the "fighting whitey!"

[greenishness]

I think all white people (even if you're only 1/2 white) should get behind this squad 100%. If you live anywhere near the area that these games are being played then you should attend. This team could have the largest fanbase in the history of college intramural sports. I want a shirt!!

[Libloather]

When the Whities win, will we witness Whities on Wheaties?

[mlibertarianj]

The Runnin' Rebels of UNLV, I think.

[FITZ]

I always thought "Fighting Irish" sounded pretty good. We could have the "Conquering Caucasians" or "Awesome Anglos".

[jeremiah]

I would be proud to wear this jersey. Methinks they are teaching a lesson that they should learn.

[Dubya]

A FIGHTING WHITE MAN

A weary marine following the battle for Saipan island in the South Pacific in 1944, a defeat so devastating to Japan that Prime Minister Tojo Hideki and his entire Cabinet resigned.

[rvoitier]

My father played minor league baseball for the Atlanta Crackers in the 40's. hehe.