The NCAA has decided to ban the appearance of American Indian mascots at all NCAA championship tournaments starting on or after February 1, 2006. So, say goodbye to Florida State's Chief Osceola, the Fighting Illini's Chief, and other "offensive" mascots. The NCAA will also ban any school that has an American Indian nickname or mascot from hosting post-season events. They also propose to eliminate "offensive" nicknames from cheerleader and band uniforms starting in 2008.
Didn't we already have this discussion? Are we to completely purge sports of any and all references that some small minority finds offensive? Is it derogatory for Florida State to call themselves the Seminoles? And if not, why is it offensive to have as a mascot a representation of a Seminole Indian in traditional costume? In 2002, the Harris Group conducted a poll of American Indians (not just of American Indian activist groups). As reported on a pro-Illini Chief website over 80% of respondents support the use of American Indian nicknames and mascots in high school, college, and professional sports. An Annenberg Election Survey of 768 Native Americans in 2003 and 2004 found that 700 of them did not have any problem with the use of the nickname "Redskins" for Washington, D.C.'s NFL franchise.
Given this information, why is the NCAA still beating the dead horse? And why are long traditions being obliterated by the very organization that is supposed to represent college athletics? These latest bans are simply an indirect attempt to do what the NCAA established that it could not do directly - force all teams that use American Indian nicknames or mascots to change their names in order to eliminate the "offensive" Indian references. However, I am not surprised - any group that involves members of the liberal academic echo chamber is bound to try to forcibly control the thoughts and opinions of students (and in this regard alumni) to those views considered "appropriate" and "inclusive" by the ivory tower elite.
All fans of college sports, whether you attended a school with some American Indian reference or not, should voice their opinions on this travesty to the athletic directors at their alma maters and the bigwigs at the NCAA. For those interested, the NCAA website lists Bernard Franklin as the contact for the Executive Committee (the body making this fool decision). The mailing address is:
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
700 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222
Or contact Mr. Franklin by email at: bfranklin@ncaa.org. You can also use the NCAA's contact webform for Mr. Franklin here.
