Every once in a while a little controversy leaks into the otherwise predictable columns of our newspaper's sports pages. Amidst the box scores and the stories of drug arrests and spousal abuse, we are occasionally treated to a piece on the appropriateness of school mascots. For as long as I can remember there has been a debate over high school and college nicknames. One group or another is offended by the depiction of their race or ethnic tribe, (already I'm in trouble), as the symbol of this or that school. Charges of racism are countered by appeals to tradition.
Some are easily adjudicated such as the high school in Pekin, Illnois which, because of the similarity to the Chinese capital, called themselves the Pekin Chinks. You can't make this stuff up! Although the more egregious sins in mascotry are easily identified and disposed of, some are a closer call. The only thing that appears clear is that when states, school boards, and governing bodies try to legislate a solution, chaos ensues. No problem was ever so bad that a little interference from government couldn't make it worse.
Most of America probably sees this as much ado about nothing. I, for one, think that the marketplace should deal with the problem. If Washington Redskins fans stopped buying tickets to Dan Snyder's football venue, the name of the team would get changed faster than George Bush's Iraq policy. Commerce usually affects swifter change than righteous indignation. "Redskins" seems a particularly troubling name especially in Washington. Many of the broken treaties signed by tribes from Illinios to Montana are still stored at the Department of the Interior. Besides, in Washington, political correctness is a religion. Would anyone tolerate the "Washington Wetbacks"?
Rather than take a position on this issue, (I have none), I will instead cite a few examples of how this issue is playing out around America:
North Dakota University
Known as the "Fighting Sioux". Back in 1995 the university president received a $120 million donation from Ralph Engelstad to build a new hockey arena. At the same time, several Native American students were successfully lobbying to remove the "offensive" school logo from the building. Mr. Engelstad, a proud alumnus,(but not a Native American), explained in the clearest possible terms: no Fighting Sioux, no money. Faced with a difficult choice the school's president thought long and hard over this moral dilemma. If you are wondering how the story ended, please visit the University of North Dakota's web site and see how the Fighting Sioux fared this week in their beautiful new hockey facility. Score one for "tradition".
University of Illinois
In a school where a recent Greek society party dubbed "Mexican taco and tequila nite" featured its guests dressed as pregnant women and gardeners, little can be expected in the way of cultural diversity and understanding. Nevertheless, opposition to Chief Illiniwek, the schools dancing Native American mascot, has been met with particular viciousness. Save-the-Chief web sites are littered with invectives toward Native Americans. Phrases like "casino-owning, drunks" are not uncommon. The recent request by the Oglala Sioux Nation to return the costume worn by the Chief at sporting events prompted one supporter to call them "Indian givers". Where will it end?
Florida State University
The Seminoles of Florida State have concocted a way around both the NCAA and those sensitive souls who feel harassed by the school's Indian-head mascot. FSU has actively sought buy-in from the Seminole Nation regarding how the school uses images of the tribe. All presentations of the Seminole name and likeness are approved by the tribe's council (and presumably by their lawyers). Predictably, there is some "buy" in the buy-in. The tribe isn't lending the use of its image for nothing. Nevertheless the NCAA seems satisfied and no one is flogging FSU to become the FSU Evergladers.
NCAA
America's favorite collegiate governing body has created a tangled, indecipherable collection of rules intended to mollify all parties in this dispute. Naturally, the effect is exactly the opposite. They have arm-twisted several schools like St. John's (formerly Redmen now Red Storm) and Marquette (formerly the Warriors now the Golden Eagles) into a mascot-ectomy. Of only minor note is the fact that St. John's Redmen were so named because the football team used to wear red jerseys. In other words no Native Americans were harmed in the creation of this logo. But why cloud the issue with facts. Regarding the Marquette Golden Eagles, the aviary community has yet to voice an opinion.
Notre Dame
The university has stated on many occasions that their logo is about Leprechauns, not about any nationality. One imagines that they actually say that with a straight face.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to whether I can decide if you are offended. Clearly, if a logo or nickname causes any group to feel ashamed, the name should be changed. Tradition be damned. We don't condone Confederate flags flying over state capitals any more. We've modernized Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben so that they don't look like house slaves. Schools and pro sports teams will survive change as well.
In the meantime will somebody do something about the banana-nose Indian logo used by the Cleveland Indians? Well, maybe I have an opinion after all.
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