Mascot Issue (AGAIN)

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SkinEmAll

you know, we had some serious pc bullshit decision here at William and Mary, being forced to remove their Feathers!! thats right I said f e a t h e r s. The nickname is the 'Tribe'. really, is that offensive? But florida can still do all their antics, which I dont find offensive either. Oh brother, what is going on here........

I have a better one than that for William & Mary. A person was offended by a cross which has been at the school sense it opened back in (I think the early 1900's) and now the schoold board is considering removing it and will be voting on it this month if they have not allready voted.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I have a better one than that for William & Mary. A person was offended by a cross which has been at the school sense it opened back in (I think the early 1900's) and now the schoold board is considering removing it and will be voting on it this month if they have not allready voted.

I'm sorry I left out the best part the cross that offended the person was in the campus church.

[SkinEmAll]

NCAA rules 'Tribe' not offensive; objects to feathers

News · W&M News · 2006 archive · NCAA ruling on Tribe
Author: Brian Whitson, Source: W&M News
Date: May 17, 2006

Related content
See President's letter to the community concerning the NCAA ruling.

William and Mary will appeal a recent ruling by the NCAA stating that the College should stop using two feathers on its athletic logo. In that same ruling, issued in a letter May 16 to William and Mary President Gene R. Nichol, the NCAA review committee did agree with the College that the nickname “Tribe” is not offensive.

“We learned last evening that the NCAA staff review determined the use of the nickname ‘Tribe’ by our athletic teams was neither ‘hostile or abusive,’” Nichol wrote in an e-mail to the campus community and alumni. “The report did object, however, to the use of the feathers as part of our sports logo. We will appeal the ruling as it applies to the logo.”

Nichol added, “The good news, of course, is the NCAA has agreed with our assessment of the term ‘Tribe.’ The nickname—so close to the heart of this community—will remain the College’s moniker.”

In 2004, the NCAA requested that several member institutions, including William and Mary, submit a self-evaluation to determine if the Native American imagery or nicknames used at the schools were hostile or abusive. Schools found in violation would not be permitted to wear the offending logos during postseason competition or be allowed to host postseason NCAA athletic events on their own campuses.

The College will appeal the ruling regarding the use of the feathers to the NCAA’s executive committee and expects a decision by the end of the summer, said William T. Walker, associate vice president for public affairs at William and Mary.

“It boggles our minds that the NCAA would find objectionable what William and Mary does, and at the same time find acceptable what schools like Florida State University do,” said Walker, referring to FSU’s use of a spear-wielding warrior during football games.

“Perhaps it is the absurdity of judgments like these that is causing the U.S. Congress to consider taking this matter out of the hands of the NCAA,” Walker said. “The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and several of his colleagues have introduced legislation that would forbid the NCAA from regulating mascots and nicknames.”

Several schools, including Florida State, have been removed from the list because the NCAA ruled that “namesake” tribes have given authority to use the nicknames. William and Mary uses the generic nickname Tribe. William and Mary does not have a mascot.

“The nickname Tribe connotes the strong sense of community at William and Mary,” Walker said. “It is meant to signify the affirmative and inclusive nature of our campus community, our strong commitment to each other. We are pleased the NCAA agrees.”
Contact Us © 2007 The College of William & Mary

Anyone else think this is WAY out of line or what?! I hope the U.S. House of Rep. prevails.

[dblanch66]

I am Cherokee and have no problem with the name. Those who are offended by such trifles have too much time on their hands. Why give so much power to a word? Usually it is people who have low self worth and self loathing who get all aggro over silly things like this anyway.

[Bushead]

After killing their whole race, trails of tears, lying and theiving, forcing them on reservations, destroying them, and making resolutions only to break later, hell, if they want the name to be changed, go ahead. Its ****ing football, not life.

[SkinEmAll]

Originally Posted by Bushead

After killing their whole race, trails of tears, lying and theiving, forcing them on reservations, destroying them, and making resolutions only to break later, hell, if they want the name to be changed, go ahead. Its ****ing football, not life.

I agree, this is football were talking about, and those things did happen. But the name Redskins in no way, shape or form represents any of that.

[SkinEmAll]

I usually dont get my pantys in a wad over too many things. But this issue is one exception. I guess my thing is why persecute something whose intention is not meant to be negative? This franchise was born in 1932 as the Boston Braves. George Preston Marshall bought the new team in 1932. A year later he renamed them the Redskins and hired an Indian coach named Lone Star Dietz. They reached the NFL championship in 1936, losing to Green Bay. Not getting much fan support, he moved the team to D.C. in 1937. Enter Sammy Baugh, Cliff Battles and other Redskin greats. I guess my point is the name has always represented something great and proud. The attendance nearly doubled the first year in D.C. from 57,363 for 7 games in Boston to 120,022 for 6 games the first year in D.C. And back then people were much more divded. I just hate to even think that some people consider the name Redskin, as it is associated to the football team, offensive. Im sure the team will never be faced with a name change, but man it just drives me crazy to even think about it.

[Summo]

If the team is "Forced" to change there name and logo's, would you still be a fan of the franchise? Especially the out of state fan's.

[IrishSkins Fan]

My whole problem with this is the sensitivity of everyone in the world today. Come on, every heritage has been persecuted on some level.

Yes the term can be perceived as derogatory, although most slang terms can be derogatory given the context. I hate to say it, but this is the same argument most politicians use. Everything today must be considered in the context that they are used, but it is the implied intent of the comment that should be analyzed.

For example as mentioned earlier, if someone refers to say "Blackskins" and identifies that moniker with a Zulu Warrior, anyone who is educated should know that this is the contemporary equivalent of respect and admiration for warrior who at the time was considered primitive, and later proved to be a worthy adversary of the most fearsome military in the world. I would say that in this context this was a show of respect and admiration for the warrior spirit inherit to this culture and should be appreciated by it's people. But if they are too ignorant to understand context and it's applications in the world today, then I say ---- them!!!!!!

Irish Skins Fan