It's about time.
NCAA Bars Colleges' Indian Mascots in Tournaments
Aug. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, a ruling the president of Florida State University called ``outrageous and insulting.''
The NCAA's executive committee said the organization, which governs college sports, is limiting the prohibition to tournaments it controls. It doesn't have the power to institute an outright ban, said University of Hartford President Walter Harrison, chairman of the committee.
Effective immediately, nicknames or mascots that are determined to be ``hostile or abusive'' can't be shown on uniforms or other team-related clothing, Harrison said. He wasn't specific about which nicknames or logos would be affected.
Florida State President T.K. Wetherell, whose school uses the Seminoles as a nickname and Chief Osceola as a mascot, said in a statement that he would pursue ``all legal avenues'' to overturn the rule.
``The executive committee has been swayed by a strident minority of activists who claim to speak for all Native Americans,'' Wetherell said. ``That the NCAA would now label our close bond with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as culturally `hostile and abusive' is both outrageous and insulting.''
Florida State Tradition
Before each home football game, a Florida State student dressed as Osceola rides a horse onto the field and throws a flaming spear into the turf at midfield. The school's media guide says Osceola's attire was approved by the Seminole Tribe.
Tom Hardy, a spokesman for the University of Illinois, nicknamed the Fighting Illini, in a statement said the school would review the NCAA's ruling. Dan Benson, a spokesman for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, said the school is working on a statement.
Several universities, including Marquette and St. John's, recently changed their American Indian nicknames. Marquette went to Golden Eagles from Warriors, while St. John's became the Red Storm after being known as the Redmen.
Harrison said the NCAA would bar schools with such nicknames or logos from hosting postseason events. In addition, Harrison said any school with such a nickname that has already been chosen to host an NCAA event must cover the logos. The school would be responsible for the cost, Harrison said.
Such logos also will be banned from the uniforms of cheerleaders, dance teams and band members beginning in 2008, Harrison said.
The NCAA will be accepting comment from schools on the new rule until Feb. 1, Harrison said.
Aug. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, a ruling the president of Florida State University called ``outrageous and insulting.''
The NCAA's executive committee said the organization, which governs college sports, is limiting the prohibition to tournaments it controls. It doesn't have the power to institute an outright ban, said University of Hartford President Walter Harrison, chairman of the committee.
Effective immediately, nicknames or mascots that are determined to be ``hostile or abusive'' can't be shown on uniforms or other team-related clothing, Harrison said. He wasn't specific about which nicknames or logos would be affected.
Florida State President T.K. Wetherell, whose school uses the Seminoles as a nickname and Chief Osceola as a mascot, said in a statement that he would pursue ``all legal avenues'' to overturn the rule.
``The executive committee has been swayed by a strident minority of activists who claim to speak for all Native Americans,'' Wetherell said. ``That the NCAA would now label our close bond with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as culturally `hostile and abusive' is both outrageous and insulting.''
Florida State Tradition
Before each home football game, a Florida State student dressed as Osceola rides a horse onto the field and throws a flaming spear into the turf at midfield. The school's media guide says Osceola's attire was approved by the Seminole Tribe.
Tom Hardy, a spokesman for the University of Illinois, nicknamed the Fighting Illini, in a statement said the school would review the NCAA's ruling. Dan Benson, a spokesman for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, said the school is working on a statement.
Several universities, including Marquette and St. John's, recently changed their American Indian nicknames. Marquette went to Golden Eagles from Warriors, while St. John's became the Red Storm after being known as the Redmen.
Harrison said the NCAA would bar schools with such nicknames or logos from hosting postseason events. In addition, Harrison said any school with such a nickname that has already been chosen to host an NCAA event must cover the logos. The school would be responsible for the cost, Harrison said.
Such logos also will be banned from the uniforms of cheerleaders, dance teams and band members beginning in 2008, Harrison said.
The NCAA will be accepting comment from schools on the new rule until Feb. 1, Harrison said.