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1999 Articles on the Internet - 1999 Year In Review |
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| American Indians are violent crime victims at double the rate of the general population | Released on 2/14/99 |
| Bureau of Justice Statistics | United States Department of Justice |
Could the
use of dehumanizing mascots, logos, and nicknames contribute to the fact |
|
| Policy on Using Athletic Teams with American Indian or Alaska Native Names in Promoting Census 2000 | Received 20 December 1999 |
| Susan M. Miskura | U.S. Census Bureau |
| "American Indians and Alaska Natives point out that sports teams' names and imagery that refer to and stereotype American Indians and Alaska Natives are deeply disparaging and offensive. The Bureau appreciates these concerns and recognizes the necessity for establishing a position." | |
| School selects Patriot to replace Indian icon | 12/18/99 |
| Jodi Rave Lee | Lincoln Journal - Nebraska |
| "Millard South High School, one of the state's largest schools, announced Friday it would replace its Indian mascot with one of a Patriot instead." | |
| Group wants Montgomery County teams to drop Indian nicknames | 12/15/99 |
| Isak Howell | Roanoke Times - Virginia |
| Holding up a seat cushion emblazoned with the image of an Indian man in a headdress, a university professor tells a school board, "'This is not an honor to be represented as noble savages.'" | |
| Towns remain divided over Redskin nickname | 12/15/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Boston Globe - Massachusetts |
| Illustrating the divisive and distracting nature of the issue, a school board chairman resigns in frustration after a vote to change the school's derogatory nickname is postponed. | |
| Judge upholds decision to dismiss challenge to board member recall | 12/15/99 |
| Statewire - Author not cited | Star Tribune - Wisconsin |
| Wasting much time and energy, a recall vote, inspired by a group of Wisconsin citizens selfishly insisting on retaining an "Indian" sports team token, gets the go-ahead. | |
| Police investigate racist propaganda | 12/10/99 |
| Amanda Criner | Daily Illini - University of Illinois |
| "'One of the fliers was a picture of Benjamin Smith proclaiming him a 'University Martyr.' Another flier depicted a man with a gun pointed at a Native American and the words 'Manifest Destiny: Go! Fight! Win!'" | |
| INMED tribal board: Drop nickname | 12/07/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) |
| "The tribal board of advisors for UND's Indians into Medicine program has urged the school to drop its Fighting Sioux nickname and logos." | |
UND NICKNAME: No consensus at Standing RockTribal members have mixed views about Sioux moniker |
12/07/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) ) |
| Stating the obvious that no group of people ever agrees absolutely on any given issue, this article provides a couple of divergent viewpoints. | |
| Badge
of honor . . . or disgrace? Nickname and controversy have long history at UND |
12/05/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) ) |
| This is a recap of the divisive, 28 year-long controversy concerning the University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname, logos, and related issues. | |
| State rejects plea of recall targets | 12/05/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Star Tribune (Minnesota) |
| Board members who voted to change a school's "Indian" sports team token continue to be threatened by a citizen's group whose selfish actions serve to disrupt the democratic process. | |
| Faculty members ask Kupchella to drop nickname | 12/03/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) |
| Amid urging by faculty and resignations from recruitment volunteers over the school's new logo, words from the university's president encourages cautious optimism. | |
Let's grow up, change the Sioux nickname and move on |
11/29/99 |
| Steve Foss | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) |
| "The fact that some reasonable cultures are offended by the use of the Sioux nickname and want it changed should be enough to guide the actions of any thoughtful person -- and any university. " | |
| State
superintendent chides recall efforts Special elections in Milton, Parkview school districts trivialize voting, he says |
11/24/99 |
| Kathleen Ostrander | Journal-Sentinel (Wisconsin) |
| In an uncharacteristic move that indicates the seriousness of the maneuver, the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction reprimands citizens involved in recall votes. | |
| Recall election for members who voted to rename mascot | 11/24/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Star Tribune (Minnesota) |
| Undermining the entire democratic process in order to pursue their selfish obsession with an "Indian" sports team token, voters in Milton, Wisconsin, take another step toward recalling board members. | |
| Alternative logo is all about money | 11/24/99 |
| Kevin Fee | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) |
| "The bottom line: Not having the old Blackhawk logo or the new logo isn't as offensive to me as having the nickname and logos is to some Native Americans." | |
| Jeanotte: Sioux nickname, logo dehumanize | 11/24/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) |
| "UND Native American Programs Director Leigh Jeanotte said Tuesday his "heartfelt belief" is that UND's use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo is "dehumanizing." | |
| New logo may not be used this year | 11/24/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) |
| "UND officials said Tuesday the school's controversial new Indian-head logo unveiled on Monday may not be used at all after a third day of heated complaints from some students, faculty members and staff." | |
| It's time for action on symbolism at Erwin High | 11/23/99 |
| Editorial | Citizen-Times (North Carolina) |
| "It's long past time for the school board to follow its own non-discrimination policy and insist that the school remove all American Indian symbolism from its premises, its printed material and its activities." | |
| Logo controversy continues | 11/22/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) |
| The new president of the University of North Dakota inherits a heated controversy concerning the school's use of the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and various "Indian" logos. | |
| Report concludes Erwin High imagery is offensive | 11/19/99 |
| Clarke Morrison | Citizen-Times (North Carolina) |
| Despite a U.S. Department of Justice agreement and the findings of an American Indian, lawyer and professor of American studies and religious studies at Yale, the decision-makers at this North Carolina school continue to display selfish ignorance and contempt. | |
| What's in a name? | 11/18/99 |
| Greg Garber | ESPN |
| A meaningless and predictable poll notwithstanding, this article lends addition coverage to ESPN's "Outside the Lines - The Native American Sports Experience." | |
| Official urges Indian nicknames be dropped | 11/15/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Wichita Eagle (Kansas) |
| "The state's new director of Indian Affairs is calling on Kansas schools to drop nicknames that he says are offensive to American Indians." | |
| What's in a name? Dispute | 11/14/99 |
| Stephen Holman | Tulsa World (Oklahoma) |
| "Union officials say there [sic] school, whose nickname is the Redskins, takes care to depict Indians in a respectful manner, but Cherokee Chief Chad Smith says the mascot mentality must go away if race relations in the country are to improve." | |
| Frontier nears mascot choice | 11/10/99 |
| Michelle Aguilar | GazetteNet (Deerfield, MA) |
| Three years of contentious debate and the threat of a lawsuit over a school's "Reds****" nickname appear to be near an end as board members prepare to act on a 1997 decision. | |
| School's Savages mascot causes hard feelings in Idaho | 11/09/99 |
| Associate Press - Author not cited | The Oregonian (Fort Hall, Idaho) |
| Salmon High student representatives visit the Shoshone-Bannock school and hear a former cheerleader/mascot say, "'I shamed myself in front of my people,...And I tell you today, I'm ashamed of myself.'" | |
| Mascots
still a contentious issue School symbols promoting stereotypes, professor says. |
11/08/99 |
| Matt Moline | Capitol-Journal (Kansas) |
| After 20 years addressing the issue, an associate professor at the University of Kansas notes the public is starting to take notice. | |
| Wahoo - Chant - Chop, Bad Medicine for Cleveland & Atlanta Baseball? | 10/28/99 |
| Press release | NCRSM |
| "What do these two baseball teams have in common? Besides being two of the greatest baseball teams to come along, they have both turned their team names and logos, chants & chops into a curse." | |
Indian Chief Faults Braves' Chant |
10/28/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Newsday |
| "...Braves' loss in a four-game sweep by the New York Yankees "'is a dramatic reminder that your war chant is more of a lament than a victory cry.'" | |
Petitions filed to oust 3 from School Board Group wants to remove those who voted to drop school's Indian logo, name |
10/22/99 |
| Kathleen Ostrander | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| Behaving like spoiled children who have been told they cannot play with a toy that isn't theirs, a group of "concerned citizens" opts to prolong a divisive, race-related controversy. | |
| Coalition pushes to change Indian mascot names | 10/21/99 |
| Isak Howell | Roanoke Times |
| Although faced with a school board that is attempting to side-step its responsibility by avoiding making a policy decision on matters concerning discrimination and institutional racism, a group of advocates begin to address the issue in southwestern Virginia. | |
| Indian mascots Do they honor or demean Native Americans? |
10/21/99 |
| David Stevens | Amarillo Daily News |
| Failing to understand that there will likely never be absolute consensus and that if one looks hard enough a Native American will be found who sees nothing wrong with "Indian" tokens, the author of this subtly biased article tends to dwell too heavily upon that irrelevancy. | |
| American Indian advocate threatens lawsuit over team names | 10/20/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | The Boston Globe |
| One of the ten schools in Maine that had been put on notice in August now faces the prospect of a lawsuit because of its "Indians" sports team token. | |
| Indians wear curse on sleeve | 10/18/99 |
| Afi-Odelia Scruggs | The Plain Dealer |
| In the wake of the Cleveland baseball team's stunning loss in the playoffs, this fine article notes that Cleveland hasn't won a World Series since 1948 - the year after Wahoo was first used - and suggests it is time for it to be changed to something of which all can be proud. | |
| Rickards to adopt a new mascot | 10/06/99 |
| Karla Scoon Reid | Tallahassee Democrat |
| A 40 year tradition comes to an end as a Florida school board makes a wise and progressive decision to change a school's "Reds****" nickname. | |
| Chief Wahoo opponents protest outside Jacobs Field | 10/06/99 |
| Author not cited | Fox News |
| Another rally is held in Cleveland to protest the "Indians" use of its egregious "Chief Wahoo" logo. | |
| Debate continues over school logo in Marquette | 10/06/99 |
| Author not cited | MSNBC |
| A discussion sponsored by two Northern Michigan University diversity groups and the campus association for Native American students draws 90 people and starts to change some minds. | |
| Seattle U. narrows list of mascot candidates | 10/04/99 |
| Roberto Sanchez | Seattle Times |
| Showing respect for concerns from students and Native American leaders who said its "Chieftains" mascot was derogatory, a university tradition begun in 1938 nears its end. Also see details on the new mascot choice process from Seattle University's website. | |
| Rally held for those who want to recall school board members | 10/03/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Star Tribune |
| A group working to reverse progressive humanitarian actions taken by a school board finds itself thwarted by the state education department and law. | |
| Evaluation team ends three-day visit to UI | 10/01/99 |
| Julie Wurth | News Gazette |
| Because of its "Indian" mascot, the educational environment at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, is called into question before an accreditation agency. | |
| Grow up, America: Indians are human beings, not mascots | 9/30/99 |
| Tim Giago | Duluth News |
| After 15 years of addressing the issue, the author, former editor of "Indian Country Today," notes the progress that's been made and the voices that will continue to call for change. | |
| Ethnic mascots demean American Indians | 9/28/99 |
| Jeff J. Corntassel | Roanoke Times |
| In a well-stated article, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (Wolf Clan) and assistant professor of political science at Virginia Tech provides good insights into the issue. | |
| Logo issue in Marquette draws national attention | 9/28/99 |
| Author not cited | MSNBC |
| A Michigan school district continues to attract bad publicity over its "Redmen" logo as advocates prepare to file a lawsuit with the Department of Justice. | |
| Parent objects to name of Danville school mascot | 9/27/99 |
| Associated Press -Author not cited | Boston Globe |
| After having her concerns repeatedly ignored by a Vermont public school, the mother of a First Nation's student renews her efforts to retire the school's "Injun Joe" mascot. | |
| Fund would defend school's mascot | 9/27/99 |
| Associated Press -Author not cited | The Oregonian |
| Contending that, "the 'savage' mascot denotes aggressiveness and something to be feared," a radio station press release unintentionally proves a point about the common stereotypes associated with "Indian" sports team tokens. | |
| Radio station to fund fight over 'Savages' | 9/26/99 |
| Author not cited | Spokane.net |
| In a state well-known for its white supremacists, a radio station decides to offer support where none is requested so that a public school might keep its "Indian/Savage" logo. | |
| New nickname introduced during homecoming | 9/25/99 |
| Statewire - Author not cited | Star Tribune |
| While little opposition to a school's new nickname seems present, local citizens begin a "might makes right" bullying campaign to ensure their selfish dominance. | |
| What's in a name? Huron controversy rising again at Eastern, other schools | 9/23/99 |
| David Horn | Michigan Daily |
| Although it concludes with a reference to the hackneyed "politically correct" buzzword, this article features comments from several sources and gives insight into the issue's complexity. | |
| Cheerleaders say they won't use new Milton nickname | 9/23/99 |
| Statewire - Author not cited | Star Tribune |
| Three cheerleaders air concerns about harassment if they were to use the school's new nickname and say they will continue to use the old, race-related team name. | |
| Students pick nickname Red Hawks to replace Redmen at Milton High | 9/21/99 |
| Kathleen Ostrander | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| Despite almost a decade of controversy that was settled by district decision-makers in July, reactionary citizens tell of plans to recall board members who voted for change. | |
| 'Redskin' mascot foe wins NAACP as ally | 9/20/99 |
| Roy Wenzl | Wichita Eagle |
| The longstanding controversy over the Wichita North High "Reds****" nickname climbs to a new level as the national president of the NAACP indicates support is forthcoming. | |
| Tribal official wants towns to rethink school mascots | 9/19/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Spokane.net |
| "A Nez Perce tribal official wants communities to reconsider the choice of mascots and nicknames for their high school teams that Indians or others might consider derogatory." This is taking place in Idaho where the Salmon River High School nickname is "Savages." | |
| Students narrow logo choices to Red Hawks and Mavericks | 9/18/99 |
| Statewire - Author not cited | Star Tribune |
| After nine years of effort and community divisiveness, a Wisconsin school prepares to adopt a new nickname to replace its former "Redmen" moniker. | |
| Salmon schools will abandon Savages mascot | 9/16/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Spokanenet |
| Faced with the prospect of a lawsuit, an Idaho school board opts to change its "Indian" logo associated with the school's sport teams' "Savages" nickname. | |
| Name-callers are more than poor sports | 9/14/99 |
| Leonard Pitts Jr. | Detroit Free Press |
| A thoughtful and well-stated article that makes some interesting points and calls for the retirement of the Washington, DC, NFL team nickname and others of its type. | |
| Logo controversy continues in Marquette | 9/14/99 |
| Author not cited | MSNBC, Marquette, MI |
| A Michigan school board continues to bring divisiveness and negative publicity upon itself and community by selfishly clinging to an outdated racial icon. | |
| Supporters won't let go of EMU's old nickname | 9/07/99 |
| Amy Whitesall | Ann Arbor News |
| Working to overturn a well-reasoned 1991 decision by the school's president and board of regents, a group continues to maneuver for a return of Eastern Michigan University's "Huron" nickname. | |
| Indian groups threaten legal action over high school team names | 8/23/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Boston Globe |
| Although upset by an advocate's suggestion that ''malfeasant use of the word 'Redskins' is nothing more than a display of disgusting racism that only a racist could ignore,'' decision-makers at a Maine high school indicate some understanding and willingness to consider change. | |
| Letter from Indian group startles school board, administration | 8/19/99 |
| Sue Cereste | Lincoln County News |
| A strongly worded letter gets the attention of the 10 Maine schools to whom it was sent because of their use of "Indian" sports team tokens. | |
| Schools
Logo Roils Wisconsin Town Board Decision to Drop "Redmen" spurs vote effort |
8/16/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Chicago Tribune |
| Contending that the school's former nickname, "Redmen," is neither sexist nor racist, a group attempts to force a referendum to overturn the school board's decision to seek a different name. | |
| Salmon Savages - High school mascot draws criticism | 8/11/99 |
| Candace Burns | Post Register |
| A public school in Idaho comes under fire from members of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media because of the school's "Savages" "Indian" logo. | |
| Legislator wants Indian names outlawed | 8/2/99 |
| Author not cited | Star Tribune |
| A Wisconsin State legislator courageously follows his conscience and sponsors a bill that would make it easier and safer to contest "Indian" mascots in Wisconsin public schools. | |
| Wayne State puts nickname back in business | 7/31/99 |
| Bob Wolfley | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| A Detroit, Michigan university wisely adopts a rarely seen "Warrior" logo that uses something other than an "Indian" . | |
| Logo issues best left to school districts | 7/27/99 |
| Tom Still | Pioneer Planet |
| Showing an extreme lack of understanding and insight, a political writer reveals simplistic and unenlightened views regarding the "majority rules" mentality. | |
| Mascot issue likely to rise in more towns | 7/21/99 |
| Christine Wolff | Cincinnati Enquirer |
| Despite the selfish, inconsiderate actions of a Cincinnati area school board which moved to retain its "Reds****" hateword nickname, First Nations advocates will continue their efforts. | |
| Milton board decides to retire Indian logo, name | 7/20/99 |
| Kathleen Ostrander | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| After almost a decade of divisive controversy, a school school board musters the courage to do the right, if difficult and unpopular, thing. | |
| Why teachers can't ignore Indian mascots | 7/99 |
| Cornel Pewewardy, Ph.D. | Oklahoma Indian Times |
| This fine article by a leading advocate, former elementary teacher, high school coach, principal, and university educator is a condensed version of a more extensive article found here. | |
| Anderson High to stay Redskins | 7/20/99 |
| Christine Wolff | Cincinnati Enquirer |
| Ignoring the concerns of American Indian peoples, a school board lives up to accusations of racism and votes to retain its schools hateword nickname.. | |
| Native American: 'Redskin' degrading | 7/17/99 |
| Len Penix and Denise Wilson | Cincinnati Post |
| A First Nations leader in the effort to retire a Cincinnati area school's hateword nickname shares some of his views and goals. | |
| Racist tag
rejected in Anderson School defends 'Redskin' mascot |
7/17/99 |
| Christine Wolff | Cincinnati Enquirer |
| Instead of heeding the concerns of contemporary First Nations peoples, a group which includes teachers, shows its ignorance, hypocrisy, and selfish, inconsiderate motivations. | |
| School returns to Indian logo | 7/14/99 |
| Author not cited | Chicago Tribune |
| Led by a lawyer board member, the Marquette Michigan school board elects to prolong the divisive controversy and recinds two prior actions taken to retire it high school's "Indian" logo. | |
| Linguists threaten to boycott UI | 7/12/99 |
| Julie Wurth | News Gazette |
| Members of the prestigeous Society for the Study of Indigenous Languages of the Americas express their outrage over the stereotypical "Indian" mascot used by the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. | |
| Group forms to battle for Redskins name | 7/12/99 |
| Staff writer - author not cited | Cincinnati Post |
| Using some of the most specious, stereotypical, and trivializing arguments, a booster group shows how their selfish desires to preserve an outdated racial icon are more important than the concerns of living American Indian peoples. | |
| Group forms to save Redskins name | 7/11/99 |
| Christine Wolff | Cincinnati Enquirer |
| In a knee-jerk reaction, a group, which includes a teacher, forms to support Anderson High's racially derogatory sports team nickname. | |
| Mascot Proves Tough Foe | 7/06/99 |
| Sarah Downey | Chicago Tribune |
| The controversy concerning a Chicago area school's use of the "Reds****" racial slur nickname continues. | |
| Mascot Debate Needs Care on Both Sides | 6/22/99 |
| Editorial | Omaha World Herald |
| Writing in response to a name change at Millard High, one of Nebraska's largest schools, the author touches on related subjects and urges that not all First Nations' place names be removed. | |
| Activists Team Up Against 'Redskins | 6/20/99 |
| Daniel A. Grech | Washington Post |
| Representatives of the 14 top national Native American groups and a number of religious and ethnic associations gather in Washinton, D.C. to increase base support for a name change. | |
| Seattle U hangs up its mascot. Tribes and alumni give a cheer. | 6/10/99 |
| James Bush | Seattle Weekly |
| To the credit of the school and appreciation of local First Nations, Seattle University seemingly prepares to find a replacement for its "Chieftains" nickname which had been in use since 1938. | |
| Intertribal society protesting Indians as mascots | 6/2/99 |
| Gabriel Morley | Daily News |
| 66 Louisiana schools using "Indian" sports team tokens come under fire as a group of American Indians give notice of their concerns to the Louisiana Department of Education. | |
| Are Chief Wahoo's days numbered? New owner will have to make choice | 5/28/99 |
| John Affleck, Associated Press | Fox News |
| Concerns regarding the "Chief Wahoo" icon as it potentially impacts the team's marketablity and sale of merchandise are brought into focus. | |
| Mascot changes provoke concern and enthusiasm | 5/27/99 |
| Meghan Sweet | Seattle University Spectator |
| An effort to retire the "Indian" sports team token used by a Jesuit University in Washington State appears to make progress. | |
| Snyder passes on golden opportunity | 5/26/99 |
| Jarrett Bell | USA Today |
| Another journalist lends his support toward efforts designed to replace the Washington, D.C. NFL team's hateful nickname. Click here to send comments to the team's new owner. | |
| Redskins in
need of a new name, too Fresh ownership has the chance to end the use of an embarrassing racial slur |
5/26/99 |
| Rob Nikoleski | MSNBC |
| Despite citing some faulty comparisons and stereotypic arguments, this sports anchor adds his name to the growing number of journalists who want change for the Washington, D.C., NFL team. | |
| Indian
Mascot Stays At School in Crockett Board rejects students' second try |
5/26/99 |
| Tanya Schevitz | San Francisco Chronicle |
| Disregarding a strong attempt by students and faculty, in a narrow vote a school board shows it prefers a self-serving, stereotypic "Indian" logo over the concerns of real, living American Indian people. | |
| The issue is clear: 'Redskin' offensive, disrespectful | 5/25/99 |
| William Weathers | Kentucky Post |
| A columnist for a Cincinnati area newspaper lends his support toward the effort to retire the "reds****" name from a public school. Article also contains proof as to the word's bloody origins. | |
| Milton board keeps Redmen name, logo | 5/25/99 |
| Kathleen Ostrander | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| Despite the opinion of its faculty and area clergy, the Milton school board has shown that it cares more about its school's "Indian" mascot than it does about real, living American Indian people. | |
| In the name of sensitivity Area schools dropping Indian mascots |
5/24/99 |
| Jacquielynn Floyd | Dallas Morning News |
| Following through on a 1997 decision, Dallas public schools will have respectfully retired 10 "Indian" sports team tokens by the beginning of the 1999-2000 school year. | |
| Another effort made to change Milton logo | 5/24/99 |
| Kathleen Ostrander | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| With 90% of the staff and 15 of 18 coaches favoring change, it appears that a divisive ten year controversy over Milton High's "Redmen" nickname and "stoic warrior" logo will soon be ended. | |
| NC to drop Indians as its mascot | 5/21/99 |
| Kevin Blocker | Spokesman-Review |
| North Central High in Spokane, Washington, undergoes a seven year controversy only to make a confused decision said to switch its "Indian" sports team token from a "mascot" into a "symbol." | |
| Seattle U. might stop using Chieftain as mascot | 5/21/99 |
| Roberto Sanchez | Seattle Times |
| The effort revived in November 1998 to retire Seattle University's "Chieftain" nickname and stereotypic logo appears about to bear fruit as a task force prepares to make its decision. | |
| Editorial: Protecting traditions | 5/20/99 |
| Editorial | The Cincinnati Post |
| This supportive editorial concludes that while changing Anderson High's nickname will mean the end of a tradition it will also be the beginning of a new and better one: respect for others. | |
| Anderson wrong to keep 'Redskins' | 5/19/99 |
| Tim Sullivan | The Cincinnati Enquirer |
| A columnist for a Cincinnati paper takes a courageous, if difficult and unpopular stand, by supporting changes to the Anderson High school "Reds****" nickname. | |
| Heritage, tradition clash in nickname dispute | 5/19/99 |
| Tom O'Neill | The Cincinnati Enquirer |
| This story about the mascot controversy at Anderson High in Cincinnati features an "Indian" statue used by the school which ironically has a slave-like chain around its ankle. | |
| Anderson asked to drop Redskins as a nickname | 5/18/99 |
| Andrew Conte | The Cincinnati Post |
| Advocates in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area confront a local school's use of its "Reds****" nickname and speak of the effort to eliminate all such "Indian" tokens from Ohio schools by 2003. | |
| Indian activist asks Anderson to drop 'Redskin' | 5/18/99 |
| Perry Brothers | The Cincinnati Enquirer |
| Advocates in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area confront a local school's use of its "Reds****" nickname and speak of the effort to eliminate all such "Indian" tokens from Ohio schools by 2003. | |
| Tale of Indians'
name off base Legend of Louis Sockalexis as origin of nickname strikes out with baseball historians |
5/17/99 |
| Bob Dolgan | Plain Dealer |
| The public relations hype promoted by the Cleveland MBL team about Louis Sockalexis being the team's namesake comes under the scrutiny of scholarly researchers who debunk the myth. | |
| Indians nickname called into question | 5/17/99 |
| Author not cited | USA Today |
| A report published in the Sociology of Sports Journal disproves contentions made by the Cleveland baseball team concerning how and why the "Indians" nickname was first chosen. | |
| Users strike back | 5/17/99 |
| John Donovan | CNN/Sports Illustrated |
| A sports writer receives feedback and flak because of a previous article he had written concerning Florida State Unversity's "Seminoles" mascot and nickname. | |
| American-Indian nickname under fire: Rickards High may no longer be the home of the Redskins. | 5/16/99 |
| Karla Scoon Reid | Tallahassee Democrat |
| The use of an egregious race related nickname by a predominantly black high school in Leon County Florida is questioned by members of the American Indian Movement and National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media. | |
| High school revises debate over nickname, logo | 5/16/99 |
| Author not cited | Star Tribune |
| A nine year controversy continues as the vast majority of non-administrative professional staff, teachers and guidance counselors at Milton High in Wisconsin show their support for dropping the school's "Redmen" nickname and logo. | |
| Population, nickname are challenges for new president | 5/14/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald |
| Even before he assumes his new position in July 1999, Charles Kupchella, the incoming president of the University of North Dakota, acknowledges the "Fighting Sioux" controversy. | |
| Decision followed a month of debate over discrimination, racism | 5/13/99 |
| Lyndee Stephens | Alvarado Star-Bulletin |
| Without considering information offered by individuals who had travelled as far as 2,000 miles to speak, the Alvarado, Texas, school board opts to keep its "Indian" token. "It just proves what we've been saying," said Keith Redbull, "They see the mascot as more of a real Indian than these people who came here to talk to them." | |
| Term of non-endearment? | 5/12/99 |
| Erik Brady | USA Today |
| This supportive and lengthy article focuses on the work of Susan Shown Harjo who is a leading advocate on the mascot issue and principal in the Washington Reds**** trademark lawsuit. | |
| Millard South doing right by dropping mascot | 5/08/99 |
| Editorial | Lincoln Journal Star |
| This editorial supports a change of mascots being contemplated by one of Nebraska's largest schools, Millard South High in Omaha. | |
| Millard South likely to drop Indian mascot | 5/07/99 |
| Jodi Rave | Lincoln Journal Star |
| Following the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs April 19 resolution calling for all Nebraska schools to stop using Native American logos, symbols, and names, one of the largest schools in the state appears on the verge of making the change. | |
| Legislature: Senate votes to put Seminoles nickname into law, but bill dies in House | 5/01/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Naples Daily News |
| Sponsored by a Florida State alumnus, a bill that that would have made that school's "Seminoles" nickname and "Chief Osceola" mascot law is killed when the House takes no action. | |
| Indian psychologists support retiring of offensive team mascots | 4/99 |
| Author not cited | American Psychological Association "Monitor" |
| The Society of Indian Psychologists of the Americas' position statement on mascots is covered in this article from the American Psychological Association "Monitor" magazine. | |
| Washington woman will address trustees on mascot issue | 4/29/99 |
| Lyndee Stephens | Alvarado Star-Bulletin |
| A Washington state woman plans to make a 2,000 journey to speak on behalf of a student concerned about a grotesque mascot and stereotypic logo used by the Alvarado, Texas, schools. | |
| Hendrix considers changing mascot | 4/24/99 |
| Jay Meisel | Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |
| Another college adheres to the official policy of the United Methodist Church, of which it's part, as it begins the process of addressing the school's use of its "Warriors" nickname and "Indian" logo. | |
| Nickname activist to speak at UND today | 4/23/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Grand Forks Herald |
| Charlene Teters, "An activist nationally known for her stand against universities that use Native Americans as nicknames and mascots will speak at UND, " home of the "Fighting Sioux." | |
| Teens charged with e-mail threats | 4/22/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Chanute Tribune |
| Following the publication of a letter critical of a Kansas school's "Reds****" nickname, two teenage boys sent e-mails threatening to rape the advocate's wife and have been arrested. | |
| 'Noles facing politically correct times | 4/21/99 |
| David Whitley | Tampa Tribune |
| Besides mentioning the hatemail received by award winning columnist Gerald Ensley because of his stand on FSU's "Seminoles" nickname, this article concludes with a very insightful true story. | |
| Wahoo is out of style at library | 4/20/99 |
| Michael Sangiacomo | Plain Dealer |
| The Cleveland area "Cuyahoga County Public Library" takes a courageous action by enacting a dress code that prohibits its 700 employees from wearing garments bearing "Wahoo" images. | |
| It's time for FSU to adopt a new nickname | 4/19/99 |
| Gerald Ensley | Tallahassee Democrat |
| An award winning and veteran journalist makes the right, if difficult and unpopular, decision to support the retirement of Florida State University's "Seminoles" nickname and "Osceola" mascot. | |
| What's in a name? America's Indians can tell you | 4/16/99 |
| John Lang | Nando Times |
| This comprehensive article touches on a number of relevant issues and does a good job of helping to explain why American Indian sports team tokens are hurtful and should be retired. | |
| OCU to See Stars, Not Chiefs, in Sports | 4/15/99 |
| Jim Killackey | The Oklahoman |
| Following through on a 1998 decision Oklahoma City University elects to change the nickname, logo, and mascot of OCU's athletic teams from "Chiefs" to "Stars" beginning next school year. | |
| Professor: Drop 'Seminoles' | 4/15/99 |
| Alan Schmadtke | Orlando Sentinel |
| A highly regarded professor and member of FSU's policy setting athletic board concludes that it is only a matter of time before Florida State's "Seminoles" nickname and mascot will be changed. | |
| Conference blasts use of American Indian mascots | 4/14/99 |
| Kathi Wolfe | Star-Telegram |
| A Cleveland area conference called "Hate and Violence: Racist Images in Popular Culture" brings advocates from around the country together to address concerns like "Chief Wahoo." | |
| A plan to spread racism around | 4/14/99 |
| Afi-Odelia Scruggs | Plain Dealer |
| This strong satirical parody suggests that pro-team owners will sidestep discrimination charges by naming new sports teams after other ethnic groups and calling them things like "The Sambos." | |
| Conference participants: Indian team names can be offensive | 4/14/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Star Tribune |
| American Indians, students, teachers and journalists meet to discuss nicknames and efforts to get teams to change names like the University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux." | |
| Chief Wahoo protesters burn coffin | 4/12/99 |
| John Affleck - Associated Press | Cleveland Live: NewsFlash |
| Their spirits buoyed by a new lawsuit and a federal ruling against the Washington Reds****, demonstrators burn a wooden sculpture of Chief Wahoo laid out in a coffin at Cleveland's first home game of the 1999 season. Also see results of a 4/13/99 Wahoo poll conducted by the National Spectators Association. | |
| Chief Wahoo protesters file civil rights lawsuit |
4/11/99 |
| Associated Press - author not cited | Cleveland Live: NewsFlash |
| Five advocates jailed and released without being charged last year for protesting "Chief Wahoo" file a suit claiming wrongful arrest, illegal imprisonment and violation of the right to free speech. | |
| Wahoo foes plan new legal strategy | 4/09/99 |
| James F. McCarty | Plain Dealer |
| Based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a new legal strategy for addressing First Nations sports team tokens that appeared in the February 1999 Harvard Review is about to be applied. | |
| Dump Chief Wahoo | 4/08/99 |
| Editorial | Beacon Journal |
| Citing the recent U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decision against the Washington "Reds****," this prominent Ohio newspaper supports the idea that "Chief Wahoo" should be retired. | |
| Strong views about Apache nickname expressed | 4/08/99 |
| Holli L. Rapp | Illinois Valley Community College "Apache" |
| The appropriateness of using "Apache" as a community college's nickname is called into question by a number of professors at this Illinois school. | |
| Agency can't force change; sends issue for trustees' consideration | 4/08/99 |
| Lyndee Stephens | Alvarado Star Bulletin |
| "A ruling handed down by the Texas Education Agency last week has brought the dispute over Alvarado's Indian mascot closer to home." | |
| Taking Team Names to Court | 4/07/99 |
| Brooke A. Masters | Washington Post |
| Teams using "Indian" related sports team nicknames and logos face legal battles like that which was brought against the Washington Reds****. | |
| Indians could strike out | 4/06/99 |
| David Adams | Beacon Journal |
| Following the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decision, the Cleveland professional baseball team begins to wonder how the ruling may impact its name and egregious "Chief Wahoo" logo. | |
| Redskins Are Denied Trademarks | 4/03/99 |
| Brooke A. Masters | Washington Post |
| A landmark victory concludes a legal battle begun in 1992 as a three-judge panel of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rules that the term "Redsk*n" is disparaging to Native Americans and tends to bring them "into contempt or disrepute." | |
| Board Cancels Redskins' Trademarks | 4/03/99 |
| Associated Press - Author not cited | Channel 6000 - KOIN - Washington State |
| Additional coverage of the important U.S. Patent and Trademark Office victory is featured on this site of a Washington State television station. | |
| Text of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Decision on the Use of "Redsk*ns" | 4/02/99 |
| J.D. Sams, R.F. Cissell, C.E. Walters, Administrative Trademark Judges | Courtesy of Oblon Spivak McClelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C. |
| This document shows the text of the April 2, 1999 decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office which finds that the word "Redsk*ns" is a derogatory term of derision toward First Nations. | |
| School may change Indian mascot | 4/01/99 |
| Author not cited | Lincoln Journal Star |
| In yet another example of efforts taking place across the country, an American Indian student in Omaha, Nebraska, stands up and says "enough is enough." | |
| Native Americans oppose AHS mascot | 4/01/99 |
| Lyndee Stephens | Alvarado Star Bulletin |
| A Texas community realizes it isn't exempt from the mascot controversy when a young First Nations woman raises concerns about its schools' use of a purple and yellow "Indian" logo. | |
| Move to Ban Indian Sports Mascots Gains Speed |
3/29/99 |
| Jonathan Tilove | Newhouse News Service |
| This comprehensive and supportive article covers a considerable amount of territory as it documents both the history of the mascot issue as well as advocacy efforts currently taking place. | |
| John Swett students revive dispute over Indian mascot | 3/20/99 |
| Tony Mercado | Contra Costa Times |
| "John Swett High School's (CA) controversial use of an American Indian mascot is again under fire from students and teachers who claim the logo is racist and demeaning." | |
| Huntley officials look to U. of I. for help with mascot controversy | 3/19/99 |
| Sarah Downey | Chicago Tribune |
| "Huntley school board members are treading lightly around the issue of whether to get rid of the Redskins mascot that has stood as a symbol of the small town's pride for close to 70 years." | |
| Foul team nicknames: It's time to play fair | 3/19/99 |
| Claire Smith | Philadephia Inquirer |
| "The bottom line is, it is long past the time when we should passively accept this. The team name we grew up with is nothing more than an ethnic slur, pure and simple, and that makes it as hurtful and harmful as the most base comments used to savage other minority groups." | |
| Bill would make schools drop discriminatory mascots | 3/18/99 |
| Amy Rinard and Betsy Thatcher | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| "Schools judged to have discriminatory mascots, nicknames or logos would be forced to abandon them or face substantial fines under a proposal made Wednesday..." | |
| 'Indian Red' Crayon To Get New Name | 3/10/99 |
| Jennifer Brown - Associated Press | Channel 2000 |
| After teachers express concerns about misinterpretations of the crayon color's name, the Crayola company wisely opts to find a more suitable name. | |
| N.C. school keeps one Indian name, drops one | 3/06/99 |
| Jeff Gammage | The Philidelphia Inquirer |
| The first ever Justice Department probe into whether or not "Indian" nicknames, mascots and symbols discriminate against Indigenous American Peoples abruptly ends after North Carolina's Senator Jesse Helms and Governor Jim Hunt voice their disapproval. | |
| IUP Moves To Change Indian Mascot | 3/06/99 |
| Associated Press, author not cited | The Star Tribune |
| " The trustees at Indiana University of Pennsylvania have voted to change the school's mascot from an Indian to a bear, although the team's nickname will remain the Indians. " | |
| Redskin' Plates Amount to Slur, Panel Rules | 3/05/99 |
| Ray Rivera | The Salt Lake Tribune |
| " The Utah State Tax Commission has revoked three license plates bearing variations of the word 'Redskin,' ending a five-year legal battle over whether the term -- used by the Washington Redskins football team -- is tantamount to a racial slur." | |
| Students have to decide on a new mascot | 3/05/99 |
| Andrea K Walker | The Charlotte-Observer |
| "The Buncombe County school board voted unanimously that starting next school year, Erwin girls' teams will no longer be known as Squaws. The decision ends both a tradition dating to the 1960s and a bitter debate that has engrossed the community for two years." | |
| IUP keeps 'Indians' name, switches mascot | 3/05/99 |
| Milan Simonich | The Post-Gazette |
| Despite requests for change from the National Congress of American Indians, the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media, and the school's entire anthropology dept., the school's president recommends its "Indians" nickname stay but its mascot become a black bear. | |
| Indians
as mascots may correlate with violence against Indians |
3/04/99 |
| Kevin Blocker | The Spokesman-Review |
| Noting that many believe using Indians as mascots dehumanizes the culture and people , the article quotes Native American advocate who "believes there is a direct correlation between Indians as mascots and the violence directed against them. A recent Justice Department study said that in seven of 10 violent episodes against Native Americans, the offenders weren't Native." | |
| Mascots prompt a federal probe | 2/28/99 |
| Jeff Gammage | Philadelphia Inquirer |
| "The matter arose locally two years ago,
when the Buncombe County Native American Intertribal Association complained to school officials about the nicknames. It said the name Squaws was particularly distressing to American Indians, who say it means prostitute in some Indian languages and in others is a vulgar reference to female genitalia." |
|
| War Against Warriors | 2/27/99 |
| John Leo | US News and World Report |
| Opening with the hackneyed "political correctness" buzzword, this unoriginal piece, filled with stunted logic and questionable contentions, concludes that the rights of non-Indigenous students stand to be violated because of a Justice Department probe inspired by Native Americans. | |
| UND Student Senate splits
on nickname Dozens turn out for more debate |
2/22/99 |
| Stephen J. Lee | Grand Forks Herald |
| "After 90 minutes of spirited debate from an unusually large audience, the UND Student Senate failed Sunday to override a veto of their Jan. 31 vote to change the Fighting Sioux nickname." Advocates for changing the nickname vow to continue their fight. | |
| Huntly Athletic Nickname Protested: Native Americans say 'Redskins a Slur | 2/19/99 |
| Sarah Downey | Chicago Tribune |
| Revisiting the issue yet again, American Indian advocates in Illinois take exception to a school sports team that features its "Redskins" nickname emblazoned in 10 foot high letters on the outside school wall. | |
| House defeats nickname resolution | 2/17/99 |
| Ian Swanson | Northscape |
| " The House killed a resolution Tuesday that would have urged UND to change its Fighting Sioux nickname. In a 71-26 vote, the House in effect decided to stay out of the controversial nickname debate at UND. " | |
| Use of Indian Mascots Brings Justice
Dept. to N.C. Town |
2/17/99 |
| Sue Anne Pressley | Washington Post |
| "After two years of intense debate in this North Carolina mountain town about whether Erwin High's mascot and team names should be changed, the federal government has decided to enter the fray." Also read continuing coverage of this effort on this transcript from CNN. | |
| Group rejects prize from Chief contest | 2/15/99 |
| J. Philip Bloomer | News-Gazette |
| Despite their need for financial support, The Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center in South Dakota thwart a pro-mascot group's underhanded attempt to exploit them and take a stand on principle by refusing to accept a dubious $1,000 donation. | |
| What's in a name? School nickname changes have cost athletic support, but just how much is questionable | 2/14/99 |
| Ryan Bakken | Northscape |
| While arguments are often heard about how retiring "Indian" related mascots may hurt a school's fundraising ability, this article shows that such fears are not completely justified in fact. | |
| ATribal pair back Sioux nickname : Two officials speak for themselves and say UND is respectful of name | 2/11/99 |
| Ryan Bakken | Northscape |
| "Michael B. Jandreau, chairman of United Sioux Tribes, and Clarence Skye, the executive director of the organization said they were speaking for themselves, not for the United Sioux Tribes organization... 'As long as they don't use any mascot, I don't have any problem,' Jandreau said." | |
| Sioux Nickname Dishonors A Nation | 2/10/99 |
| Ira Taken Alive | Grand Forks Herald |
| A leading student advocate for change to the University of North Dakota's "Fight Sioux" nickname lets his views be known and notes that while the intent of the nickname may have been to honor it is much easier to feel dishonored when repeated and resolute requests for change are ignored. | |
| Opponents say get rid of 'Fighting Sioux' nickname | 2/06/99 |
| Scott Pursley | Bismarck Tribune |
| Almost 30 years after the issue was first raised at the University of North Dakota, advocates continue their efforts to bring progressive change to the school's race-related nickname. | |
| Asheville school's mascots are focus of
rights inquiry |
2/05/99 |
| Eric Frazier | The Charlotte Observer |
| "After years of debate over school mascots called 'Indians' and 'Redskins,' the U.S. Justice Department has picked an Asheville-area school for its first-ever investigation of whether such mascots violate the civil rights of Native American students." | |
| Marquette boosters vow fight in vote to drop Indian logo | 2/04/99 |
| Mick McCabe and Bill Roose | Detroit Free Press |
| "A part of the Upper Peninsula is still
seething over the Marquette school board's 4-2 vote to drop the high school's logo -- an Indian in feathered headdress." |
|
| Utah Supreme Court opinion concerning use of the word "Redsk*ns" on vanity license plates | 01/29/99 |
Utah State Tax Commission |
|
| This decision found that the use of the word "Reds****" is racially disparaging and denied its use on State of Utah vanity license plates. | |
| Offensive mascots have to go before everyone is expected to enjoy sports | 01/22/99 |
| Rohith Nandagiri | University of Houston - Daily Cougar |
| In addition to citing several typical issue related points, this article takes aim at caucasian university presidents and team owners by suggesting such individuals are not in a position to decide what may or may not be offensive to First Nations peoples. | |
| Mascots anger Native American activist | 01/19/99 |
| Nick Falzone | Michigan Daily |
| The focus of this article concerns a visit to the University of Michigan by a leading advocate, Charlene Teters. | |
| For a Capital Team, a Name That Packs a Wallop | 01/12/99 |
| Gene Weingarten | Washington Post |
Following news of the impending sale of the
Washington, D.C., football team, a Washington Post staff writer urges the new owner
to change the name.  Send letters to the new
potential owners. |
|