Native American and other "racial" nicknames in NCAA?

Question

The NCAA is railing on this again. IS it fair that they have granted exceptions to the Seminoles, Utes and a couple others but not to the UND Fighting Sioux. It should be all or none. IMHO.. Also why not go after nicknames of other "races" ie,,, Irish, Spartans, Trojans all proud people.
or even Blue Devils, that could be offensive to either satan worshipers and/or christians??

btw, I went to HS in UND territory, they have just as proud a tradition in HOckey as these other schools have in Football

Problem is the Sioux are a nation of several tribes, not a single tribe. Some support some dont. But if individual tribes say ok, shouldnt matter, all should or none get the exception other wise it is playing favorites

And my HS was the Redskins, that shouldnt be viewed as anymore offensive than the tribe name. It is worn proudly.. (btw HS was bit by pc bug in 93,they are now the KNIghts, but at my reunion we proudly flew GFC Redskins class of '83 banners to mixed reviews

Answer 1

well, if i am not mistaken the reason why the ncaa granted those exceptions was that each of the schools that use those nicknames went to the respective native american tribes and got approval to use the name

as for going after ethnically charged nicknames like the fighting irish, i just don't think it's as big a deal because it's not like people with irish blood are at a large minority in this country, and also it's not like irish folks are offended by the use of the nickname, in fact they are usually honored...with names like spartans and trojans, it's really not important because they are no longer existent societies

the bottom line on this issue for me is that almost everyone involved in this nickname stupidity is honored rather than offended by use of the nickname, it's not like they use it to mock them...this whole wild goose chase by the ncaa is completely in vain imo

Answer 2

The difference is that the Seminoles and the Utes have given the respective colleges permission to use their tribal names. UND has not received the same permission from the Sioux tribes and as such UND should act with respect and honor and change their mascot name. I can see the Sioux tribes point. UND has profitted financially for many years using a name that the Lakota find offensive.
The name "Sioux" is a French rendering of the Ojibwa word nadewisou, meaning "treacherous snakes." The name was never meant to be a compliment since the French were at war with Lakota at the time.

Answer 3

People need to get over it and stop whining. There is nothing offensive about any of those names to a sane person. It is half about attention and half about hypersensitivity.
Having said that, the stupid ruling is if the tribes are cool then then name can stay

Here in VT a highschool was forced to change its nickname because some nuts found Crusaders to be offensive- none of the complainers gave accurate description of what a crusader really was but whatever. The HS I work at has an Indian nickname because it is in an area of Indians and they the state thought twice about forcing a change there until the people said screw off

Answer 4

I could see where they would ban Redskins, and as for the tribe names(like Seminole) I could see them needing permission. Generic names like Indians, I have no problem with. They are just like Celts, or Irish or whatever.

Answer 5

I agree. It's political correctness gone crazy.

It's just a nickname, folks, chill out. Aren't there more important problems in the world to deal with?

Answer 6

All of that political correct nonsense is so annoying. Some people just seem to feel the need to have something to bi*tch about.

Answer 7

fsu and utah pay the tribes for the rights to the names. that is why there is no outcry. i wish the ones that offend anyone be abolished. especially "redskins"

Answer 8

They care to much about other people's feelings.