Catholic High School Indians mascot topic of meeting

[Beau_Ouiville]

"SOUTH BEND – The Saint Joseph’s High School Indians could be getting a new mascot.

Vince LaBarbera, spokesman for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, confirmed Tuesday that a meeting will soon take place between Mark Myers, superintendent of schools for the diocese, the principal of the high school and Brian Collier, a local Native American historian who initiated the talk.

LaBarbera called the meeting, which is set for Friday, “private and preliminary.”

To be discussed, he said, is the appropriateness of the mascot.

He said the main theme to be explored will be "Are we hurting anyone by continuing to use the Indians as a mascot?"Collier, who works for the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame, said he brought the issue up as a private citizen, not in any university-related capacity.

He has two children who attend a local Catholic school and has always been an advocate for causes about which he feels strongly, he said.

St. Joe’s Indians is one.

“I think you can’t have a disaffected group of people as your mascot,” he said.

southbendtribune.com/article/20100908/News01/9080327/1130&Template=printart

I think its time to change the nickname.

 

[mdgspencer]

I just retired from a university where the mascot for decades had been “the Brown Indian.” He would race about the arena brandishing a tomahawk during games. A few miles away was an Indian reservation. They asked the Indians if they were offended by the university mascot, and it was fine with them. The students liked the mascot very much, but the university abolished it anyways. For ten or fifteen years years they tried using one type of mascot or another but no one liked them. I can only think the Indian mascot offended some university officials because it was politically incorrect, even though the Indians themselves thought it perfectly acceptable.

 

[kamaan]

Okay… change it to something Catholic, like the Crusaders

 

[HCC]

:yawn:
yawn

 

[thomasf]

Here in Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University used to be the Hurons. And the Huron tribe in Michigan had ties to the University, and was happy with the name. The powers that be decided to change the name because they thought it was offensive, so they became the Eagles. This actually offended the Huron tribe and their Chief. It wasn’t an offensive mascot or logo, it paid tribute to the history of this area of Michigan.

I think sometimes people get carried away with this kind of stuff.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

I just retired from a university where the mascot for decades had been “the Brown Indian.” He would race about the arena brandishing a tomahawk during games. A few miles away was an Indian reservation. They asked the Indians if they were offended by the university mascot, and it was fine with them.

"INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, but will not prohibit them otherwise. Nicknames or mascots deemed “hostile or abusive” would not be allowed on team uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament after Feb. 1, said Harrison, the University of Hartford’s president.

“What each institution decides to do is really its own business” outside NCAA championship events, Harrison said.

“What we are trying to say is that we find these mascots to be unacceptable for NCAA championship competition,” he added.

At least 18 schools have mascots the NCAA deem “hostile or abusive,” including Florida State’s Seminoles and Illinois’ Illini. The full list of schools was not immediately released."

sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2125735

Someone here from East Peoria should explain how the Pekin high school team became the “Dragons”.

 

[Dale_M]

Here is a newer article, in which the reporter solicited the opinion of local Native Americans:

How do local American Indians feel about the budding controversy over the Indian mascot for South Bend Saint Joseph’s High School? As with most issues, it depends on who’s doing the talking, if they’re willing to talk at all.

Among those not willing to weigh in on the issue Wednesday were three members of the tribal council for the Dowagiac-based Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Chairman Matt Wesaw and council members Steve Winchester and John Warren said in a conference call they’d prefer that the council as a whole and themselves as individuals not become involved.

southbendtribune.com/article/20100909/News01/100909514/-1/googleNews

Part of past controversies, with other teams, have involved a mascot which was depicted in an offensive manner. I’m not exactly sure what it is for St. Joseph’s High School. Looking at the school’s website, it appears the football helmets are painted with either the end of a spear or the end of an arrow.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

Okay… change it to something Catholic, like the Crusaders

"As we begin the high school season, I return to an old concern of mine — inappropriate and downright offensive school mascots.

Could someone explain to me the reason any school would have as its mascot the Crusaders? The Crusades were a series of the bloodiest, most disgraceful wars in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. These Middle Ages religious wars killed Jews and Muslims — nevermind an untold number of Catholic Europeans — and were so disgraceful and so horrific that the late Pope John Paul II apologized for them.

So please, tell me why any school would have that as its mascot?"

middletownpress.com/articles/2010/08/29/sports/doc4c7b019bd8831437188699.txt

 

[kamaan]

"As we begin the high school season, I return to an old concern of mine — inappropriate and downright offensive school mascots.

Could someone explain to me the reason any school would have as its mascot the Crusaders? The Crusades were a series of the bloodiest, most disgraceful wars in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. These Middle Ages religious wars killed Jews and Muslims — nevermind an untold number of Catholic Europeans — and were so disgraceful and so horrific that the late Pope John Paul II apologized for them.

So please, tell me why any school would have that as its mascot?"

middletownpress.com/articles/2010/08/29/sports/doc4c7b019bd8831437188699.txt

I was half joking; I know that people love to hate on the Crusades. I would still be proud to have them as a mascot.

 

[LatinJohn]

My high school mascot was the Crusaders. I am quite proud of the title as I believe it is a symbol of one who will defend the faith. By the way, does anyone ever get upset about “The Fighting Irish”? Were I easily offended, I think this is closer to hurtful than the image of a powerful warrior.

Were I an Indian/Native American I would be happy that a school chose my heritage as a source of pride (albeit a caricature). I only hope that one day a team will be known as the Polish Cabbage Eaters or some more creative name.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

My high school mascot was the Crusaders. I am quite proud of the title as I believe it is a symbol of one who will defend the faith.

I think the Crusaders did more than defend the faith.

Were I an Indian/Native American I would be happy that a school chose my heritage as a source of pride (albeit a caricature).

What about a football team called the ‘Redskins’? The natives never referred to themselves that way. Or, the most notorious case where in Pekin (IL) the team was known by a Chinese slur.

I only hope that one day a team will be known as the Polish Cabbage Eaters or some more creative name.

The Polish College team was known as the ‘Hilltoppers’.