And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: posted via the NativeAmericanLaw list by Mark Little <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Copyright 1998 Stuart News Company The Jupiter Courier (Jupiter, FL) September 9, 1998, Wednesday SECTION: Community; Pg. A8 HEADLINE: FSU SHOULD DROP RACIST SYMBOLISM BYLINE: Watterson Hyland & Klett The Law Our office has several conference rooms, and each has been named by our reception staff, so we'll know in what room a client or visitor is waiting. My favorite has been the Osceola room, in which hung a large portrait of the famed Seminole leader. Sometimes I think of Osceola when the firm takes on representations where the opposition has vast resources to fight our claims and overwhelm our defenses, and we have only a modest notion of justice but the courage to demand it. But, more often than not, visitors who saw the impressive portrait would ask, "Did you guys go to Florida State?" Perhaps this shouldn't surprise me so, as there seems to be so few people around today who were raised in Florida, and less that care about its history lessons. I used to take the time to tell a little of the Osceola story, but we recently moved him to another spot in the office, away from the conference room area. There now hangs a large watercolor of alligators basking in the sunshine. Maybe there's a chance that Floridians could come to know the story of the Seminole tribe and its leader, if only this state's second public university would cease the shameless exploitation of Native Americans by the use of mascots, tokens, logos and chants. The "Seminoles" of Florida State University are war-like savages, prone to violence, and frozen in the romanticized historical period that ended over a century ago. The Florida American Indian Movement (AIM) has scheduled several protests against Florida State. The organization claims that the Osceola mascot and his portrayal of native people in stereotypical ways, mocks their sacred things and dehumanizes them in front of roaring crowds. The band's baton twirlers, dressed in their short and cute Indian girl dresses, the groaning war chant and tomahawk chop, the whooping Indian logo, are little more than racist stereotypic imagery that dehumanizes Native Americans. Florida State picked "Seminoles" as its nickname in 1947. Because of the pervasiveness and longevity involved with use of that nickname, it has become institutionalized, and it has become very difficult for university leaders to recognize discriminatory and racist practices for what they are. AIM points out that few would fail to understand the problem if some FSU fans painted their faces black, supposedly honoring the contributions of African Americans to our culture and to their football team. Native Americans argue that the sports team parodies of their of their culture, history, and spirituality are just as racist and outdated as Little Black Sambo. The Florida State University non-discrimination policy demands that all students, faculty, and all other employees, are treated with dignity and respect, and that racist assumptions, attitudes, acts or policies are incompatible with the concept of responsible freedom. The university prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion or national origin. The policy prohibits actions that interfere with the opportunity of a student to obtain an education, or which create an intimidating or hostile work or educational environment. FSU has incorporated this policy into its Student Code of Conduct, filed with the Florida Department of Education. The Florida AIM claims that FSU has yet to graduate a single Seminole Indian student. Not one. It claims that real Seminole students who have enrolled in the past have left the school because of the alienation they felt on campus, caused, in part, by the racist stereotypes promoted by the university. The university administration, when contacted by a research aide at our office, claimed one Seminole graduate, and promised to provide the information later. The university was unable to provide any further information specific to Seminole enrollment. Dartmouth, Marquette, Syracuse, Stanford, Oklahoma, St. John's, Illinois and Bradley universities have all dropped Native American depictions from their sports teams, or changed their school nicknames. Why not Florida State? Stanford University, which changed its name from the Indians to the Cardinals, and changed its logos, mascots, and game-day culture, also developed an awareness of special needs of Native American students, and saw its enrollment figures more than double in ten years and the undergraduate retention rate increase to 90 percent while national figures remain at around 50 percent. Florida State University is going to change its nickname one day. Then, there won't be a dancing, prancing Osceola on the field, or on his mythical horse, whooping and chopping. As a public institution of higher education, that school in Tallahassee shouldn't be able to evade political correctness forever. Whether native Americans sue the State of Florida, or accomplish this change through public awareness or political activity, the change will be long overdue. FSU ought to abandon the trappings of racism as a memorial to the real Osceola, the Seminole leader who fought to keep his people free. But, I imagine that great numbers of "alumnoles" will fight the Florida AIM movement, and commit vast resources to stave off the attack on their FSU heritage. It's the battle of the Osceolas: IM's outgunned but bold and relentless warrior attacks, against the game-day theatre student. And someday, when that battle is over, and our portrait of Osceola is seen as history and honor instead of pomp and pageantry, we'll again meet the visitors in the Osceola room at Watterson, Hyland & Klett. It would be wrong of us to promote the elimination of "Seminoles" as the nickname without trying to assuage the fears of the FSU faithful. Every other school that has decided to get on the right side has survived. Not one closed. Some schools realized a marketing bonanza as fans snapped up new logowear. We propose that FSU become the BOBBYS, in honor of their great coach, Bobby Bowden. The mascot would be a man in a Bobby outfit, like Billy the marlin, only more like a big garnet and gold Pillsbury Doughboy. Imagine the money that could be made from Burger King sales of Beanie Bobbys. Instead of the fans chanting the Atlanta Braves war chant, they would moan in unison "Daa-aaa-gummit," and motion with their arms wide to the right. And they'd win and lose just like they do now. We welcome your comments regarding this or other topics at: Watterson, Hyland & Klett, P. A. 4100 RCA Blvd., Suite 100, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <<<<=-=-= =-=-=>>>> "We simply chose an Indian as the emblem. We could have just as easily chosen any uncivilized animal." Eighth Grade student writing about his school's mascot, 1997 <<<<=-= http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/racial/ =-=>>>> IF it says: "PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW...." Please Check it before you send it at: http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/blhoax.htm <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!!=-=-=>>>>
