School Mascots
 

Here at San Diego State University, after nealy 105 years of being nicknamed "the Aztecs" and having our mascot, Monty Montezuma for another considerable number of years, Mecha and their racist leader Ron Gochez made a big fuss that our mascot is "culturally insensitvie". So we put it to a vote. Overwhelmingly, the students decided to keep the mascot, basically telling Gochez to shut his pie hole. But our Dean, Dr. Weber, who most of the time has his head up his ass, decided to get rid of Monty anyway.

So the next year (2001), they came out with an "ambassador". The guy looked like a huge pineapple, and was ridiculed by the media and alumni and........well, anyone who saw him. So they decided to ditch him.

Now, a private organization has brought back Monty at football games, much to the delight of SDSU fans (myself included). Gochez and Mecha called the organization ignorant.

So, after a 3 yr fiasco which really didn't need to be fought, especially with our school having more important issues that are never addressed, we're basically back to where we started: Monty's here, albeit unofficially (he's not recognized by SDSU), and Mecha is bitching again.

My question is, how do you feel when any organization or person says that a native American mascot is "culturally insensitive"?

Re: School Mascots
 

I feel that they are 100% accurate.

I go to Florida State. Home of the Seminoles. And I detest the mascot.

Yes, the pregame ritual with Osceola and Renegade gives one chills. Yes, doing the Tomahawk chop at the games is awesome. But the symbolism is horrible.

When this thread gets heated (and trust me, it will), I will definitely elaborate.

Its a pc world out there. i am sure in my life time all offensive team names that are race related will be gone. Most the schools have gotten rid of the name rebels with a few exceptions. I know Valdosta used to be the Rebels up to the early 70's I believe. We are the Blazers now. The school just changed it without any debate because they were starting to have problems at games because people were coming to the games with confederate flags. Schools just don't like controversy or getting sued.

University of Houston’s mascot is a cougar named Shasta. I feel this name is grossly insensitive to all people that enjoy the fine sugar based beverages produced by the Shasta bottling company.

LONG LIVE MONTY!!!!

:D

This is a really big issue... It's something that really reflects the changing values of our society. Everyone is supposed to be happy and everyone has the right not to be offended -- or so PC culture states. This is one of those areas where there just isn't a lot of middle ground to be found. I get a little bit perturbed when I see years and years of tradition thrown away because someone got offende... But I can understand.

Will FSU change its mascot? Probably not... Too much $$ involved. Has the Seminole Nation tried sueing for royalties or something though?

Well, what about non-Native American mascots, like the Vikings? Do those of northern European descent feel that is inflammatory? Or what about the Wizards... does that insult Wiccans? I don't mean this rudely at all, I just think that everything could possibly insult SOMEONE so it is hard for the general public to know where to draw the line.

Indiana U of PA was called (for obvious reasons) the Indians...this was deemed un-PC, and they changed the mascot to a bear named Cherokee, but still kept the Indians name. (no, I don't understand that either) Now they are actually thinking of changing it to the "Fighting Squirrels." No offense to the AGD's, but I just can't see being intimidated by a squirrel.

Elon was the "fightening Christians", before we went Division I, NCAA made us change our name because they felt that it was not PC enough-- even though Elon is a united-church of christ affiliated school in the southern bible-belt. So now, we are the Phoenix...an imaginary bird that rose from the ashes or something like that.

Yes, because these are clearly the same thing. :rolleyes:

You guys minimize the issue, but I bet y'all would be (publicly) aghast if we were speaking about something like oh...say...an African-American or Latino mascot? Hmm. Notice I said publicly.

The whole idea is that the "traditions" and symbolism that these schools carry out are not only stereotypical, they are also FALSE. Native Americans did not SCALP people. They were not SAVAGES.

And as for Seminoles, the portrayal of the mascot is not even accurate. Why? Because the face emblem that is on all of the paraphenalia is clearly of a white individual. The Seminoles were a collective group of powerful Native American tribes as well as RUNAWAY SLAVES. The began as only 300 people who were able to escape the white man. The word SEMINOLE itself means "runaway."

http://www.seminoletribe.com/history/introduction.shtml

http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/flafacts/seminole.html

Sororitygirl2, apples and oranges.

btw, PM_Mama, how did I know this topic would bring you out of the woodwork?

I seriously doubt I would get bent of shape at least I know I am not bothered by the Fighting Whites.

I'm glad our mascot is just a big cat...

I figured out how to end this stupidity at SDSU: have our nickname be the "Asian Guys Who Were Born In San Diego And Are Delta Sigs Named Stan". The ONLY, ONLY person that could POSSIBLY offend is me, and I couldn't give a rats @$$.