Gamma Phi Beta University of North Dakota Punished for Showing School Pride

[bevinpiphi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Like MC said, the Irish themselves created that as a big F.U. to everyone. THAT'S why it's ok. It's not ok because the Irish were less oppressed. I'm sure there are still Irish people who even knowing that don't like it.

Count my Irish Catholic relatives among those...they hate the mascot.

[shirley1929]

All interesting conversation given the Houston ISD announcement that came today (Thanks ThetaLady and ASTAlumna). And I understand what ThetaLady is saying about "Warriors" but I'm sure most of it was how it was portrayed in logo, etc...

I'm curious. I remember hearing a few years ago that the Seminole tribe (as a whole) gave their blessing to FSU & Chief Oceola & the whole bit. Am I making that up? So are they in effect exempt from any NCAA crackdown on Native American mascots?

[shirley1929]

Double posting, but the Houston situation brings up an interesting one with the name "Rebels". I know a private school in Houston changed their mascot several years ago from Rebels to something else. Looks like a public HS has done the same now. I know there are other "Rebel" mascots out there in public schools (one outside Austin comes to mind?). I'm curious as to why that hasn't garnered as much attention as it should (ahem, Ole Miss!)...?

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Double posting, but the Houston situation brings up an interesting one with the name "Rebels". I know a private school in Houston changed their mascot several years ago from Rebels to something else. Looks like a public HS has done the same now. I know there are other "Rebel" mascots out there in public schools (one outside Austin comes to mind?). I'm curious as to why that hasn't garnered as much attention as it should (ahem, Ole Miss!)...?

Colonel Rebel was removed as the Ole Miss mascot several years ago. Now we have the incredibly stupid Ole Miss Black Bear. There was a HUGE uproar over the change. A lot of people still won't accept the bear. The University lost a lot of alumni support over it. It caused pain that will take many years to heal. Trust me, there was plenty of attention back when it happened.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by thetalady

The University lost a lot of alumni support over it.

Citation needed.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by thetalady

Colonel Rebel was removed as the Ole Miss mascot several years ago. Now we have the incredibly stupid Ole Miss Black Bear. There was a HUGE uproar over the change. A lot of people still won't accept the bear. The University lost a lot of alumni support over it. It caused pain that will take many years to heal. Trust me, there was plenty of attention back when it happened.

OMG. I promise I have never heard tell of the Ole Miss Bear??? I've always known them to be the Ole Miss Rebels. I know "Colonel Reb" has been swept under the table, but didn't know about the bear coming in.

This is coming from someone who's niece almost went to Ole Miss, and I write a handful of recs every year for girls going there??? Wow.

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

OMG. I promise I have never heard tell of the Ole Miss Bear??? I've always known them to be the Ole Miss Rebels. I know "Colonel Reb" has been swept under the table, but didn't know about the bear coming in.

This is coming from someone who's niece almost went to Ole Miss, and I write a handful of recs every year for girls going there??? Wow.

Wikipedia is not usually my "go to " source, but this is not a bad discussion of the time line, along with a picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Black_Bear

IrishLake, for some Ole Miss alumni, it may be even WORSE that the bear is also from SOUTHERN Mississippi!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by thetalady

Wikipedia is not usually my "go to " source, but this is not a bad discussion of the time line, along with a picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Black_Bear

IrishLake, for some Ole Miss alumni, it may be even WORSE that the bear is also from SOUTHERN Mississippi!

But if the bear is named Rebel and the teams are still called the Rebels, doesn't that glorify the Confederacy just as much? I'm confused. Oh well, count yourselves lucky that it didn't change to something that was the domain name of a porn site.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Did I read the article correctly that the school hasn't chosen a new mascot?

Yep. As I understand it, after the state-wide vote, the ND Board of Higher Education followed suit and got rid of the mascot and nickname in 2012, and also prohibited the school from adopting a new nickname until 2015.

I don't understand that at all.

[als463]

After reading through this thread, I decided to check out the banner in question. Though it stated, "You can take away our mascot but, you can't take away our pride," I was somewhat confused as to how it has gotten such backlash. Now, I'm not saying it is okay to use different groups as mascots. I am definitely in agreement with everyone on this thread about that. One thing I will agree with Kevin on is that I also hate the NCAA for various other reasons related to how it has treated my alma mater. I took the banner as saying that something traditionally known about the university was removed but, they still show their pride in other ways like cheering on a really good team. Am I missing something? I am not saying it couldn't have been viewed as offensive. I'm asking, was it nearly as offensive as the sanctions seem to suggest?

[AOII Angel]

I remember when that contest went on over the new Ole Miss mascot. My best friend from residency is an Ole Miss Alum. The choices for the new mascot were very limited so the Black Bear (which is technically the Louisiana Black Bear, btw ) was the only decent option. I'm still wishing that George Lucas had okay'd Admiral Akbar for the new mascot.

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I remember when that contest went on over the new Ole Miss mascot. My best friend from residency is an Ole Miss Alum. The choices for the new mascot were very limited so the Black Bear (which is technically the Louisiana Black Bear, btw ) was the only decent option. I'm still wishing that George Lucas had okay'd Admiral Akbar for the new mascot.

Technically, nothing! That is the whole point and a MAJOR reason why so many alum hate the STOOPY bear Maybe if they had picked something that was native to Mississippi, we wouldn't have been so pissed off.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by thetalady

Technically, nothing! That is the whole point and a MAJOR reason why so many alum hate the STOOPY bear Maybe if they had picked something that was native to Mississippi, we wouldn't have been so pissed off.

Bwahahaha. Would y'all have preferred the dude in the blue body suit? what did they call him? The Rebel Thing or something like that?

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Bwahahaha. Would y'all have preferred the dude in the blue body suit? what did they call him? The Rebel Thing or something like that?

I never saw a picture of what the blues muscian character was supposed to be. Not sure that he got that far. It was probably better than the bizarre Admiral Akbar thing!

[IrishLake]

The Louisiana Black Bear is just a subspecies of the American Black Bear. It's breeding range includes southern Mississippi.