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The pride of the Newberry Indians
By Mitchell Zais, President of Newberry College
8/22/2005

This Op/Ed column was published in The State Newspaper on Friday, August 19, 2005.

The NCAA's recent allegation that this college's nickname is "hostile and abusive" is insulting to the thousands of alumni who proudly claim the title "Newberry Indian."
As one pastor recently wrote to me, "I will be a Newberry Indian in Heaven." Newberry College, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2006, has been playing football for more than 90 years. Our nickname honors the history and culture of the American Indian, his bravery and tenacity in battle. In all cases, it is used with dignity and with respect for Native American heritage. Few institutions will pick a mascot or a nickname they do not respect.
It is the height of arrogance for the NCAA to presume to speak on behalf of all Native Americans. While Native American activists are opposed to Indian mascots and nicknames, they do not speak for the majority. According to the March 4, 2002, issue of Sports Illustrated, a Harris Research poll showed that 81 percent of Native Americans support the use of Indian nicknames in high school and college athletics, and 83 percent support them in professional sports. Sports Illustrated concluded, "Although Native American activists are virtually united in opposition to the use of American Indian nicknames and mascots, the Native American population sees the issue far differently."
Another poll reported in September 2004 by the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey produced almost identical results. These consistent findings show that Native Americans overwhelmingly understand that use of mascots, nicknames and logos is in no way intended to offend the courageous and proud people represented.
As evidence of this support, a number of American Indian tribes have close working relationships with schools using their nicknames. Such relationships exist, for example, between the University of North Carolina-Pembroke Braves and the Pembroke tribe, the Seminoles and Florida State University, and at Arapahoe High School in Littleton, Colo., and the Arapahoe tribal members.
The worst thing that could happen for Native Americans is that their proud history and traditions fade from public awareness to be replaced only by images of casinos and tax-free cigarettes.
What's next from the NCAA? A proscription against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as demeaning to persons of Irish descent? Condemnation of all schools with Crusader nicknames as insulting to Christians? Or censure of the blue hose-wearing Highlanders of South Carolina's Presbyterian College as offensive to people of Scottish ancestry?
To NCAA President Myles Brand, I would say that the NCAA has more important things to do than to try to establish itself as the arbiter of political correctness for our institutions of higher learning. I suggest you start by attending to student athletes' welfare by countering pressures for ever-lengthening seasons, as exemplified by the newly announced 12-game football schedule. Get back to the job that the member institutions pay you to do.
Mr. Zais is the president of Newberry College.

I agree. Our society is too worried about political correctness.

Florida State wins appeal and keeps "Seminoles"

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050824/SPORTS/508240435

Newberry College appeal of Indian nickname is rejected by the NCAA.

Newberry College's response to the NCAA's appeal rejection
by Dr. Mitchell Zais, Newberry College President

10/26/2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Contact: Scott McCain
Newberry College Sports Information
803-321-5667

Below is Newberry College's response to the NCAA's rejection of Newberry College's appeal regarding its Native American mascot as articulated by College President Dr. Mick Zais.

We stand by our position as articulated in our appeal to the NCAA. The heart of our appeal follows:
"Newberry College celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2006. It was during the first decade of intercollegiate sports that our nickname had its unique origin. Our baseball team purchased red uniforms that originally were ordered by a local semi-pro team but were never paid for. By adoption of the student body, the College nickname became the Indians. This name was not chosen in order to demean, mock, or belittle Native Americans; institutions will rarely pick a mascot or a nickname they do not respect and that does not represent admirable and indomitable qualities. Our nickname honors the history and culture of the American Indian, his bravery and tenacity in battle. In all cases, it is used with dignity and with respect for Native American heritage ... We understand that the NCAA may be embarrassed by some schools' use of a mascot or nickname in such a way that stereotypes or demeans a race or group of people. Newberry College is ! not one of those schools. There is no sentiment, either in our own or the communities in which we compete, to change our nickname. Instead, there is a groundswell of alumni and supporters who are enraged with the perceived heavy hand of the NCAA and its condemnation of Newberry's 'Indian Pride'."
Newberry College has no intention of changing its nickname. Changing at this time would indicate that we did not truly believe in the validity of our appeal, or that our moral compass was subject to be swayed by the collective opinion of the NCAA Executive Council.
We are disappointed in this unjust, coercive, and perhaps illegal ruling from the NCAA. Our participation in postseason play will not be affected since we have uniforms that do not bear what the NCAA deems "offending" or "offensive" marks. We are sorry that the NCAA feels that Newberry is unfit to host postseason play because of a nickname that our athletic teams have borne for nearly a century.

This is just so annoying that the NCAA would reject their appeal. Let alone the NCAA is around due to Colleges and Universities electing to be a member of it. If they tick off enough Universities, it would be interesting to see what would happen if the members started to drop out of the NCAA. There is no necessity to be a member, and it would in no way affect the educational certifications that those universities have. I know the University of Illinois is also appealing, and it will be interesting to see what the outcome is.

"I agree. Our society is too worried about political correctness."

Yeah man.. the NCAA is so GAY!


Seriously, I'm with the soccerboy here.. forget the NCAA.. eventually some big names are going to stand-up and get these guys to shut-up. Or..the world will implode. One or the other.

My guess is the world would first implode before schools go against the NCAA. I would like to see what would happen if some Universities has the gumption to stand up against the "oppressor". I know the school district my wife teaches in has the mascot of an Indian. They refuse to change, and there have been very few complaints on that. The whole PC in the US is just annoying. Just come to the conclusion that you can't please everybody, people are going to be mad, and that's just the way life is. Life goes on. Maybe somebody should come up with a Universit that is called the "fighting whites". That would be interesting. How many people would complain about that? Have them dressed as crusaders, or the colonists taking over the US.

My point to the NCAA would be that if Newberry has been the "Indians" for 150 years, how did this mascot become offensive in the last 6 months?? The reason-- too many people at the NCAA ran out of things to do.

Now, if every Indian tribe in upstate South Carolina wrote the NCAA and said that Newberry's mascot is offensive to them, then I could see the NCAA taking some action. It seems to me that the NCAA ran out of things to do. I heard a great point on one of the talk shows on ESPN Radio-- they said the NCAA is taking the stand of "oh, you're not offended and you support that nickname? well, don't worry, we are here to be offended for you and tell you how you should think".

Perhaps the NCAA should focus it's energy on more pressing issues in collegiate athletics like boosters and agents, corruption in AAU basketball camps and the deplorable graduation rates at big universities.

On a similar note, some universities mess with tradition for what they perceive will be a more marketable mascot. I am, was and will always be a proud Lander University Senator. I will never be a Bearcat!!

Funny how the NCAA will allow Florida State to keep its mascot but other schools must change.