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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2001)
News September 6.;l J 1 , , hwsday, September 6, 200 1 THE BATTALION Page 3B iatiControversy emerges ialpver Indian mascots groups say culture is trivialized, exploited Martina Hi id v anted T c ball a 0 npi 3ffei fficiak ie members' «ELLER (AP) — School )iri! sounds like whooping and lafiting at dozens of high stadiums and gymnasi- ms across Texas. Port Neches-Groves High chool, just east of Beaumont, ie mascot is called the Indian piitt and does a war dance hije carrying a feather-covered >eai and shield. The football :oivboard says "Welcome to te Reservation." At Keller High School, north f [Fort Worth, cheerleaders eai beaded headbands and stu- ents do the "tomahawk chop” hen rooting for their teams. “1 don't think we’re putting idi ins down.” said Keller bearleader Susie Belew. “They racn us to have pride in our- ilvjes and to honor nature, v'e’re proud to be the Indians.” ^But some American Indian roups say even schools with Hi intentions are trivializing nd exploiting their culture, ^tarlier this year, the U.S. .'dhimission on Civil Rights ^commended that a\\ non- ndlan schools and colleges bandon Indian team mascots, aying they may be disrespectful nd >ffensive. ^Representatives of the .'harokee Nation say Hispanics, blacks and Asians would be outraged if a charac ter representing their race, clad in a culturally inaccurate and stereotypical costume, ran around a football field. “No human being should be portrayed as a mascot,” said Richard Allen, a policy analyst with the Cherokee Nation, based u I don't think we are putting Indians down. They teach us to have pride in ourselves and to honor nature. ♦♦ Wednevb out a ommisMo* s.ud the K I art the itract, ' i. uK to «a »y time. final c\h' worked *i" ost from co i League, a jor gaflfev. ft rh was co' e the gan:. istakes wou.. Tuesday ® icsday mod' ue put its net ()ver the Ion; lie two-side ent apart VCiGIES Continued from Page IB Jit’s a challenge for us,” 1 ilocum said of the reduced reparation time. “Normally the — Susie Belew Keller High cheerleader in Tahlequah, Okla. “Some peo ple say, ‘We have the Cowboys, too,’ but that’s an occupation.” About 40 high schools in Texas are the Indians. A dozen other schools have Indian-relat ed mascots: Apaches, Braves, Cherokees, Chieftains, Chiefs, Comanches, Indian Arrows and Redskins. Officials from some schools purpose of the Sunday afternoon workout is to work out some of the soreness, but this Sunday we had to do much more than that because of the limited prepara tion time. Wyoming has the advantage ESTGATE SHOPPING CENTER said they have never received complaints but would consider changing the mascot if someone requested it. Others oppose the idea, saying their mascot’s cos tume and antics are authentic and do not mock Indian culture. “Some mascots are funny or cuddly, but the Indian Spirit is serious,” said Matt Burnett, football coach and athletic director at Port Neches-Groves. “It’s a symbol of spirit for the whole community. It’s a tradi tion.” Indian groups say part of the problem is a lack of understand ing. For example, the term “red skin” refers not to skin color but to the bloody scalp of an Indian killed by whites who collected a bounty from the colonial gov ernment, Allen said. Indian mascots are especially inappropriate in Texas, where early settlers and militia groups ran out most tribes, Allen said. Chief Bowl, the principal chief of the Cherokees in Texas, was gunned down in the battle of the Neches in ,1839. The Indians were resisting an order to • leave Texas, following the invalidation of a treaty granting the tribe land in the eastern part of the state. of not having to travel. They can go ahead and get a little more done than we can preparation- wise.” Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN2. 4353 WELLBORN ROAD 846-7652 0FOPT0 0CW CHEAP DIMS, fWE «#CHIE§ He must Hifmm W*- Tv M’ 9:00 am 8u* pi y # " f ' ;v ?/ Jvf ? - T First Baptist Church, Bryan Gl A! All FiMh » Chalet f fexas ARM l www.fbcbryan.org Sponsoiod by Compass C0U09© Mlnisuies WHOZ YOUR PAPA NOW? $ 6.99 Late Night Special Large 1 Topping pick-up or delivery after 10 p.m. NEW HOURS: Sunday: 11 a.m. - Midnight Monday - Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Thursday: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. Post Oak Square HOOD. Harvey Rd 764-7272 Northgate Bryan 601 University Dr 3414 E 29th St. 846-3600 267-7272 NOT A Is finding a parking spot on campus driving you nuts? 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