My fellow blogger, Nick McAvoy, suggested several days ago that Penn opt for a new mascot. While some of us are seeking ways to get rid of our mascot, the University of Illinois is begging for its recently-rejected mascot to come back.
Several months ago, The University of Illinois’s Chief Illiniwek performed its last dance.
With lots of begging and pleading, the NCAA came to a compromise with the University and allowed the Indian dancer to return for some of this year’s Homecoming festivities. Despite this “reestablishment,” the mascot is still not allowed to officially represent the school and remains banned from performing at all competitions.
The NCAA has been on the war-path to rid educational institutions of potentially offensive mascots, but what I’m wondering is why an Indian Chief is any more offensive than our Quaker? (Who, in my opinion, doesn’t look very peaceful these days.)
I’m no stranger to the “let’s eradicate all Native American Mascots”-movement: My high school wants to change its team name from the Radnor Raiders to the Griffins. (I wish I could say that’s the worst team name ever, but it was years before I could live down playing for the Radnor Rainbows, my U-9 travel soccer team.) In reality, there will always be someone who is unhappy with who or what is representing their school. I mean at least we’re not one of these mascots.
I’d take a scary quaker or an offensive Indian over a Banana Slug any day.
An RSS feed of The Spin is available
October 30th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I am a senior at UC Santa Cruz and a proud Banana Slug. Our mascot is intelligent, cute and slimy, not to mention peaceful (it has no known predators) and a brilliant shade of yellow. I would suggest maybe celebrating mascot diversity instead of knocking other schools.
November 10th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I am an alum of UC-Santa Cruz and currently reside in the New Orleans area. The Banana Slug has been a cherished mascot for the University for years. As a biologist, the slug is a quite unique staple of our campus along with the deer, coyotes, foxes and mountain lions. Our campus is unique and different… and I LOVE IT!!!The mascot was selected by the student body and therefore represents OUR voice. The physical campus is a peaceful and tranquil place that most universities will never be able to achieve. So, while the best you can come up with is to ridicule something that you have not a clue about, do your research.
(As most of my fellow alums say -”SLUG LIIIIFE!!!!)
SLUG_4_LIFE
January 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Hey, I like your blog