I want to tell you about a friend of mine. His name is Timothy. Tim attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He’s an engineering student and loves to tell people that the “Timmy!” gag on South Park is based on him.

Tim’s a huge fan of football and the past few years have been pretty kind to him and his Tigers, but the only thing Tim ever wants to talk about is Florida State. You see, Tim is a member of the Seminole tribe from which FSU’s mascot takes its name.

By now, I am sure that everyone is somewhat familiar with the NCAA’s recent ban on the use of Indian mascots by universities. Advocates of minority and multicultural rights have long sought action that would prevent the use of mascots the NCAA deems “hostile” or “abusive,” and the NCAA has received much praise for its actions along with the expected criticism.

Tragedy struck last week. On Wednesday, the NCAA overturned its ban on Florida State’s mascot, reasoning that members of the Seminole tribe had a working relationship with the university.

Of course, FSU president T.K. Wetherell also threatened a lawsuit if the ban was not overturned. Let me repeat the important part of that sentence: the ban was dropped because the university threatened to sue.

Is this what our nation has come to? We’ll appease all those we can, as long as we don’t get sued? The NCAA’s overturning of its own ban is ridiculous.

The NCAA has been quick to emphasize that the ban was lifted because of FSU’s working relationship with the Seminole tribe. This is ludicrous. The United States of America has a “working” relationship with North Korea, so should we simply stop paying any attention to Kim Il Jong’s increasingly frightening actions? Of course not.

Proponents of Florida State’s right to use the Seminole as a mascot have also jumped on this bandwagon. I seriously doubt, however, that any of these proponents have spoken with anyone associated with the Seminoles, or that they could even tell you one legitimate thing about the tribe.

After conversing with Tim, I can say that this is not a universally popular move within the tribe.

Take a step back and think about this issue. It makes sense that Seminoles would be appalled by this action.

Most college mascots are animals, both real and mythical. The largest exception to this rule is the use of Indian mascots. These people are essentially being equated with animals. How would you feel if someone told you that you were no different from a tiger or a bulldog or a wolverine?

Another argument that supporters of Indian mascots use is the idea of historic context. The Seminole tribe is located in Florida, and thus it is logical to pay homage to them as mascots. I would have no problem with this argument if it was universally followed. As soon as the University of Alabama-Birmingham adopts “the Klan” as its mascot, I’ll acquiesce to this argument’s validity.

In my mind, there is no difference between the FSU Seminoles and the UAB Klan. Many African-Americans have been killed in Alabama, one of the most horrifying examples being the church bombing in Birmingham a few decades ago. What better way to preserve the memory of these unfortunate victims than by the renaming of a state university’s mascot?

Once again, this is ludicrous. I’d like to state in writing that I would never support such a plan as I have just lain out, and for the same reasons cannot support any school’s use of an Indian mascot.

I realize that my relationship with individuals such as Tim makes me more sensitive to this issue. Nonetheless, this is an issue of which everyone should make themselves aware.

The NCAA’s reversal of their ban is quite possibly this country’s most tragic disaster since 9/11. Not only is this an issue that has a large emotional and psychological impact on members of the Seminole nation, but it also affects our nation as a whole.

Most of us are at least vaguely aware of the atrocities the American government has historically committed against Native Americans; to this day it remains the poorest ethnic group in the country, by a significant margin. Allowing universities such as Florida State to continue their offensive use of Indian mascots is outrageous.

By repealing its ban, the NCAA has spit in the face of the Seminole nation, the larger community of Native Americans, and the country as a whole.

Good is an Olathe senior in English.