Student Senate passes mascot resolution

By By John Jordan (Contact)

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution to ask the University not to schedule athletic events with schools that have mascots the NCAA deems offensive.

After hearing 12 speakers, including senators, professors and students in favor of the resolution, speak for about an hour, the senate chose to pass the resolution by acclamation. Acclamation is a process in which the senate chooses not to vote because all senators support the resolution.

Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said the decision about the scheduling policy would be the University’s, not the athletics department’s.

He said the department would discuss it with the University, but that it wasn’t an athletics issue.

Stephanie Craig, Edmond, Okla., senior, said if the University adopted the resolution, it would be the first to do so since the NCAA adopted its policy.

That policy would help show the University’s support of diversity and of other cultures, Craig said.

Michael Yellow Bird, professor and chairman of the department of indigenous studies, spoke in favor of the resolution.

Native American mascots have become institutionalized, unlike other ethnic groups, Yellow Bird said.

Jason Lewis, a graduate student from Los Angeles and member of the Chocktaw tribe, said it was exciting to think that students would support a policy like this.

“Students have the power in their hands to change University policy,” Lewis said.

Lewis said Native American mascots are “visual violence.”

Although some may think the mascots are not offensive, Lewis said he knew the hurt the mascots bring to indigenous peoples.

“It’s not an honor being a mascot,” Lewis said.

Studie Red Corn, Shawnee sophomore and First Nations student associate senator, said he thought discussing and passing the resolution was a great step for the University. He said it was up to senators to take dialogue about the issue to the athletics department.

The resolution read that Student Senate “supports the adoption of a policy by the KU Athletics Department which would prohibit the scheduling of athletic competitions with schools who are in violation with the ban.”

In other business, the senate also voted to have polling sites for next spring’s elections at Wescoe Beach and Mrs. E’s dining center on Daisy Hill.

Edited by Erin Wisdom

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