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TechnographNCAA approves two schools' nickname changes
Carthage, Midwestern taken off 'hostile and abusive' list
By Courtney Linehan
Posted: 11/10/05 Section: News
The NCAA approved nickname changes by Carthage College and Midwestern State University on Wednesday and removed those schools from its list of member institutions using "hostile and abusive" American Indian imagery.
Carthage will change its athletic teams nickname from "Redmen" to "Red Men" and will remove two feathers currently part of a school logo.
The new nickname, spokesman Robert Rosen said, is actually a return to the school's original moniker, which was adopted because of Carthage's sports teams' red uniforms.
"The name was modified to two words to reconnect with that original meaning," Rosen said. "In actual practice, we haven't had any Native American imagery with the name since the 1980s."
Midwestern State University elected to drop its "Indians" nickname, but was given until April 4, 2006, the conclusion of the basketball season, to remove that name from its basketball court.
By changing their names, both schools will no longer be prohibited from hosting NCAA postseason competitions. In August, the NCAA issued a policy prohibiting American Indian mascots, logos and nicknames from appearing in post-season competition; that ban also stipulated that schools with 'hostile and abusive' American Indian imagery could not host post-season contests.
Eighteen schools, including the University of Illinois, were on that original list. The Florida State Seminoles, Utah Utes and Central Michigan Chippewas all appealed their inclusion on the list and won. The North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Bradley Braves and Newberry College Indians appealed and lost.
"While the NCAA policy does not mandate that an institution change its mascot, nickname or imagery, the action Carthage and Midwestern State have taken is consistent with core governing principles of the Association, specifically the principles of cultural diversity and nondiscrimination," Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice-president for governance and management, said in a press release.
Carthage will change its athletic teams nickname from "Redmen" to "Red Men" and will remove two feathers currently part of a school logo.
The new nickname, spokesman Robert Rosen said, is actually a return to the school's original moniker, which was adopted because of Carthage's sports teams' red uniforms.
"The name was modified to two words to reconnect with that original meaning," Rosen said. "In actual practice, we haven't had any Native American imagery with the name since the 1980s."
Midwestern State University elected to drop its "Indians" nickname, but was given until April 4, 2006, the conclusion of the basketball season, to remove that name from its basketball court.
By changing their names, both schools will no longer be prohibited from hosting NCAA postseason competitions. In August, the NCAA issued a policy prohibiting American Indian mascots, logos and nicknames from appearing in post-season competition; that ban also stipulated that schools with 'hostile and abusive' American Indian imagery could not host post-season contests.
Eighteen schools, including the University of Illinois, were on that original list. The Florida State Seminoles, Utah Utes and Central Michigan Chippewas all appealed their inclusion on the list and won. The North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Bradley Braves and Newberry College Indians appealed and lost.
"While the NCAA policy does not mandate that an institution change its mascot, nickname or imagery, the action Carthage and Midwestern State have taken is consistent with core governing principles of the Association, specifically the principles of cultural diversity and nondiscrimination," Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice-president for governance and management, said in a press release.
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