Thursday, September 24, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
By Steph Brewer
Kansan staff writer
When sports fans attend Kansas City Chiefs' or Washington Redskins' games, they may think that dressing up in war paint and head dresses and velling war whoops are part of sports tradition.
Yesterday afternoon, a University of Kansas professor explained that these mascots, costumes and cheers are not in any way a part of indigenous people's traditions and are, in fact, racist.
Cornel Pewewardy, assistant professor of education, addressed a group of 11 at the Pelathé Community Resource Center as part of a series of workshops designed to educate Kansans about mascots and racism in American sports culture. The workshops are sponsored by the Kansas Association for Native American Education Mascots Task Force Committee.
"We have various images that a lot of American society has of indigenous peoples," Peewardy said.
Pewwardy said Hollywood-made images of indigenous peoples still were being perpetuated in
American society by the use of mascots such as the Chiefs or the Cleveland Indians. He said sports fans who dressed up in what they saw as Native American costumes didn't understand that they were being offensive.
"People are so accustomed to making fun of Indians, it becomes normal," he said. "Reality is not the 'woo, woo, woo' stuff. That's manufactured reality." That's romanticism. That's a stereotype."
Peweward said that while some school districts had banned mascots depicting native peoples, many still existed. He also said that some sportscasters and writers added to the problem by saying things as 'scalped' or 'on the warpath' when describing the plays of sports teams.
He said by keeping these mascots indigenous, children were being teased about their culture and experiencing low self-esteem.
"The children don't want to go to school anymore because they've been shamed," he said.
He said that it was important to begin by educating children because they were more open to multicultural views.
Mark Randolph, a 1993 KU graduate and intern at
Cornel Peeweardy, assistant professor of education, said some sports team mascots were racist and offensive to indigenous peoples.
Offensive Mascots
Some examples are:
■ Kansas City Chiefs
■ Atlanta Braves
■ Washington Redskins
■ Cleveland Indians
"Even if it's a question of human respect, they're still not willing to change," he said.
the center, said that many college students were too set in their ways to change their views on offensive mascots.
"In essence, they're telling us what's important about our culture and how we should feel," she said.
Melissa Miera, Sioux City, Iowa, graduate student, said that workshops such as yesterday's should be mandatory at the University. She said that many students didn't want to be bothered with the issue of racist mascots.
GTA bill based on inaccuracies, chancellor says
By Julie M. Sachs Kansan staff writer
In response to a bill passed in Student Senate, Chancellor Robert Hemenway said that he did not think a written statement in support of the Graduate Teaching Assistant Coalition was necessary.
In the bill, the Chancellor was asked to formally state in writing that he would not support any future state legislative action aimed at eliminating the employee status of the graduate teaching assistants or denying their collective bargaining rights.
Hemenway said that while he supported GTAs, his decision to go against the advice of Senate was because the bill was based on inaccurate information.
Hemenway said the section of the bill accusing the University of Kansas of previously supporting state legislation that threatened the status of GTAs as public employees was inaccurate.
"It makes me inclined not to follow advice that is premised upon incorrect information," Hemenway said.
He said the University never supported any state legislation that
threatened the status of GTAs as state employees.
"If I had to characterize this, there is just a wrong assumption," Homenway said.
Although Hemenway said he thought that a written statement was unnecessary, he said that the University valued its GTAs.
"We very much respect the role of the GTA's in the University." Hemenway said. "What the University is going to do is support the GTAs and negotiate in good faith with the GTA union."
Mark Horowitz, president of the Graduate Teaching Assistants
Coalition, said the group was disappointed with Hemenway's decision.
"I'm shocked and disappointed by the Chancellor's reaction," said Mark Horowitz, president of the Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition. "Two weeks ago in Senate, he was very amiable. He stated directly that he never supported a bill eliminating GTA public employee rights."
Horowitz, the graduate senator who wrote the bill, said that he did not understand why Hemenway could not put what he told Senate in writing.
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Sunday September 27
Children's Parade
12 noon
South Park Gazebo
Opening Ceremonies
Convocation & Street Dance
1-5 pm
Joy Harris 785/ 832-0238
Classic Stage
7-9 pm
Lawrence Arts Center
Mary Gray 785/ 766-1578
Monday, September 28
7th Annual Poetry Reading
Terra Nova Hall
(above Milton's)
Carryn Mirriam-Goldberg
785/843-0253
Flashlight Walking Tour of
Art in the Storefront
Windows
Meet at the Jayhawker in
the Eldridge Hotel at Sunset
Janet Cinelli 785/749-2787
Tuesday, September 29
Singer Songwriter's
Showcase
7pm-Midnight
Liberty Hall
Tony Ware 785/836-3494
Wednesday, September 30 Jazz Event 7-10pm The Garden at the Eldridge Hotel Michael Paull 785/843-1462
Thursday, October 1
Music in Mural Alley
5-7pm
800 Block of Mass St.
Michael Paull 785/843-1462
Drum Circle In South Park
5-8pm
South Park
Barry Barnes 785/749-0575
5th Annual Harvest of Arts
Poetry JAM
7pm-till we're done
Paradisa Cafe
Mary Gary 785/766-1578
Friday,October 2
7th Annual Harvest of Arts
Film Festival
Granada Theater
Mark Von Schlemmer
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Sunday, October 3
Piano Stage
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Lawrence Art Center
Michael Paull 785/ 843-1462
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Harvest of the Arts
Weekend Festival
Open Air Art Fair
Hands on Activities for Kids
Local Music and Food
Buford M. Watson, Jr. Park
Joy Harris 785/832-0238
Michael Paull 785/843-1462
All Week Art in the Storefront Windows Window on Mass St. Mary Gray 785/766-1578
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Kansas Union, Level 1 call 864-3545 for more info!
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Presenting the
Genocide Awareness Project =
www.cbrInfo.org
At the University of Kansas
Featuring outdoor educational presentations comparing Jewish Holocaust victims, blacks killed in racist lynchings, and aborted unborn babies.
When: 9 AM - 4 PM, Thursday and Friday
Date Place
9/24/98 Thurs Kansas Union (Oread Ave)
9/25/98 Fri. Stauffer - Flint Hall
Warning! These outdoor presentations contain graphic genocide (including abortion) photos. As a gesture of respect to passerbys and small children who may want to avoid this display by choosing an alternative route or simply looking away, the above notice is provided. In addition, large orange signs will be placed to warn approaching motorists and pedestrians.
Additional Public Symposia with Gregg Cunnningham (All KU students and faculty invited)
9/24/98 Open debate with Gregg Cunningham on abortion and the Genocide Awareness Project. Everyone who wants to speak will be guaranteed an opportunity.
Kansas Ballroom
5th Floor
7:00 pm
All events sponsored by the University of Kansas Christian Legal Society and Jayhawker Campus Ministries. The Genocide Awareness Project is a production of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, Mission Hills, CA, in association with JUSTICE FOR ALL, Wichita, KS.