Photo Reznet News. Choctaw Nation Chief Greg Pyle has no problem with the "Savages" nickname of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Pyle is a 1972 graduate of SOSU and says the NCAA shouldn't tell the school what to do about the name. "That's for people in this area to decide," he told KTEN Channel 10. Pyle said the Choctaw Nation has a lot of other problems to worry about. "We have people who need jobs very bad. We need small children getting enrolled in school. We have over five thousand scholarships we give every year. We produce our own money for that. We run our own businesses. Those are priority," he said. SOSU has distanced itself from "Savages" in recent years, eliminating direct references to Indian culture. But fans still perform a "chant" and "tomahawk chop" at games, according to a recent article [Link] in RezNet News. A panel has been created to look into the name. Get the Story:
Nickname Change: Choctaw Nation Chief Speaks Out (KTEN 8/24) NCAA Announcement:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005) Relevant Links:
Southeastern Oklahoma State University - http://www.sosu.edu
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm Related Stories:
Panel to decide fate of SOSU 'Savages' mascot (08/17)
Even more reaction to the NCAA policy on mascots (8/16)
Schools appeal NCAA policy on Indian mascots (8/15)
Reaction to NCAA mascot policy still rolling in (8/15)
Bad Eagle: NCAA doesn't care what Indians think (8/15)
Harjo: Hanging onto mascots, toys of racism (8/12)
Still more reaction to NCAA policy on mascots (8/11)
Editorial: NCAA policy a step in the right direction (8/11)
Opinion: NCAA on the warpath against mascots (8/11)
NCAA President: Taking the high road on mascots (8/11)
NCAA will ask TV stations not to use mascot names (8/11)
North Dakota governor criticizes NCAA policy (8/11)
FSU trustees approve fight for 'Seminoles' mascot (8/11)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe calls policy 'unacceptable' (8/11)
Local high school league won't take up mascot issue (8/11)
Even more reaction to NCAA policy on mascots (8/10)
Editorial: Good riddance to 'demeaning' mascots (8/10)
Jeb Bush calls mascot policy 'offensive' to tribe (8/10)
University of Utah mulls position on 'Utes' (8/10)
More reaction to NCAA's new policy on Indian mascots (8/9)
FSU wants policy changed to allow 'Seminoles' (8/9)
Utah 'Utes' among the names on NCAA's mascot hit list (8/9)
'Fighting Sioux' arena contains thousands of logos (8/9)
NCAA announces revised Indian mascot policy (8/8)
Mixed reaction to change in use of mascots (8/8)
NCAA committee to take up Indian mascots (8/3)
TV stations challenged on use of 'Redskins' name (07/22)
Giago: Seminole Tribe wrong on Indian mascots (07/19)
Appeals court keeps 'Redskins' lawsuit alive (07/18)
Opinion: Changing mascots is a waste of time (07/15)
Mascots not only an issue for Native Americans (7/14)
Opinion: It's time for racist mascots to go (7/14)
Seminole Tribe doesn't have problem with mascots (07/05)
NCAA committee won't call for ban on Indian mascots (6/28)
Seminole Nation opposes FSU's 'Seminoles' mascot (6/23)
Seminole Tribe supports FSU's 'Seminoles' mascot (6/21)
Editorial: Not all 'Indian' mascots are offensive (05/31)
Harjo: NCAA should ban all 'Native' imagery (5/27)
FSU defends use of 'Seminole' mascot in NCAA letter (05/17)
Schools defend Indian mascots in reports to NCAA (5/16)
Editorial: UND's 'Fighting Sioux' report not truthful (05/06)
FSU preparing report on use of 'Seminole' mascot (04/29)
Virginia tribe not offended by school's nickname (04/26)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe supports CMU nickname (04/13)
Drunk Student: Chief Illiniwek is not offensive to Natives (04/07)
Group protests university's 'Fighting Sioux' name (03/28)
UNC-Pembroke stands by its 'Braves' nickname (03/09)
UND asked to study 'Fighting Sioux' name again (02/17)