"Some of the more prominent voices in the debate about Native American sports mascots squared off at Arizona State University last week to argue a subject that will soon touch the Valley with the likely relocation of the Cleveland Indians' spring training headquarters to Goodyear in 2009.

"Something can be generic and still have implications," said Roland McCook Sr., the former chairman of the Ute Indian Tribe. "When (teams) do activities that are unbecoming, they have to be pulled in."

Jim Warne, a Lakota tribe member who played football at ASU and is the director of the Center for American Indian Rehabilitation, agreed that Native Americans are best qualified to address the debate. As an actor, Warne said he has dealt with racial typecasting in Hollywood.

"I've done a lot of parts," he said, "but do you think I'm ever asked to portray a Ph.D. student?"

Ron Toya, the executive director of the Tribal Government Institute, said he is sympathetic to those hurt by the logos but doesn't believe in widespread intervention.

"Being offended is not a sufficient reason to limit free speech in America," said Toya, who also wondered, "who are the thought police to tell us which words are OK?""

Get the Story:
Indians' return may fuel mascot debate (The Arizona Republic 10/24)

$googlead1

NCAA Update:
Status of Indian Mascot Policy (April 28, 2006)

NCAA Executive Committee Decision:
Native American Mascot Appeals Decisions (April 28, 2006)

NCAA Staff Decision on Fighting Sioux:
Statement by NCAA Senior Vice-President for Governance and Membership Bernard Franklin on University of North Dakota Review(September 28, 2005)

NCAA Policy on Indian Mascots:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005)

Relevant Links:
William and Mary - http://www.wm.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:
'Tribe' college drops use of feathers in logo (10/11)
NCAA rejects college's use of logo with feathers (08/04)
Another school challenges NCAA mascot policy (06/16)
William & Mary to appeal decision on 'Tribe' logo (05/18)
NCAA rejects use of William & Mary 'Tribe' logo (5/17)
NCAA rejects two more challenges to mascot policy (05/01)
Standing Rock chairman disputes UND on 'Sioux' (4/28)
Opinion: Native students at UND subject to racism (04/12)
Nebraska board urged to eliminate Indian mascots (4/7)
Iowa high school won't drop 'Indians' nickname (4/4)
Mascot debate re-ignited at Stanford University (3/17)
Wisconsin school to eliminate 'Raider' Indian logo (3/14)
Public schools consider getting rid of Indian mascots (3/7)
Board won't ask schools to change Indian mascots (02/17)
Opinion: Get rid of 'insulting' Indian mascots (01/17)
Column: Silliness in fight over Indian mascots (1/5)
Harjo: Indian people have no word for 'mascot' (12/09)
Oglala Sioux Student: Mascots perpetuate racism (11/29)
Column: Nation in denial about racism of mascots (11/21)
Column: 'Redskins' a mascot of Indian genocide (11/17)
NCAA allows 'Illini' but rejects 'Chief Illiniwek' (11/14)
Resolution urges talks with tribes on 'Sioux' name (11/11)
Newberry College hosts forum on Indian mascots (11/10)
Carthage College goes from 'Redmen' to 'Red Men' (11/01)
NCAA rejects appeal of Newberry 'Indians' (10/27)
NCAA rejects appeal over Bradley 'Braves' (10/21)
Psychologists label Indian mascots harmful (10/19)
Opinion: Policy ignores racism in Indian mascots (10/3)
UND won't be taken off NCAA's Indian mascot list (09/29)
School won't fight NCAA policy, moves to change name (09/28)
Column: NCAA misses again on extension of policy (09/22)
NCAA extends mascot policy to division bowl games (9/21)
Opinion: Mascots dehumanize Native Americans (9/16)
Opinion: Mascots a stereotype of Native Americans (9/16)
Tim Giago: NCAA loses its spine on mascot policy (09/13)
Column: Haskell football coach against Indian mascots (09/09)
Editorial: NCAA backed into corner on mascot policy (8/29)
Opinion: Mascots are racist, plain and simple (8/29)
Seminole Lawyer: Tribes should work with mascots (8/29)
Tribes set to oppose 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (8/29)
Editorial: Not every mascot is 'hostile' or 'abusive' (8/26)
UND president wavers on tribal support for 'Sioux' (8/26)
Illinois village seeks to bring back Indian head (8/26)
Editorial: Native activists have empty, wooden heads (8/25)
Choctaw Nation chief has no problem with 'Savages' (8/25)
Column: Naming teams after Indians not a good idea (8/25)
Editorial: Tribes have final say in mascot decisions (8/25)
Column: University of Utah must connect with tribe (8/25)
CMU preparing to appeal decision on 'Chippewas' (8/25)
NCAI president worried about shift in NCAA stance (8/24)
NCAA exempts FSU 'Seminoles' from mascot policy (8/24)
Other universities encouraged by NCAA decision (8/24)
CMU to cite support of tribe for 'Chippewas' nickname (8/23)
Column: William & Mary 'Tribe' name harmless (8/23)
Editorial: NCAA deserves credit for mascot policy (8/22)
Column: Indians are heroes, so why not mascots? (8/22)
Column: Indians not offended by Indian mascots (8/22)
Editorial: Celebrate real Indians, not mascots (8/19)
Military commands eliminate use of Indian terms (8/19)
Column: It's time to bring an end to 'Redskins' (8/19)
Column: How about the Washington Blackfaces? (8/19)
Editorial: Trust fund or mascots? Pick just one (8/18)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname hurts Natives (8/18)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname hurts Natives (8/18)
Continued reaction to NCAA policy on mascots (8/17)
Tim Giago: Censor tribes for supporting mascots (8/17)
FSU once used drunk 'Chief Fullabull' as mascot (8/17)
Column: Nazi-loving Ralph keeps Indian logo alive (8/17)
University of Illinois trustee blasts NCAA policy (8/17)
Panel to decide fate of SOSU 'Savages' mascot (8/17)
Even more reaction to the NCAA policy on mascots (8/16)
FSU trustee apologizes to Seminole Nation (8/16)
Editorial: FSU leaders insulted Seminole people (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)