uinnipiac has decided to change the mascot name that it has held since its inception. The things that students associated this school with, such as the old clock tower and now the school mascot, are gone.
Now with the construction next to the ledges that looks like Ground Zero, it is possible for people to sometimes forget where they are.
One suggestion for a new mascot name that is currently not being considered is “The Quinnipiac Politically Correct Maniacs,” but this name does not match the more inspiring “Sleeping Giants,” “Cougars,” or “Mountaineers.”
Say the name aloud. The words “Quinnipiac” and “Maniacs” rhyme. Most teams cannot boast that their name rhymes.
Readers should visit [email protected] and start the revolution by suggesting this new mascot. The PC Maniacs is fine too.
It is important not to offend groups of people with Indian sports team names, but the quest for total political correctness can go too far.
Political correctness has become so rampant that it becomes a joke, i.e. “vertically challenged” for short people. When people are forced to walk on the proverbial eggshells, sincerity and integrity are compromised.
There are instances where political correctness is necessary. Team names such as the NFL’s “Redskins” are not offensive because their mascot name is based upon a physical attribute of Native Americans.
It is similar to naming a team “The Albinos”, and that would not be fair to the pigment-challenged. In the same fashion, St. John’s University’s “Redmen” was changed, and it should have been; the name was based on the color of people’s skin, and that is inappropriate.
What’s next, complaints about New York’s NFL football team by exceptionally tall people? Or America as a whole complaining about the name “The Patriots?”
Major League Baseball has its Atlanta Braves, and the fans’ tomahawk-chop chant is offensive because it equates Native Americans with ferocity.
However, “The Braves” does not demoralize Native Americans; if anything, it is an honor. “Brave” does not have any negative connotations.
Furthermore, Quinnipiac University lies in a historically-rich Native American region, and the mascot name perpetuates the appreciation of the land.
Bruce Wallace’s article in the previous Chronicle states that Florida State University was pressured to change its name, “The Seminoles,” but refused to do so. In a Libertarian Party press release, it was said that, “Seminole tribal leaders have endorsed the name ‘Seminoles’ by Florida State University.”
One person cannot speak for Native Americans on this issue, but it is certainly significant that FSU’s mascot name was endorsed by tribal leaders.
Although the name change was decided by Quinnipiac without governmental intervention, the Board of Trustees makes the big decisions and it is the closest thing Quinnipiac has to a government (excluding the student government- but Quinnipiac would not leave such a big decision to students).
The Libertarian Party’s national director, Steve Dasbach, said, “As long as we have a First Amendment in this country, the government should shut down its Department of Hurt Feelings-and get off the warpath on the issue of Indian sports teams names.”
Quinnipiac should reserve the right to call its team mascot “The Braves” because of its location. It is a big part of the locale’s history, and the history of the school.
But all of the Quinnipiac Braves attire sold in the campus store will be shipped to the same landfill where the old clock tower is.