Some UMass Amherst students according to a recently published report seek to dump the University seal and mascot because, according to student organizer Charlotte Kelly, the seal - depicting a Native American holding tools - is offensive. “We do live in occupied, colonized land,” says Kelly. “This land had been a part of indigenous communities before it became the University of Massachusetts. And for us to be capitalizing and using a Native American figure as our seal seems really hurtful and violent.”
Caught in the cross-fire is the UMass mascot, Sam the Minuteman. He is a problem, too according to Kelly. The Minuteman athletic mascot has its own problems related to colonization — and gender.
A bold UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, in response to recent country-wide university unrest, is holding a series of “campus listening sessions” to hear student concerns and to solicit suggestions for improving the climate at the university.
Sounds familiar, no?
Caught in the cross-fire is the UMass mascot, Sam the Minuteman. He is a problem, too according to Kelly. The Minuteman athletic mascot has its own problems related to colonization — and gender.
A bold UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, in response to recent country-wide university unrest, is holding a series of “campus listening sessions” to hear student concerns and to solicit suggestions for improving the climate at the university.
Sounds familiar, no?
2 comments:
The day UMass abandons the Minutemen, who bravely stood on Concord Bridge and turned back the British assault in the first victory of the American Revolution, will be a very sad day for America,
While it can be fairly argued that Native American images have been misused, this is one of the few attacks on a mascot unrelated to the Native American images since DU faced a similar attack on Denver Boone. I expect that there will be a number of alums and students at UMass that will 'hold the line' and save Minuteman. Let's hope.
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