Mike wrote:
 
>I just thought of this...can anyone explain why Wisconsin's own
>tournament, the Badger Showdown, will include this season a team
>with a Native American nickname - Alaska-Fairbanks?  Is it a case of
>"Nanooks" not being considered offensive, or is this policy slated to
>take effect *after* the upcoming season (possibly because schedules had
>already been agreed upon)?  Just curious...
 
"Nanook" is an Inupiat Eskimo word for "Polar Bear," and the polar bear
(not an Eskimo) is indeed the official mascot of UAF athletic teams.  So,
if you will, the tournament will feature badgers and polar bears ... hardly
offensive (then again, polar bears can take offense against most anything
they want!)
 
I don't believe the current fuss over offending ethnic groups has yet
extended to the use of words from other languages; Heaven help us all if it
indeed gets that far.
 
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Dr. Stephen E. Roth                                 BITNET:   ROTH@CANISIUS
Dean of Student Services
Canisius College                                     PHONE:  (716) 888-2522
Buffalo, New York 14208                                FAX:  (716) 888-2525
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