University administrators won't officially speak out against the Chief but have quietly downplayed the Chief for years. He is nowhere to be found on the University's Web site, and even the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics doesn't use the Chief on its letterhead, business cards or on the cover of media guides. All of us would be angry if others told us what should or should not insult us. But that is what the University says to those who find the Chief's representation of a culture offensive without thinking much about how the use of the Chief makes opponents feel. As the report states, American Indian protesters assert that every Asian should not be viewed as being a math whiz, every African American should not be viewed as an athlete and every American Indian should not be viewed as a proud, brave, noble, dancing and whooping plainsman.
Stereotypes are unwanted, even if they are intended to be positive.
The Chief does not bring honor to the American-Indian people. He does not help students understand the history of the land they go to school on. Instead, he brings dishonor to this University and shows students a stereotypical image of American Indians. We don't have an American-Indian cultural studies program or cultural center. We don't have a scholarship fund for American Indians.