In an Apache newspaper survey of 250 students and 45 faculty-staff, a number of people find the choice of Apache strange since no Apaches were in this area.
Strong views about Apache nickname expressed
By Holli L. Rapp
| Over 80 percent of the student body
and about 70 percent of the faculty and staff feel the
Apache as an IVCC mascot and as a newspaper name is fine,
but those who are opposed express strong views. In an Apache newspaper survey of 250 students and 45 faculty-staff, a number of people find the choice of Apache strange since no Apaches were in this area. |
|
"It doesn’t make any sense," said Dr. Robert Marshall, vice president of student services. "I can’t understand the logic because there weren’t any Apaches within 2000 miles. It would be better logic if it was Kickapoo or Ottawa."
Others object because of the stereotyping of Indians.
English instructor Kim Radek said: "It seems a bit old-fashioned, insensitive and inappropriate to have a mascot that comes from or names a kind or class of people, as opposed to animals. It seems especially tacky considering that the people of Native American heritage have been very vocal in their disapproval of such mascots.
"I object to the stereotype of the Apache, that of a reductive ‘take-no-prisoners’ warrior mentality which was established through a biased one-sided perspective of their culture by those who had no access to the reasons or motivations of that culture, much less compassion for it or its members."
One alumnae of the U of I, where the use of Chief Illiniwek has been controversial, said racial names should be avoided, and "once it has been established, it is difficult to change because of student attitudes."
Human Resources Director Jerry Corcoran, another graduate of U of I, took the other side saying he had no objections to the Apaches or to Illiniwek.
Athletic Director Mike Riley said, "It doesn’t really concern me; that’s the least of my problems, what name we’re under."
College President Jean Goodnow also does not find the Apache mascot objectionable.
"I believe that as long as we respect and honor our mascot, the Apache, it remains an important part of our history at IVCC," she said.
Philosophy instructor Steve Rhoades, however, said names of Native American tribes are not appropriate as mascots.
"To designate a people already discriminated against as a mascot seems further demeaning," Rhoades said.
Counselor Valery Calvetti said the college needs to move from the thinking of 1947, when the Apache name was adopted, to 1999.
"We are not a Native American tribe, but an academic institution," she said.
A few students questioned whether Apache really is a mascot at IVCC.
"It is funny that we are named the Apaches when we don’t have a mascot like we did in high school that attends all events," one student said.
A Marseilles student agreed: "I can’t say that I’ve ever seen the Apache mascot."
In the past, however, fans and students have dressed as Indians and appeared at IVCC games.
As a substitute for the Apache some people suggested animal names might be more appropriate. A 20-year-old student suggested names that sounded tough, like panthers or cougars.
Rhoades said since mascots seem to be selected to "call up some fighting spirit that is thought to be appropriate for athletic teams," animals, like bulls, might be best.
Other people suggested something related to the river or the Illinois Valley area.
Dr. Marshall, who thinks it may be time for a change, said there should be a contest to allow students to take part and that the College Board should also be involved.
Dr. Harriet Custer, vice president of academic affairs, said, "I think that the mascot should reflect and project the culture of a college, it’s vision of what it wants to be, and/or characteristics of the area that it serves."
While the men’s teams are called the Apaches, the women’s are the Lady Apaches, a name Dr. Custer finds "particularly silly—if not offensive."
She added, "I suspect that Apaches are/were not just male."
Apache newspaper advisor Dr. Rose Marie Lynch, said "calling the women’s teams Lady Apaches is only a little better than calling them the Squaws."
Dr. Lynch also finds the Apache an inappropriate name for the newspaper.
"I have felt that way for some time, but I have not been a strong advocate for changing the newspaper name because it is a student newspaper, and I feel the students, especially the student staff, should be in control," she said.
The newspaper name goes back more than 30 years, she said, and that is another reason she has been reluctant to change.
Apache editor Staci J. Sessler, however, not only does not object to the name, she feels it is something to be proud of.
"Being part Indian, I feel it is an honor to have an institution such as this have their mascot named after an American Indian," she said.
"As far as the paper is concerned, as the Editor, I don’t see a problem with the name. It is a part of IVCC’s history and a part of the history of the Illinois Valley. As long as the Apache name is treated with respect and dignity, which IVCC does, there isn’t a problem."
(Written with assistance of John Baracani.)
April 8, 1999 the Apache