1972: "By removing the Indian as Stanford's symbol, the university would be renouncing a grotesque ignorance that it has previously condoned."

1972 Feb 26. Fond Du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 

Stanford Gets Petition 

Indian Symbol Given Criticism

Lois S. Amsterdam, Stanford University ombudsman, is calling for the University to be "immediately disavowed and permanently stopped" from using its Indian symbol for its athletic teams. She presented a petition from 55 Native people to the university president. 

      The petition states: 

      "By removing the Indian as Stanford's symbol, the university would be renouncing a grotesque ignorance that it has previously condoned. We appreciate the long history of Stanford's Indian symbol. However, we cannot and will not accept the demeaning, insulting ways in which this symbol distorts the image of the native American and prostitutes the religious aspects of all tribes in general.  By retracting its misuses of the Indian symbol, the University would be showing a readily progressive concern for the American Indians of the United States.  

A statement delivered by Lois S. Amsterdam should also be noted:
      "I cannot add to the obvious force of the petition's statement on the demeaning exploitation of a race of people as a symbol for sport and entertainment. Whether it be a team name, 'mascot,' or dollie*, all must be condemned as the progeny of an offensive use.
      "I do feel impelled however to speak on a tangential problem. I have heard and read of the possible adverse reaction of our alumni to the abandonment of the Indian symbol. It is true that the symbol has been utilized for many years, and has therefore been nostalgically incorporated into some alumni activity and thought. The alumni are attached and committed to a University, and to the men and women who represent the traditions, goals, and aspirations of that University. They do not revere a symbol for its own sake, but rather take pride in the students who do their best to represent Stanford in competitive sport and intellectual endeavor. The alumni will be proud when their University removes any vestige of a symbolic use which degrades and insults members of our community. Surely we do not expect less from our alumni than we do from ourselves; and we should not disparage the alumni by assuming that they would cling obstinately to a symbol of the past whose present inappropriateness has become plainly apparent...
      "It does appear that the Native American Program as presently operated has serious deficiencies which both handicap our Native American students in benefiting from the educational potential of the University and handicap the University in realizing its commitment to the Native American group. There is a problem, for example, in the absence of adequate supporting personnel; and there appears to be a need for special academic programs and support..."

* A dollie is a Stanford cheerleader

1972 Feb 26.
Fond Du Lac Commonwealth Reporter