2007 - The use of American Indian mascots as symbols in school and university athletic programs is particularly troubling," says APA

The use of American Indian mascots 

promotes racial stereotyping

2007 May 17 The Times Herald 

     Re: "Prep mascots stirs debates" in Tuesday's Times Herald: Did you Know:

      The Harvard Review says racial insults cause psychological and physical harm. Indian team names and mascots have been charged with fostering "racial stereotyping" causing low self-esteem among American Indian and sets up children as targets for physical harassment.

      It is any wonder the school drop-off rate is so depressingly high, not to mention high poverty and suicide? Racism is institutionalized. 

      The American Physiological Association has had similar results.

       "The use of American Indian mascots as symbols in school and university athletic programs is particularly troubling," says APA President, Ronald F Levant, Ed. D. "Schools and universities are places of learning. These mascots are teaching stereotypical, misleading and, too often, insulting images of American Indians"      Research by psychologist Stephanie Fryberg, PhD, of the University of Arizona, shows the negative effect of such mascots on the self-esteem and community efficacy of American Indian students. Indian mascots are an example of prejudice by the dominant culture against racial and ethnic minority groups.
      US Department of Justice statistics state that an American Indian is four times more likely to be a victim of a violent crime by a person not of their race than any other racial or ethnic group.
      Michael Eskkibok, Grand Forks, ND

2007 May 17 The Times Herald