Fans Voice Dismay With NCAA Rule Affecting 'Indians' Name

Tuesday, June 12th 2007, 8:47 am

By: News On 6

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) _ A fan of Arkansas State's Indians athletic teams has offered to donate money for a lawsuit challenging an NCAA rule barring schools from using Indian nicknames, mascots and images at its championship events. A student wondered who would pay for the changes that would be needed if the school drops the Indian nickname and mascot.

A committee named by the Arkansas State University Board of Trustees met with sports fans for an informal discussion of the options open to the school in the wake of the NCAA's adoption of the rule in 2005. The NCAA says mascots, images and team names with native American themes are considered hostile and abusive to that ethnic group.

The committee will eventually recommend a course of action to the school's board.

Dick Clay of Jonesboro, a retired sportscaster, asked for a show of hands by opponents of the NCAA's move among those attending the session. Several people raised their hands, but not a majority of the audience.

Joe Turney, a member of the mascot committee, said he didn't like the new rule, but that may not be a big factor.

``It's not right,'' Turney said. ``I feel like the NCAA is stepping in an area (where) they need to be doing other things.

``I grew up an Indian and I'll die an Indian,'' Turney said. ``What I want is what's best for them and, unfortunately, that may not be what I would like to see us do. But the ultimate thing is to do what's good for the student-athletes.''

Clay's remarks indicated his idea of what that should be.

``I don't think that anybody has the right to tell us what to name our teams,'' he said. ``The Indians are the name... The NCAA ... (is) trying to be politically correct and all, and I think we should fight it. ... I for one will give a $500 check to start it all.''

But Robin Aaron, an ASU student serving on the committee member, offered a different perspective.

``We've been the Gorillas, we've been the Aggies, we've been everything else, the Runnin' Joes,'' she said. ``Things change, and if it's time to change and it betters our school, I'm all for it.''

Malessie Mosier, a student who was in the audience, asked where the money would come from to pay for the changes that would be needed.

``My tuition just got raised a hundred dollars,'' she said.

Athletic Director Dean Lee, a committee member, estimated a cost of $250,000 to $300,000 to eliminate the Indian mascot and image and adopt another symbol for the school's teams.

The committee has planned another meeting next Monday.