Board Resolution on Mascots

MSU Moorhead
Office of the President
203 Owens Hall
1104 Seventh Ave. S.
Moorhead, MN 56563
(218) 477-2243

MnSCU Board Resolution on Mascots, Names, Logos and Nicknames

November 22, 2002 (sent to campus via "official listserv")
To: The Campus Community
From: President Barden
Re: Logos, Names, Mascots and Nicknames

In light of the recent media discussion regarding the mascot used by the University of North Dakota, this is a good time to remind you that Minnesota State University Moorhead joined the other state colleges and universities in unanimous support of a resolution on logos, names, mascots and nicknames, adopted in February 2002 by the MnSCU Board of Trustees.

For the official Board meeting minutes addressing this issue, visit http://www.mnscu.edu/Board/Minutes/FY02/February.html. For the system office news release addressing this issue, visit http://www.mnscu.edu/NewsReleases/Fy02/0221-logos.html. Links to these sites are also posted on the President's web site. The resolution is printed in its entirety below:

Use of Logos
Resolution on Logos, Names, Mascots and Nicknames

Whereas, MnSCU seeks to provide a learning environment that acknowledges and values diversity of all kinds, including, but not limited to, race, religion and ethnicity; and

Whereas, eliminating discrimination and ensuring the civil rights of all members of our communities must be a continuing effort by our colleges and universities; and

Whereas, we believe that civility, good citizenship and diversity support and promote high quality intercollegiate competition by students, student-athletes, coaches, institutional advisors, spectators and fans; and

Whereas, logos, names, mascots and nicknames referring to minority cultures may be based on negative images or other stereotypes that do not reflect an authentic identification with those cultures;

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:
1. Will not have any discriminatory logos in its institutions.
2. Strongly opposes the use of derisive logos, names, mascots and nicknames by opposing athletic teams or teams involved in other forms of intercollegiate competition.
3. Joins those who desire to stop the use of discriminatory logos, names, mascots and nicknames by athletic teams and in other areas of intercollegiate competition.
4. Directs that this resolution be forwarded to MnSCU College and University Presidents for distribution.

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