I’ve been highly critical of the NCAA’s drive against Native American-related team names – or, more particularly, names that aren’t overtly degrading (I think Washington could retire “Redskins” without any great fuss). And while I realize it’s a fine line and an emotional topic, I take schools like UND at their word that their mascot names – the “Sioux” – have no derogatory intent.
Still, I’m glad to see that the U of M, in enacting the policies of that rigidly ethical body the NCAA, has observed the highest standards of ethics and logic, declaring with unequivocal moral rectitude that…:
A University of Minnesota policy discouraging the school’s athletic teams from competing against the University of North Dakota in any sport…
Well, while I disagree with the policy, it’s good to see that the U of M is standing for principle, even a misguided principle, and eschewing the path of the weasel – like, for instance, if they’d exempted the big money-maker game against their archrival, a rivalry that is a huge cash cow for the athletic department…
… except hockey will stand.
[SCREEEEEECH]
Um…
So in other words, the U of M will stand by smug, sanctimonious PC policy, except where there’s big money and alumni dollars involved?
UPDATE: King adds:
One is left to conclude that the University has engaged in the ultimate of cheap signaling.
If standards are a good thing, double standards must be more gooder.
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I am in a part time grad program right now at the U of M. As part of our orientation, we had to sit through the diversity lecture. The lady doing it was actually okay. Not much preaching and it was done in a positive manner.
With one exception. I didn’t really like the “white male backlash” section. I would have identified more closely with the “Christian backlash” or the “pro-American backlash” or the “pro-military backlash” or maybe even the “fiscally conservative backlash”.
Here’s a strange co-incidence. The U of M’s “Winter Holiday” falls on Christmas this year.