The decision to drop the Indian imagery is of no issue to me or this effort.
It's over. It's done.
Nonetheless, I believe that The College dismisses the loss of the symbol
without understanding that for 50 or more classes durings its use
the symbol was more than an icon; it was a culture
respectfully woven into ceremonies
which The College adopted and
made official via the concept
of implied consent.
For some families,
that's three generations of graduates!
Everyone knows that corporate culture emanates from the head-shed.
And the shed on College Row has failed to restructure a new culture
throughout numerous Presidential & Trustee regimes.
Observation valids this statement.
In fairness, efforts have been made by several parties.
The failures of these efforts varies. The result remains;
No "official" mascots or symbols.
When I begain this website in 2004 I was angry at The College,
for it had exploited the indians idea/ore and then when they felt the heat
they threw it back to the sportswriter -- as if he has forced over The College.
To me is was pardoxical for The College to be sensitive to one culture,
while not having enough empathy and courage to reconstruct
the culture which was expunged by its first decision,
regardless of that decision's noble merits.
Since 2004 I have followed mascots intensely. Ditto for the NCAA's position.
In truth, I have learned many very interesting things which range from state legislations wanting to demand the keeping of
mascots to the other extreme.
MOST INTERESTING, I have learned that in many schools mascot are made NEVER OFFICIAL;
rather, they just exist they way the Indian did at Dartmouth.
Therefore there are legions of students, alums, and others still
searching
for not only a mascot, but a tangible culture, not just a color, or a tree.
The responsibility and obligation to reconstruct this college culture
rest soley with The College. After all, it co-opted the moniker
of regional sportswriters to "trademark" Dartmouth
and its now lost -- banned -- culture.
CULTURE
Was it not The College's honoring culture which was the essence
of the renewed emphasis on Native American Studies?
Did it not then seem logical that determining and
nurturing a new overall Dartmouth community
culture to be as important?
Apparently Not!
Regrettably, ironically, and other appropriate adverbs,
it has not been important enough for The College
to do so during the past 30 plus years.
