Making Moves Ep. 9: Mascot Issues

Mascots and symbols have long been used as a source of pride within sports. This can be problematic and stir up issues when a symbol used may be offensive. We have seen this at all levels, from high school and college, all the way to the pros. In relation to Cal State East Bay, the “Pioneer” remains a symbol of the school, yet the visual representation was removed after a recent initiative was put into play. This led to the investigation of the symbol’s origins and the conclusion that “Pioneer Pete'' did not promote inclusivity. The “Pioneer”, symbolic of Manifest Destiny, also continues to reinforce native people's displacement and also industrialist/ genocidal impulses. Because sport is powerful in bringing together a community, compassion and understanding alongside the deconstruction of personal beliefs is key to tackling mascot issues.
Resources:
The Faculty Diversity and Equity Committee discussed East Bay’s mascot at & voted to send the attached resolution to the Senate www.csueastbay...
On May 10th, 2018, CSU East Bay’s Faculty Diversity and Equity Committee (FDEC) passed a resolution to retire the current image of Pioneer Pete. Afterward this resolution headed to CSUEB's Academic Senate and on October 6 the senators voted to remove Pioneer Pete as the mascot: www.csueastbay....
Research on the history of “Pioneer Pete, Cal State East Bay’s retired mascot, was led by Cal State East Bay student Robyn Perry, a history major: www.csueastbay...
An indigenous leader supports the usage of a controversial mascot: www.nytimes.co...
Referencing the Super Bowl of the SF 49ers Vs KC Chiefs as the “Manifest Destiny Bowl”: nypost.com/202...
Skate Like a Girl is an organization that reclaimed the reference of performing “like a girl”: www.skatelikea...
You can get involved with the organization that backs this podcast, by visiting the Center for Sport and Social Justice’s website: www.csueastbay...
Student organizations/ student led groups are mentioned as ways for students to be involved in the grassroots movement: csusqe.org/chap... and www.csueastbay...
The book There There by Tommy Orange: / there-there
The 2005 NCAA ruling to ban hostile and abusive mascots can be found here: fs.ncaa.org/Doc...
Links on the “Manifest Destiny Bowl”: healingmnstori... and uproxx.com/cul...
The study referenced by Jeff regarding pushback to name changes: Davis-Delano, Laurel R., and Todd Crosset. 2008. "Using Social Movement Theory To Study Outcomes in Sport-Related Social Movements." International Review for the Sociology of Sport 43 (2):115-134. doi: 10.1177/1012690208095375.
The 1991 movie City Slickers, directed by Ron Underwood is referenced with Billy Crystal’s nostalgia recalling his best day ever at a New York Yankees game
Info on Laurel Davis Delano: springfield.ed...