[assignmentmaker]

Originally posted by Mark Padgett
As many of you know, Juulie and I are friends, but I must take a slightly different tack on this issue other than hers.

I think that if a mascot is chosen to honor a particular group of people, and the representations of that group are not offensive to them, then not only is there nothing wrong with it, but it should be complimented. I'm talking about situations in public instutitions, of course.

However, if that group has a legitimate objection, such as being portrayed as negative stereotypes, then the mascot should be changed. Public funds should not be used to further prejudice.

I'm sure none of us would want to have a school mascot that "made fun of" an ethnic group to which we belonged.

That being said, I can't wait for Juulie's take on a school that calls it's team the "Fighting Quakers".

Go Penn!