Gamecocks99
August 12th, 2005, 10:54 PM
***From today's Birmingham News.***
Right behind the NCAA comes our friends from PETA.
What is next??
Click & read below what JSU Fans thinks about it.
http://www.gojaxstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=418&sid=d2a3c78fe7d7070b04d9b51f6ef88b47
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PETA asks NCAA to ban Gamecocks nickname
Friday, August 12, 2005
MIKE PERRIN
News staff writer
Jacksonville State and the University of South Carolina have ruffled some feathers at PETA and the animal rights advocacy group is asking Myles Brand to do something about it.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to the NCAA president on Wednesday asking him to extend the recent ban on nicknames considered hostile or abusive to ethnic groups so that it would outlaw the Gamecocks.
"Our position is that since cockfighting is illegal in 48 states in this country and a felony in South Carolina - you go to jail, period - we don't think schools should be promoting this illegal act with their mascots," said Dan Shannon, PETA manager of campaigns.
"Our problem with Gamecocks is it promotes cockfighting. That's not only illegal, but tremendously cruel to the animals involved.
"We've been in contact with the presidents of these universities for several years," Shannon said. "We've exchanged polite letters back and forth, very polite and respectful, but they have chosen not to change their names.
"With the NCAA decision about Native American nicknames, we hope that might spur them on - no pun intended - to adopt a nickname more respectful to animals."
The president's office at JSU had no comment on Thursday and efforts to reach Athletics Director Jimmy Fuller were unsuccessful. In October of 2001, however, JSU President Bill Meehan told The State of Columbia, S.C., "We have no plans to change at this time, and there is no movement in the study body to change."
PETA campaign coordinator Allison Ezell told Brand in Wednesday's letter saying the ban on nicknames offensive to Native Americans "sends a message that old-fashioned and offensive representations are not appropriate, and we would like to ask that you extend this sensitivity to animals by banning team names and logos that suggest hostility or abuse toward animals."
Ezell said the group supported nicknames that "highlight the power and beauty in the natural world" like the Oregon Ducks and Baylor Bears. Shannon extended the group's respect to the Southeastern Conference.
"We don't have a problem with names like the LSU Tigers," he said, "those that are respectful to animals and show that they are worthy of respect. You'd be proud to be a tiger. We have no problem with that."
Ezell said Jax State and South Carolina glorified "a hideous `blood sport' that, like spousal abuse, bank robbery and driving while intoxicated, is illegal in both South Carolina and Alabama."
"It's a safe bet that officials at South Carolina and Jacksonville would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters or Road-Ragers! By calling them the Gamecocks, USC sends a message to sports fans that cruel, illegal cockfighting is something to cheer about."
Right behind the NCAA comes our friends from PETA.
What is next??
Click & read below what JSU Fans thinks about it.
http://www.gojaxstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=418&sid=d2a3c78fe7d7070b04d9b51f6ef88b47
----------------------
PETA asks NCAA to ban Gamecocks nickname
Friday, August 12, 2005
MIKE PERRIN
News staff writer
Jacksonville State and the University of South Carolina have ruffled some feathers at PETA and the animal rights advocacy group is asking Myles Brand to do something about it.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to the NCAA president on Wednesday asking him to extend the recent ban on nicknames considered hostile or abusive to ethnic groups so that it would outlaw the Gamecocks.
"Our position is that since cockfighting is illegal in 48 states in this country and a felony in South Carolina - you go to jail, period - we don't think schools should be promoting this illegal act with their mascots," said Dan Shannon, PETA manager of campaigns.
"Our problem with Gamecocks is it promotes cockfighting. That's not only illegal, but tremendously cruel to the animals involved.
"We've been in contact with the presidents of these universities for several years," Shannon said. "We've exchanged polite letters back and forth, very polite and respectful, but they have chosen not to change their names.
"With the NCAA decision about Native American nicknames, we hope that might spur them on - no pun intended - to adopt a nickname more respectful to animals."
The president's office at JSU had no comment on Thursday and efforts to reach Athletics Director Jimmy Fuller were unsuccessful. In October of 2001, however, JSU President Bill Meehan told The State of Columbia, S.C., "We have no plans to change at this time, and there is no movement in the study body to change."
PETA campaign coordinator Allison Ezell told Brand in Wednesday's letter saying the ban on nicknames offensive to Native Americans "sends a message that old-fashioned and offensive representations are not appropriate, and we would like to ask that you extend this sensitivity to animals by banning team names and logos that suggest hostility or abuse toward animals."
Ezell said the group supported nicknames that "highlight the power and beauty in the natural world" like the Oregon Ducks and Baylor Bears. Shannon extended the group's respect to the Southeastern Conference.
"We don't have a problem with names like the LSU Tigers," he said, "those that are respectful to animals and show that they are worthy of respect. You'd be proud to be a tiger. We have no problem with that."
Ezell said Jax State and South Carolina glorified "a hideous `blood sport' that, like spousal abuse, bank robbery and driving while intoxicated, is illegal in both South Carolina and Alabama."
"It's a safe bet that officials at South Carolina and Jacksonville would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters or Road-Ragers! By calling them the Gamecocks, USC sends a message to sports fans that cruel, illegal cockfighting is something to cheer about."