The case of the Florida Seminoles is an interesting one because Florida State University (FSU) and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have reached an agreement, albeit a controversial one, that permits FSU...

The case of the Florida Seminoles is an interesting one because Florida State University (FSU) and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have reached an agreement, albeit a controversial one, that permits FSU to continue using their mascot, Chief Osceola, and the team name, the Seminoles. They were prompted to do so following a 2005 ruling by the National Collegiate Athletic Association outlawing “mascots, nicknames, or images deemed hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity, or national origin.” Investigate this specific case to find out about the details of the agreement and debates surrounding it. (One resource is “Bonding over a Mascot,” by Joe Lapointe, which appeared in the New York Times in December 2006, http://nyti.ms/Okvsow. As you read that article, pay careful attention to the ways in which stereotypes are themselves part of the terms of the agreement.) Based on what you learn, be prepared to discuss how Shakley would likely critique the Seminole Tribe’s agreement with FSU beyond what he says in this essay