California State University Mascot Naming Policy

AS-2522-01/Floor, (Phillips) - March 15-16, 2001

RESOLVED:That the California State University choose university mascot names from other than a human group.

RATIONALE: Universities choose mascot names from human groups that denote various positive qualities such as strength, dedication, and hard fightingness.

Human groups often have both positive and negative stereotypes attributed to them by other groups in society. Therefore the choosing of a university mascot based on human group characteristics can be seen as honoring either the positive or negative stereotypes of that group by others in society. The use of human group names for mascots has the potential of creating negative feelings about the group by some other segment of society.

FAILED - March 15-16, 2001