Friday, October 26, 4:30-6:30pm, Mendenhall Laboratory [Rm. 100], 125 S. Oval Mall

For more than 100 years, high school, college and professional sports teams have used some aspect of American Indian caricature as mascots. In fact, Ohio has the most high school sports programs with race-based American Indian sports mascots in the nation. For several decades, the use of such mascots have been criticized by increasing numbers of Natives and non-Natives alike. However, in 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Washington “Redskins” football team name and logo did not violate federal trademark law prohibiting the trademarking of words or images that “disparage others.”

What is the controversy about American Indian sports mascots? Why do some people revere their mascots with such fervor while others are deeply saddened and hurt by their continued use? Is there any middle ground and room for compromise?

Admission to this event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by OSU Center for the Study of Religion, 614-688-8010.