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SPORTS OCTOBER 24, 2014 11 SPORTS EDITORIAL Washington Redskins’ racist mascot must be changed BY AUBREY KING Staff Writer A mascot is a brand, a symbol, an icon, a rallying point and a banner of an organization. "When someone asks your favorite team, you don't say Washington," said Guilford College head football coach Chris Rusiewicz. "You say the Redskins." But what if that mascot stands for something else? The Washington Redskins football team has a mascot emblazoned on its helmet with a tainted history that has outlived its welcome in a sport that, according to Seattle comerback Richard Sherman's interview with Time Magazine, is still home to active racism. The direct origin of the word "redskin," as is the case with the origins of so many words, is shrouded in uncertainty. What is clear is the way it has been used. Member of the Pawnee nation of Oklahoma and the Smithsonian Institute Kevin Cover described what he had come to know about the use of the word in an interview with Esquire Magazine. "I'm really not that interested in where the word comes from," said Cover. "It's been used in a disparaging ‘ way for at least a couple of centuries. "Up to and including the time I was growing up in Oldahoma." Wherever the word started, it grew into a symbol of violence during the 1800's. Newspapers ran ads offering payment for redskins, or, proof of Native American death. Tlrough the word may not mean exactly what it did then, its evolution has seen it hold onto its derogatory and hurtful edge. "I do think its offensive," said junior Timothy Barrows. "You wouldn't name a team the Washington Blackies." The Oxford Dictionary also lists the word as an offensive name for Native Americans. How can any league or sports community support the continued use of a defined derogatory term? Skins fans rationalize its use claiming tradition as the reason. "I don't know if I would rename the team or not," said junior Matt Pawlowski, quarterback of the Guilford football team. 'The team has been around for a long time, and it seems that only recently it has become a real issue." The sentiment seems to be shared between football players and fans. "I don't think it's offensive; they've had it for so long," said sophomore and Washington fan Nick Matt. "It's a kind of tradition." The Redskins organization has carried the name since 1933. Europeans began brutalizing Native Americans in the early 1500's. An 81-year history of branding pales in comparison to a 500-year history of prejudice. Other supporters of the Redskins say it is impossible to please everyone. "When you look at the arguments (against the Redskins' name), I think people can be offended by anything," said Coach Rusiewicz. "If the name is changed, big time fans and players could be offended." Why, then, should we aim to respect fans and players on a football team instead of an entire race of historically prejudiced people? The American government has done so much to hurt these people; can we not just give them this? Plenty of franchises have changed their names, kept their fan bases and moved on to focus on their sport. The Yankees were the Highlanders, The Wizards were the Bullets and the Astros were the Colt .45's. What could the Redskins be? 'The Scorpions," said Rusiewicz. "The Flying Pandas," said Pawlowski. "I just don't know," said Barrows. Giving perhaps the most hopeful suggestion, Guilford Head Women's Softb&ll Coach Dennis Shores recommended 'The Nations." 8 9 m m Z I S h o z An 81-yeor history of branding pales comparison to a 500-year history of prejudice. Guilford golf graduates land careers in China BY AMOL GRAG Staff Writer Faced with a faltering economy and a stagnant workforce, American college graduates are gradually shifting their eyes to China m order to seek employment. China boasts the world's largest population and a growing economy with many employment opportunities. Two recent additions to this workforce are recent Guilford College graduates Michael MacVane '14 and Blade Cruickshank '13. Both MacVane and Cruickshank are former Guilford athletes who now teach golf to children in Sanya, China. They work for Future of Golf, an organization headed by Ron Cruickshank '07, its co-owner and president. "My experience at Guilford was without a doubt the most richly rewarding educational experience of my life," said Ron "Few people truly xmderstand the value of achieving coherence and consensus like the graduates of Guilford," he added. "While seeking consensus can be painful and frustrating at times, the rewards far outweigh the difficulties of the process, and I highly value working with folks that understand this." MacVane, while working to get his degree in psychology and sports management, served as Guilford's soccer captain from 2013 to 2014. "Guilford was a great help in getting me prepared for my job," said MacVane in an email interview with The Guilfordian. "The skill of being able to take a problem and to look at it in multiple ways was something Guilford taught me well." When asked about his transition from playing soccer at Guilford to teaching golf in China, MacVane said, "Soccer was one of the best things that I did in college. "Coach Jeff Bateson was a huge influence on making me a better soccer player and a better person. He helped me become a better leader and a better mentor for teaching kids. 'The transition was still very different. Going from playing competitively to teaching competitively was hard and a little frustrating at first." Blade Cruickshank, while working to get his degree in business management, served as Guilford's lacrosse go^e from 2012 to 2013. "Guilford has always been on the cutting edge of educational experiences for their students," said Blade m an email interview with The Guilfordian. "We have a core belief at FCX5 that nothing is s^ in stone. Meaning, if something is working fantastic right now, then in six months it may not So we change it This is the same type of critical thinking and problem solving skills I honed during my time at Guilford." When asked about the reason why he chose to pursue a career in China Blade said, "By percentages, China has a golf population of zero percent. There are more active golfers in South Korea th^ in aU of China. Just think about that So for me, it wasn't about coming to the East. It was about going to the marketplace." Gitilford College not only successfully prepares its graduates for the challenges that lie ahead but also aids in molding students to become suited for fincting jobs anywhere in the world. Munich Marathon 10k: racing through history STUDENT RETELLS THE STORY OF HIS RACE THROUGH MUNICH BY IAN PENNY Guest Writer On paper, running 10 kilometers sounds easy. That distance, roughly equal to 6.2 miles, is only a shade longer than a car trip from Guilford College to the Cook-Out on Battleground Avenue. Cosmically speaking, 10 kilometers is far closer in size to an atom than the infinity of the universe. But 10 kilometers is also daunting. It equals 10,000 meters, or running 25 loops around a standard outdoor high school track. For a snail traveling at 1.042 meters per hour (their supposed average speed according to a University of Exeter study), it would take over 9,596 hours to travel 10 kilometers. What was I in for? Drei, zwei, eins... For the seasoned long-distance runner, a 10- kilometer race may seem like a light jog. For a newcomer lining up at the start of any race, whether it is a sprint or a marathon, is intimidating. I, the inexperienced runner, had no idea what I was doing. My survival hinged on following others. In the midst of spectators ready for action and racers gearing up for their bipedal trek, music thumped. Eventually, the baritone beats crescendoed, building up to a single moment. On the tail of downward counting and excited cheering, a gunshot blasted, and all the racers charged forward with energy and vigor. Then I remembered where I was. It was the German-speaking press announcers, the ceremonial Bavarian musket revolvers and the scenic starting point at Olympiapark that reminded me. Not only was I running, but I was running in a foreign country. The Munich Marathon 10-kilometer race was underway. Down the stretch. In a German-language press release, the Munich Marathon reported that a total of 21,128 runners participated in four disciplines (the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, and 10 kilometer races) on Oct. 12^ A total of 7,760 competitors endured the grueling 42-kifometer marathoi^ race. The 10-kilometer evejit logged 4,000 entrants. "For some, it was super fun," said Professor of \ ougi Foreign Languages Dave Limburg, a spectator at the marathon. "For others, it was competitive." While a few elite runners dashed through the streets of Munich in an attempt to win gold, many more raced at their own pace. Limburg offered that the Munich Marathon seemed to have an inclusive, festive and lighthearted nature. "There were some special-needs kids," he said, recalling some of the racers that passed by. "I saw a woman on crutches. Then, there was a man with a Superman costume." Several areas across Munich closed off traffic along the event routes. But in a city that has recently endured transit strikes, people had little problem. "(Munich residents) seemed used to the fact transportation would be disrupted," said Laura Limburg. The interruption of normal street traffic and the heavier crowds on the underground train system, she added, was significant but manageable. Crossing the finish line. In the heat of a race, you do not pay much attention to the outside world. All that matters are your thoughts and your legs. The 10 kilometer route I ran took me on a scenic tour through center of Munich. From Olympiapark, I darted through the upscale and modern Bohemian borough of Schwabing. Coming up on the third kilometer, I turned onto LeopoldstraCe, passing the triumphant Siegestor arch and Ludwig Maximilian University. Near the fourth-kilometer mark, the route doubled back toward the starting line, teasing the columns of Odeonsplatz down the way before wrapping around. But it did not faze me. At the eighth-kilometer mark, close to the starting line of the race, I found myself snapping out of a trance. I had returned to Olympiapark, the site of the 1972 Summer Olympics. The area, like much of Munich, is gushing with history, significance and importance. Some of the greatest world athletes and legends once roamed on these hallowed grounds. Greatness, controversy and especially tragedy echo from the tensile structures. The final leg of the race whipped into the center of the complex. Down a tunnel, entering the 57,470 seat Olympic Stadium, I finally graced the finish liqe. Though not every runner completes their journey in such a distinguished and awe-inspiring venue, I imagine that the end of any such event would leave you just as speechless. / /
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