Recently a sorority at Penn State was reprimanded for having a “Mexican Party” that made fun of an ethnic group using blatant stereotyping. Yet every day the same activity occurs with official support. In 2001 the US Commission on Civil Rights identified the use of Native American mascots by sports teams as inappropriate. Many organizations have agreed, including the NAACP and the NEA, while the American Psychological Associate issued a resolution in 2005 detailing the social and psychological harm done by such stereotyping. Federal action could certainly be taken by withdrawing public support from any groups that continue to use Native American names, symbols, and images; in particular the NFL team representing the Nation's Capitol which continues to use a racial slur as its name.



