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KNOW YOUR CAMPUS

· Mascots
Many universities have taken steps to rename mascots or choose new ones, but more than 50 American colleges and universities remain wedded to racist and demeaning "Indian" mascots.

Consider what role your school mascot plays in ongoing discussions of tolerance and diversity. Is change needed? If so, who will be your allies in change, and who will oppose such a movement?

Sometimes stakes can be very high.

When the University of North Dakota considered changing its mascot to something other than the Fighting Sioux, an alumnus threatened to withdraw a $100 million donation for an athletic arena.

The Fighting Sioux mascot remained, and the arena held a gala opening night on Oct. 5, 2001.

Proceed cautiously, and be persistent.

· Athletics
Getting beyond the mascot, some athletic teams offer models of racial sensitivity and inclusiveness. Others, though, display some of the most deep-seated prejudices, especially homophobia, on campus.

Rice University dealt with this issue when one of its coaches was quoted making homophobic remarks. Students staged protests at sporting events; the coach apologized; the college president quickly reiterated the school's anti-discrimination policy, which includes sexual orientation; and the faculty issued a unanimous statement repudiating the coach.

· And what about you?
Any time you think, "This is about them, not me," you're part of the institutional problem.

Gauge your own complicity. Be honest: What "-isms" do you bring to the table that might be getting in the way of good solutions?

Take Tolerance.org's Hidden Bias Tests, and ask yourself other questions, too.

Have you failed to speak up? Is your silence tacit approval of racism or bias?

Or, on the other side, has your speech as an activist become too strident?

As Samar Ali, the 2002-2003 student government president of Vanderbilt University, said, "Don't become so radical that you can't work with non-activists."

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