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MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2003

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has dropped a nine-year ban on the use of Indian mascot names, editor Anders Gyllenhaal announced on Sunday.

In a note to readers, Gyllenhaal said the paper will exercise "judgment and care" when writing news and sports stories about teams with Indian mascots, nicknames or logos. "They will appear in the paper as they come up in the news," she wrote. "But reporters and editors will remember that these can be loaded phrases, and that how they're used is as important as whether they are."

Gyllenhaal said the change will clarify the paper's standards and "respond to the changing society covered in these pages."

In an editorial, the paper agrees with the new policy but says Indian mascots are still offensive. "There are plenty of other clever names that sports teams can be called," the paper says. "Hear the Indian plea: Drop the nicknames."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Indian nicknames / They're still offensive and needless (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 6/9)
From the editor: News staff will use judgment on team names (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 6/8)
Username: indianz, Password: indianzcom

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Minn. paper might drop ban on using Indian mascots (6/2)