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TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2002

Ed. Note: The Fighting Whities will be the subject of a Native America Calling broadcast today at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

"Sometimes offense is the best defense.

That appears to be what some innovative Native American Indian students at the University of Northern Colorado had in mind. When local activists failed to persuade Eaton High School in Greeley, Colo., to change the name and Indian mascot of its team, the Fightin' Reds, the Indian university students decided to make their point a different way.

They changed the name of their intramural basketball team from the Native Pride to The Fightin' Whities.

As Solomon Little Owl, a team member who also directs the university's Native American Student Services, explained to reporters, his teammates, who include some Hispanics and Caucasians, wanted to "do something that will let people see the other side of what it's like to be a mascot."

The result? A media frenzy, of course. . ."

Get the Story:
Clarence Page: Fightin' Whities mascot raises a little awarness, a little cash (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 3/19)

Relevant Links:
Fighting Whities Merchandise - http://www.cafepress.com/fightinwhite/products.aspx?storeid=fightinwhite

Related Stories:
Debate continues on 'Whities' (3/18)
Team 'Whities' getting all the press (3/15)
Editorial: Wrong on 'Whities' (3/15)
Opinion: Indians on Indians (3/14)
Get your 'Whities' t-shirt (3/13)
'Whities' team drawing attention (3/12)
Students call themselves 'Whities' (3/11)