University and community partner to save Braves name

By Scott Ammons
Senior Staff Writer

The UNCP logo and nickname steering committee met Feb. 28 to outline the university’s strategy and response to the NCAA.

The strategy includes placing survey ads in the Carolina Indian Voice, the Robesonian, the Robeson Journal and the Laurinburg Exchange, and online. The Fayetteville Observer will publish the web link, for individuals that wish to download the survey.

The ad offers a brief history of the logo-nickname controversy and asks readers to answer two questions then return it to steering committee chair, Dr. Zoe Locklear. The committee also voted to place the survey online. Although the survey methodology is not scientific, the committee hopes to show community support for continued use of UNCP’s nickname and logo.

Committee member Mike Decinti said he would run an ad on WNCP-TV.

The university asked for and received support from Pembroke Town Council, Lumbee Tribal Council and Pembroke Chamber of Commerce.

Pembroke Town Council

The Pembroke Town Council voted Feb. 7 unanimously to support UNCP’s continued use of the Braves logo. The resolution stated, “Town officials have heard no complaints and no expression of any desire from any member of the town or surrounding community seeking a change in the athletic nickname or logo of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke since this matter was last raised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 2002.”

The council requested UNCP's name be removed from the NCAA list of institutions reviewed annually or biannually, because of its American Indian imagery. Pembroke Mayor Milton R. Hunt signed the resolution Feb. 28.

Mayor Hunt said, “I have lived all my life in Pembroke, and I believe the NCAA shouldn’t fool with the Pembroke logo.” Hunt’s uncle, Oscar Simpson was one of the founders of Pembroke Normal School and served the institution for over 38 years.

Lumbee Tribal Council

The Lumbee Tribal Council voted unanimously Feb. 15 to support UNCP's continued use of its nickname and logo and asked the NCAA to cease and desist from any future actions against UNCP’s use of its nickname and logo.

Resolution (2005-0001) states, “Be it resolved by the Council of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, in this ordinance that shall be cited as “Support and Endorsement of UNC Pembroke’s “Braves” Nick-name and American Indian Logo to Represent Its Athletic Teams,” the Tribal Council of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina endorses and supports UNCP’s use of the ‘Braves’ nickname and American Indian logo to represent its athletic teams. We respectfully request the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to remove UNCP from its list of schools identified as having mascots and logos that could be considered controversial and no longer pursue any course of action re-questing UNCP change its nickname or athletic logo.”

Chamber of Commerce

Also flexing their muscle of support for UNCP was the Pembroke Chamber of Commerce. Past President R.D. Locklear read the resolution to the chamber board which states, “UNCP strives to maintain channels of communication with the surrounding Pembroke community through entities such as the Town and Gown Committee and annual activities such as Pembroke Day, and that UNC Pembroke, with its unique history and local Native American Leadership and support, is best-qualified to judge what is and what is not offensive to the American Indians in our community.”

UNCP seeks exemption

The chamber said, “Any university that is a member of the NCAA and can document it was founded exclusively for American Indians should be removed from the NCAA’s list of institutions required to engage in annual or bi-annual assessment of its use of American Indian imagery in its logo or nickname.”

University Provost Roger Brown said he believes that UNCP has made a clear and accurate case to the NCAA, one that reflects the wants and desires of the community.

Brown said, “I am sympathetic with the NCAA that everyone should be culturally sensitive. However, this is the worst characteristic of a society - one size fits all.” Brown said he hopes the NCAA will once and for all exempt UNCP from its list of schools because of our uniqueness.

“This is a matter of principal. If they choose to sanction the school, then we should fight it with all our legal means,” Brown said.

On his initiative, UNCP student Bryan R. Chavis of Maxton, circulated a petition of support for UNCP’s heritage. He distributed it among merchants, community members and on campus, collecting more than 2,000 signatures.