Newberry leadership divided over nickname issue

By PATRICK OBLEY - pobley@thestate.com

NEWBERRY — Details of a contentious rift between the Newberry College administration and its faculty came to light Wednesday afternoon as school officials spelled out their desire to revive the “Indians” nickname.

School president Dr. Mitchell Zais and trustee Billy Walker detailed the school’s plan to woo the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation in an effort to gain the NCAA’s blessing to restore the nickname. The board of trustees voted earlier this month to retire the nickname in order to comply with the NCAA’s mandate against the use of Native American nicknames and imagery.

Failure to do so would have cost the school the opportunity to play host to postseason events with the further penalty of having to cover any offending imagery with duct tape during postseason competition on the road.

The school’s faculty, however, is vehemently opposed to the administration’s courtship of the Cherokee, voting 47-0 in January to approve a resolution calling for the pursuit of other nicknames.

According to multiple faculty members who declined to be quoted for fear of reprisal from the administration, it is their belief the school’s effort is insincere. They point to the fact the Cherokee have not pursued ties despite repeated overtures as evidence of the administration’s insincerity.

The faculty also believes the administration is being defiant out of disdain for the NCAA’s perceived intrusion on institutional affairs.

“I still contend this is inappropriate for the NCAA,” Zais said Wednesday. “They’ve got a lot of other problems they need to pay attention to.”

Walker and Zais confirmed the language in the faculty’s resolution but said the faculty’s position was merely one of many they had to consider. In the end, they deemed Cherokee approval was the first, most important charge for a newly formed committee that might need as many as two years to determine a final solution.

“We respect (the faculty’s) position, but at the same time, we have to respect the wishes of the body politic of the campus and let everyone have their input,” Walker said.

Zais said he doubted the veracity of faculty’s position.

“The faculty vote wasn’t a secret vote. I’ve always been skeptical of unanimous votes, especially when they haven’t been conducted secretly,” Zais said. “You’ll always have people who won’t raise their hand in a room because of peer pressure and possible ridicule.”

The faculty members who spoke with The State took offense to Zais’ characterization, saying the vote was conducted via a secret ballot.

At the school’s invitation, a Cherokee delegation will tour the school in July. If the Cherokee grant approval of an affiliation, the school will work closely with the Eastern Band to tastefully reintroduce the “Indians” nickname.

Zais indicated the school likely would add a course on Cherokee history to the curriculum. He said a partnership with the Cherokee was an opportunity to honor their “courage, persistence, indomitable spirit and willingness to fight insurmountable odds.”

The NCAA has indicated its willingness to allow the nickname if a historical and open relationship can be established between Newberry and the Cherokee.

The faculty, meanwhile, is concerned the school administration has closed the door to any other possible avenues of exploration. It is their opinion the current situation is an opportunity to chart a new direction for the school.

Zais and Walker contend they have not closed the door on other possible nicknames. However, they pointed out the importance of the school’s alumni in the final equation. They said alumni base was “livid” over the trustees’ decision to retire the nickname.

Newberry is a private institution dependent upon alumni donations to keep its athletics programs viable.

For now, the school will proceed with no nickname and spend the summer obliterating all Native American references in its athletics programs and ordering new uniforms.

The school also must change its athletics Web address. The booster organization formerly known as the Indian Club has changed its name to the Newberry College Athletic Club.

Zais estimated the cost of the removal at approximately $118,000.

Reach Obley at (803) 771-8473.