GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - Unable to persuade a school district to drop a mascot name that offends them, some American Indian students at the University of Northern Colorado have named their intramural basketball team "the Fighting Whities."

Led by Solomon Little Owl, director of Native American Student Services at the university, the team chose a white man as its mascot to raise awareness and understanding of stereotypes that some cultures endure.

"The message is: Let's do something that will let people see the other side of what it's like to be a mascot," Little Owl said. "I am really offended by this mascot issue, and I hope the people that support the Eaton mascot will get offended by this."

They are upset with Eaton High School for using an Indian caricature on the team logo. The team is called the Reds.

Eaton School District Superintendent John Nuspl said the logo is not derogatory, and he called the group's criticism insulting.

Readers' Responses:

Obbop wrote:
I'd be honored to have a team named the "Fighting Whities"!!!! I love it!!! The American Indians were, on the whole, a brave resourceful people. To have them use my ethnicity in that manner would be an honor and... humorous!!! Go for it!!!! Heck, I'll buy one of their sweat shirts!!! Even if ALL team names referencing Inian names in any way were dropped I would still get a kick out of the Fighting Whities!!!! It's about time we received a little exposure in that way!!!!! GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!

Paul wrote:
This is so cool! My high school degraded the falcon by adopting it as a mascot. Then my college degraded the bear by using it as a mascot. I wish I could have been called a 'Fighting Whitie.' Then I'd only be degrading myself and my family... which is something I do anyway.

Bill Croteau wrote:
I think that's great! A few more American Indian teams should try the same thing. They could have the Whiteskins and Pale Fellows too.

Flattered wrote:
It's about time we get some respect.
     Sincerley,
    White Guy

The Sicatoka wrote:
Ain't it great to live in a country where both points of view are allowed! And to the "Fighting Whities": You're neither new nor innovative.
The Boston CELTICS
The Notre Dame FIGHTING IRISH, and
The University of Idaho VANDALS (look it up)
all beat you to it. Sorry.
For the record a recent survey by Peter Harris Polling (as reported in Sports Illustrated) found that 81% (plus/minus 4%) of Native Americans said that high school and colleges should not change their Native American related names. This compared nearly exactly to the general population response.
And how could I forget the Minnesota VIKINGS.