Messages which absolutely need to be seen today due to time constraints or breaking news. Remember to check the"new answers" link for the most active topics. This topic will run for a week, and then we will start a new dated "urgent" file.

-- Anonymous, March 18, 2001

Answers

Just so you know, Robert Eurich's website has disappeared for the past 36 hours on Tripod. and he can't even get into his password- controlled area. At least one other Native site is also reported AWOL. Don't know if it is a big server problem, as search under "Indian mascot" within the Tripod system still brings up listings for Robert's pages, but none of them will connect.

-- Anonymous, March 18, 2001

Eurich's site up once more, fishy explanation from Tripod as to how it was inadvertantly removed.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Lucia mentioned a book COLOR is thinking of buying for the school libraries: Heart of a Chief, a novel by Joseph Bruchac. From the Booklist review:

From Booklist October 15, 1998 Gr. 5^-8. In this novel Bruchac explores three contemporary issues in Native American culture: alcoholism, casino gambling, and the racist names of sports teams. Chris, an 11-year-old Penacook Indian, is trying to hold on to his people's traditions in very unsteady times. At school he speaks out against the name of the sports team, the Chiefs; at home he reaches out to his father in rehab; and on the reservation he fights against bringing in a casino to alleviate widespread poverty. Bruchac has trouble weaving the three strands into a unified whole: the conflicts emerge quickly and are resolved too easily. What works are Chris' dignified struggle and the honest dialogue, which is never preachy despite the book's overtly political themes. Bruchac perfectly captures a boy's pride in his culture and the pain and anger he feels when his rich identity is mocked by a "tomahawk chop" from a sports fan. Readers who see injustice in their own lives will admire how much Chris accomplishes with a simple message of respect. Randy Meyer

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

From Curry: "It's bad news/good news: the bad guys will claim it proves mismanagement, but it keeps that steep tax spike from happening this year......"

Freeman discusses the numbers

FWIW, we had a bad flat yesterday. Ted had been into town and came back with no sense that the tire was low. Pulled out of the driveway and within 10 feet found the tire was completely collapse around the rim. Garage said it looked like a nail or something had been right in the middle of the tire, but nothing was evident other than the hole. Not suspicious on the surface, but let me know if there is a trend.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

report it to the State guys...please...remind them of the other report than never made its way to them. Tobe

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

Check the online article and the response from an unknown person (pseudonym??) with the familiar blame on Hal...they're stepping up the attack...expect "complaints" and "charges" real soon, with money out the window for the hearings...possibly $100,000 cost for hearings... Tobe

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

Sounded vaguely like Barbara Clare's "voice," but may just be that querulous birds of a feather flock togeter.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2001

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=74958&newsid=15664 09&PAG=461&rfi=9

Couldn't help but reply to B. Clares's move to blame the bad air at the Bennet temporary building on Hal as well. enough bull shit out there already...the three people who read this online edition of the Freemanwill hear another side.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2001

That was an excellent letter Tobe, one of your best. I've added my two cents too just now.

Since I haven't been to any Board meetings, I wonder if there would really be any point to reporting the tire puncture without anything necessarily suspicious about it.

I'm making up a handout on how to do online hotlinks for this Saturday's candidate interviews, you may want to grab one then.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2001

Marino can stay. Freeman online report.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Midwestern universities condemn use of American Indian nicknames March 22, 2001, 2:31 AM

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) -- A gathering of representatives from Midwestern universities produced a statement condemning the use of American Indian nicknames for sports teams.

More than 1,000 people participated in the daylong Midwest Summit on American Indian Mascots on Wednesday. Representatives from host St. Cloud State, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, South Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota were among those who developed the policy.

The statement reads: "We, the members of the North Central Faculty Association, view racism and/or bias both abhorrent and hateful, sporting venues included. Therefore we demand the elimination of all American Indian mascots, symbols and/or team names, or those that demean any group."

The policy statement will be fine-tuned before being distributed to represented universities for action.

"We accomplished all the goals we had coming in," said Gary Cheeseman, assistant director for students of color outreach at St. Cloud State. "We found a good way to resolve a lot of our issues. We have a momentum going and we're headed in the right direction."

Controversy over North Dakota's Fighting Sioux mascot played a significant role in the organization of the summit. In December, North Dakota alumnus Ralph Engelstad threatened to pull about $85 million in pledged funding for a new hockey arena if the university decided to change its nickname. North Dakota State Board of Higher Education members, some of whom argued the moniker honored American Indians, voted unanimously to keep the name.

"We found as support and interest grew, this was an appropriate way to highlight the issue, educate and allow discussion," said Roy Saigo, St. Cloud State president. "It's not an issue that's going away. This is the first step."

North Dakota needs to be pressured by outside sources before a nickname change can come about, said Lucy Ganje, associate communication professor at North Dakota.

Tobe

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

A few neat responses to the Marino article..see Carol's link before it's gone. Tobe

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Here's something to note about the tactical timing for online Freeman responses, as evidenced by the online responses to the modular air quality article.

Barbara Clare got the first salvo in, but Tobe's over-rode hers and went to the top, and when mine came along at dinner it pushed hers off the page and just left mine and Tobe's visible. We may want to pay more attention to strategically posting responses, every little bit may help.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Good idea, Carol...I think it may always be best to let her answer first, since she's panting to go, and will usually give us lots of fuel...I wonder if my relatively long response coupled with yours did the trick, or is it always two to the first page no matter what size? Tobe

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001