Athletic teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Braves chose such mascots because Native Americans typify valor and aggressiveness, traits which motivate a team to victory, said a Native American who spoke to 100 people last night in Thomas Building.

"The reason why teams choose Indian mascots reveals that there's something in that Indian name or image that's valuable to them," said David Yeagley, a member of the Comanche nation and former columnist for Front Page magazine.

"If it inspires you to fight to the finish, then do it."

Yeagley spoke against the removal of such mascots, saying it was an example of ethnic cleansing spearheaded by several Native Americans who are making decisions for all Native Americans.

"It's a virtual genocide," he said. "I don't think it's immoral or racist to want to protect who you are."

Yeagley said the debate over mascot names could have more far reaching implications.

"The mascot issue is symbolic of a deeper issue. It has to do with freedom, with how the government works and with the proper way to remember my forefathers."

Yeagley said the removal of mascots would eventually lead to the changing of state names (North Dakota, Missouri and Oklahoma, for example), cities and rivers.

He said if Native American state and city names were changed, he would "turn leftist" and demand the changes of all ethnically named locations.

During the question-and-answer session, Chester Asher (senior-political science) pointed out a discrepancy he found in Yeagley's lecture.

Asher said Yeagley said schools might be paid money to remove "offensive" mascots, but he was ignoring the fact that marketing divisions of athletic teams "dehumanize" the Native American image to make money.

"I think we need more accurate, much more accurate, depictions," Asher said. "It's an abuse of a culture."

Yeagley responded saying he does not see athletic mascots as abusing the Native American image.

Asher closed his comments with harsh criticism for Yeagley.

"I think you're foolishly idealistic," Asher said before walking away.

Keri-Ann Tavares (senior-history) said more than just the warrior aspect of the Native American lifestyle needs to be represented in American culture.

Yeagley responded by saying the warrior aspect is needed to motivate the teams.

"They choose a mascot to activate the psychology," he said.

Tavares then responded, saying the concept that team names inspire heroic characteristics, like aggressiveness, in a team has no base.

"Look at the Washington Redskins--they're a horrible football team," Tavares said.