Q: A couple of weeks back there was a story about a college in one of the Dakotas giving up its "Fighting Sioux" mascot under pressure from NCAA. I know Stanford changed to Cardinal from Indians. What's the situation with the Florida State Seminoles?
-- Robert Jones, Atlanta
A: The Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma agreed in 2005 to support Florida State University's use of its Seminoles nickname and mascot, a decision that has been supported by the NCAA. "The NCAA executive committee continues to believe the stereotyping of Native Americans is wrong," the NCAA wrote at the time. "However, in its review of the particular circumstances regarding Florida State, the staff review committee noted the unique relationship between the university and the Seminole Tribe of Florida as a significant factor." Originally, FSU was among a group of schools with what was called "hostile and abusive" nicknames and mascots that were to be banned from postseason play by the NCAA unless they were changed. The University of North Dakota is dropping its Fighting Sioux nickname and mascot after the Standing Rock tribal council decided not to bring the issue to a vote of residents. Under a law signed last month, North Dakota can't adopt a new nickname or logo until January 2015, "a provision intended to allow the furor over the change to quiet before the university re-brands itself," The Associated Press reported. Stanford switched from Indians to Cardinals in 1972 and then to the Cardinal in 1981.
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