The University of Minnesota will host the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings for a Nov. 2 game, but the school wants to keep the Redskins' name out of "promotional and game date materials" as part of campus efforts to be free from racism.
University President Eric Kaler, in a letter to Rep. Betty McKollum and
reprinted by The Washington Post, said the University of Minnesota doesn’t have the authority to regulate the facility use, but nevertheless is working to with the Vikings to make every effort to avoid using the Redskins’ name.
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“I agree that the current name is offensive and should be replaced,” Kaler’s letter to McKollum said, after she had written to the Vikings to urge them to lead the way in calling for the Redskins to change their name.
“In addition, November is Native American Heritage Month,” Kaler wrote. “We are working with the American Indian community and our students, faculty and staff to develop positive educational events during the week prior to the game.”
The Post said it isn’t clear how much the Vikings are participating in the efforts.
Tony Wyllie, Redskins spokesperson, told the Post that the team does not support UM’s efforts to leave the Redskins name out of game materials.
“We have met many native Americans from Minnesota who agree with our position and feel we are using the term correctly and honorably, ” he told the Post.
A day after the Post wrote about Kaler's letter, a new article that said former Washington kicker Mark Moseley’s defense of the Redskins name isn’t supported by the Alabama-Coushatta tribe he grew up with, though he had mentioned several times previously that they weren't offended by the name.
A tribe spokesperson told the Post that the tribe today does not support the use of the name, although it is true people were not upset about it years ago when Moseley played.
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