Are feathers 'hostile and abusive' to Indians?

William & Mary College athletic logo

The William & Mary College Young Americans for Freedom chapter will be distributing 25,000 feathers during the homecoming football game tomorrow in protest of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's ruling that two feathers appearing in the athletic logo are "hostile and abusive" to American Indians.

William & Mary President Gene Nichol sent an e-mail to the student body Oct. 10 saying the college would not pursue legal action to appeal the decision.

"This is political correctness run amok," said junior Joe Luppino-Esposito, board member of the Young Americans for Freedom. "But even so, this is not even a left-right issue. This is common sense. Two feathers are not offensive, and anyone who thinks so should not be taken seriously."

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The NCAA decision has been condemned by many students with both liberal and conservative dispositions. YAF is a non-partisan organization.

The group says there will be more than enough feathers to go around to all students and alumni who attend the homecoming game.

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