OU Forced To Change Name Of Event After Term “Sooners” Is Deemed Offensive

Alex Buscemi9 years ago

The University of Oklahoma’s nickname, the “Sooners,” came under fire when a Native American activist raised the argument that the term is offensive.

OU was forced to change the name of an annual event formerly known as “Sooner Mosaic: Social Justice Symposium” after receiving complaints from students and faculty.

The movement to remove “Sooners” from the title was led by Native American OU graduate Rance Wryackwe, who says the name is “a celebration of a loss of culture and loss of land” at the expense of Native Americans.

The term “sooners” refers to white settlers who jumped the gun and illegally inhabited Native American land before President Grover Cleveland gave them the OK with the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889.

From Campus Reform:

“I know it’s a sensitive term for me,” Weryackwe said, “and I think if we talked about it and made it sensitive in other people’s eyes, that would help.”

The event, now known as “Mosaic: Social Justice Symposium,” is held on November 14 and “provides a space for University students, faculty, staff, and alumni and outside community members to learn and discuss contemporary issues of social justice through presentations, research, and discussion forums,” according to The University of Oklahoma website.

In other words, it’s a haven for self-righteous blowhards to revel in their offense to the most minute of details, exchange Tumblr profiles, and pleasure themselves while the president of the student union recites the most up-to-date list of “unbiased language.”

Meanwhile, the University of Oklahoma adopted the nickname “Sooners” in 1908. Wouldn’t that mean these activists are, as they like to put it, celebrating a loss of culture?.

[via Campus Reform]

Image via YouTube