A recent women's lacrosse team initiation with a "Ten Little Indians" theme has sparked widespread outrage among Native American students, who postered and chalked campus yesterday in protest.
As part of their initiation activities Saturday, freshwomen on the lacrosse team dressed up as the "Ten Little Indians," donning war paint and marching through campus and surrounding streets. Several Native American students witnessed the incident.
"It was highly insensitive, offensive, and hurtful," Shadiin Garcia '97 said. "I was unbelievably hurt and almost broken that I could walk out of my house and see a group of women dressed up mocking that which is so spiritual to me."
But members of the women's lacrosse team said while the initiation was a "poor decision," participants did not deserve the angry backlash they received in the form of campus-wide posters citing "Racism at Yale."
"We deeply regret having offended anyone," team captain Sharon Langhoff '96 said. "In hindsight it was a poor decision, however, our actions were unintentional and did not merit personal attacks on our individual character."
Women's lacrosse coach Mandy O'Leary and other members of the team declined to comment on the issue.
Native American students said the incident represents a general lack of respect for their culture, citing the public outrage they believe would have resulted if the players had instead made themselves up in blackface.
"These actions are racist actions. They have no conception of Native Americans as a living race," Association of Native Americans at Yale Co-chair Marilyn Phelps '98 said.
Although Langhoff said she offered to write a letter of apology Sunday, Native Americans students demanded a public apology, saying the incident involved the entire Yale community. Langhoff submitted a letter of explanation to the Yale Daily News last night.
"This is a public issue. They made it public when they went through the Yale campus and publicly mocked us," ANA at Yale Co-Chair Ananda Drake '98 said.
Yesterday morning, Garcia contacted Dean of Student Affairs Betty Trachtenberg, who organized a meeting with lacrosse team members, concerned Native Americans, and Athletic Director Tom Beckett.
Trachtenberg said the groups met by mutual consent.
"We had a productive conversation and we hope to continue it," she said. "The most important thing is to create a dialogue between the two groups."
Although several students called on the administration to take disciplinary action against the team, officials said there are currently no plans to do so.
"At this point in time, we have not taken any action against the team or individuals involved," Beckett said. "We are trying to get everyone to understand how an action like this is offensive and can be taken that way."
Last night approximately 50 people, including members of the Native American community, women's lacrosse players, and other concerned students attended a solidarity walk organized by ANA at Yale. Despite poor weather, students walked all over campus calling for an end to racism.
"We're gathering here and we're going on this walk to express our solidarity in the fight against racism," Garcia said. "This walk is a symbol to the New Haven and Yale communities of our struggles and our conscience, and our refusal to accept racist acts unchallenged."