SPORTS
STAR TRIBUNE
Tuesday January 25, 1994
Section/Page 1 C

To Our Readers:
The Star Tribune will discontinue the use of the certain offense Indian team nicknames. we have not decided on the specifics of our new policy, and we are not ready to publicly announce the decision, but community conversation has prompted us to do so.

Concerns have been expressed by American Indians about the use of such nicknames for several years. About two years ago the Portland Oregonian decided to discontinue using the nicknames. At that time, we felt it was not appropriate for a newspaper to participate in a news events such as this one.

Since then, repeated conversations with American Indians led us to appreciate the harmful effect of such nicknames, prompting us to reconsider that decision.

We have come to believe that discontinuing the use of these nicknames is the right thing to do. and we believe newspapers make decisions about language all the time. Many racist and sexist terms have been eliminated over the years.

The Star Tribune sports staff will be developing specific guidelines over the next week or so.

Tim J. McGuire
Editor

Julie Engebrecht
Executive Sports Editor