The Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), a higher education system of thirty-four colleges and universities, strives to attain the highest standards of education excellence. MnSCU core values include:

• Integrity - Earning respect and honor by adhering to MnSCU’s values.
• Civility - Modeling mutual trust and ethical behavior in all interactions.
• Citizenship - Educating for civic involvement and social responsibility.
• Diversity - Establishing educational policies that are open and value all individuals.

Based on these values, the Board adopts the following resolution:

Whereas, MnSCU seeks to provide a learning environment that acknowledges and values diversity of all kinds, including, but not limited to, race, religion and ethnicity; and

Whereas, eliminating discrimination and ensuring the civil rights of all members of our communities must be a continuing effort by our colleges and universities; and

Whereas, we believe that civility, good citizenship and diversity support and promote high quality intercollegiate competition by students, student-athletes, coaches, institutional advisors, spectators and fans; and

Whereas, logos, names, mascots and nicknames referring to minority cultures may be based on negative images or other stereotypes that do not reflect an authentic identification with those cultures;

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:

1. Will not have any discriminatory logos in its institutions.
2. Strongly opposes the use of derisive logos, names, mascots and nicknames by opposing athletic teams or teams involved in other forms of intercollegiate competition.
3. Joins those who desire to stop the use of discriminatory logos, names, mascots and nicknames by athletic teams and in other areas of intercollegiate competition.
4. Directs that this resolution be forwarded to MnSCU College and University Presidents for distribution.

Date Presented to Board of Trustees: February 21, 2002