In the summer of 2005, the NCAA banned the use of mascots that could be considered offensive to Native Americans at any NCAA-sponsored championship games. Native Americans have been vocally criticizing the use of negative stereotypes in college sports since the 1970s. In order to understand why Native Americans feel this issue is important, consider that, for years, movies and television programs portrayed Native Americans as savage warriors who were feared and misunderstood. That stereotypical image of Native Americans is what some schools have chosen to use as their mascot, a role typically played by wild animals or fictional beasts. Derogatory terms for other ethnic groups are never used for school mascots, but Native Americans continue to suffer from this form of racism. In its new ruling, however, the NCAA asks schools to listen to the minority point of view and eliminate mascots that may be hurtful or offensive to America’s Indian population.