Newberry College was recently forced by the NCAA to “retire the use of ‘Indians’ as the school’s athletic nickname, effective with the end of all team’s current playing seasons.”

It’s appalling to me that the Newberry College press release uses “retire” to describe the termination of their racist nickname. Newberry College should have gotten rid of their nickname a long time ago. I decided to write them a letter:

Dear Newberry College,
It is time to remove your nickname, do not retire it, delete it. Listen and learn, using Native American imagery/names, unless tacitly approved by a Native Nation, is racist and harmful.

Please disband the “Indian Club” and the “Rowdy Reds.” Stop using arrowheads and spears as derogatory accessories to your racist nickname.

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You know you’re a WordPress nerd when……you purchase a WordPress mug!

As seen on Lorelle on WordPress.

The Oregon Primary Election ends on May 20th. Don’t forget to vote. If you vote by mail make sure you use a 42 cent stamp.

The Oregonian has some sweet sets of photos from Obama’s latest visit to Oregon.

I remember when I was a kid that my parents would not tell me who they voted for. I never understood the reason for the secrecy that surrounded voting… I’m glad that I voted for Barack Obama in the Oregon primary. It’s the second time that I have voted for him. The first was when he was running for the U.S. Senate in Illinois.

The third time that I will vote for Barack Obama is when he is on the nationwide elections ballot for President of the United States.

The eduStyle Higher-ed Web Awards People’s Choice voting has begun. People’s Choice voting will end on June 1st. Vote now!

The eduStyle Higher-ed Web Awards celebrate the best work in college and university websites. Eighteen categories recognize the most innovative and exciting developments in key areas of higher education web development.

Top-level prizes include best overall website, best redesign and most innovative. There are also awards in areas such as information architecture and video; awards for sub-sites (e.g. a faculty website) and special projects. Awards on blogging in higher-ed will be presented in partnership with CollegeWebEditor.com.

Some of my favorite nominees include: University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Oxford University, Biola University, Brown University, and Vassar College. I am surprised that the MIT Admissions blog didn’t get enough nominations for the People’s Choice award. The design and copy are superb! Unsurprisingly, the University of Tennessee website has been nominated in several different categories. What can I say, it’s awesome.

I love this time lapse video from the Cinco De Mayo Carnival at Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon. It visually represents how I’m feeling today. It’s my birthday!

Cinco De Mayo Carnival from Andrew Curtis on Vimeo.

Wendy and I went to the OSU Hui-o-Hawaii Luau for the third time last night. Once again, it was amazing. The food was terrific and the show was spectacular. It was nice to see so many of my advisees performing on stage. I am very proud of their accomplishments.

The Hawaiian club at Oregon State University shares what their luau means to them.

Hui-o-Hawaii Luau Commercial

A white anti-racist Catholic priest speaking up for Jeremiah Wright almost caused a Fox News reporter’s head to pop off.

via Resist Racism, Zuky, and Slant Truth

For further info, check out Tim Wise: Of National Lies and Racial Amnesia - Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama, and the Audacity of Truth

Oregon State University leaders have announced a new financial aid initiative that in its first school year, 2008-09, will enable a full 10 percent of the Oregonian students who attend OSU to do so free of charge.

The Bridge to Success Program will pool federal resources with funds from the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the Campaign for OSU and redirected institutional monies to cover all tuition and fee costs for 1,500 in-state students this fall. Additional funds will cover books and supplies for half of those students.

Awards will be based on financial need and students’ ability to show satisfactory progress toward completion of degrees, including taking 15 credits each term.

Ward Connerly reminds me of Darth Vader.* In a sea of 99.9% of the white folks in the Star Wars trilogy, Darth Vader is a “Nubian god” who is voiced by James Earl Jones. Then, in Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader’s helmet is removed to reveal a “crusty white man.” Darth Vader is black on the outside and white on the inside. Ward Connerly presents as a person of color, but he engages in a campaign against folks of color that seems to be driven by internalized oppression, tokenism and assimilation. Ward Connerly’s efforts to disassemble affirmative action reek of white supremacy. Ward Connerly’s words and actions are counter to social justice and anti-oppression work. In seeking to end affirmative action, Connerly is dismissing the realities of historical context, present day discrimination and white privilege. Fortunately, his anti-affirmative action campaign was recently halted in Oklahoma due to a lack of signatures. Unfortunately, like Darth Vader, Ward Connerly’s campaign is wreaking havoc in the galaxy. Affirmative action policies in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri and Nebraska are all being targeted by Connerly.

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Several higher education websites have revamped their campus maps. The map-making-mashup technology of choice seems to be the Google Maps API.

Here are a few examples of university campus maps that utilize Google Maps:

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