Why is using Native American names for sports teams considered racist?

[Sgent]

68. Colonel Reb is gone

at Ole Miss.

The University has worked hard at reforming the schools image for over two decades, and since 1993 has eliminated the following:

1) Confederate Battle Flags at games -- the university cannot ban them due to 1st amendment issues, but they have been eliminated from any school produced material, and all flags on a stick have been banned entirely (to eliminate most fans showing it).

2) Dixie by the band

3) From Dixie With Love ("Slow Dixie&quot -- an amalgamation song written in the 1970's which incorporated both Dixie and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The band stopped playing this due to idiotic students.

4) Colonel Reb -- gone, with extreme prejudice. The University has prosecuted trademark cases against people showing images of him. Its now a black bear (Teddy Roosevelt's hunt took place near the campus.)

5) M Flag -- although it exists, take a look at the 1997 version shown in the picture at http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/15/3764319/traditions-define-sec-football.html which has obvious elements of the old confederate battle flag vs the current one which is very generic -- similar to Michigan's with different colors.

6) The nickname "Rebels" is still being discussed, and there have been pushes to change it back to the original "Flood".

The nickname "Ole Miss" itself is a bit tougher, as I don't know of any school in the country which has the dual identity that Ole Miss has -- its much, much more deeply ingrained as a nickname than at most places. It was originally chosen in the 1890's by a student, as a name for the yearbook.