University President Dave Frohnmayer is showing poor leadership by wasting time waffling about the School of Law’s mascot resolution instead of taking a firm stance on the issue.
The University School of Law’s Sports and Entertainment Law Forum resolution, which would prevent University athletic teams from scheduling games with schools promoting American Indian mascots or images, has been sitting on Frohnmayer’s desk for little more than a week.
But Frohnmayer has avoided making a decision on the matter and is instead waiting for the NCAA to take up the issue.
Frohnmayer’s ultimate decision, whether veto or approval, will have trickle-down effects on the Athletic Department and the University community as a whole. Frohnmayer should stop passing the buck to the NCAA and decide for himself what course the University should take regarding the resolution.
If the University did wait for NCAA action, a national resolution may take months to even draft. Frohnmayer does not need to wait for a national policy to make a decision that would affect our University.
The president’s indecision is eerily reminiscent of his hesitance to sign on with the Worker Rights Consortium last fall. Even with the support of the majority of students on campus — and a major 10-day protest on Johnson Hall’s lawn in the spring — Frohnmayer remained grossly indecisive about the issue for months, frustrating both WRC supporters and opponents.
Perhaps the new mascot resolution controversy has reminded Frohnmayer of an old adage: Once bitten, twice shy. But just because the WRC resolution wasn’t handled well doesn’t give Frohnmayer the right to avoid making future political decisions — unpopular or not. After all, determining the fate of the University is part of Frohnmayer’s job as president.
The University needs to take a stand either way on this issue, and our University president is the person to make the decision. Frohnmayer should stop dallying and take a firm stance on the issue either way. As the University’s leader, Frohnmayer is obligated to lead even in the midst of a politically-charged decision. We hope Frohnmayer takes swift action in the matter and does not disappoint students with the same lackluster leadership as last year.