Bonding Over a Mascot

I think that the potential research question that LaPointe started with was probably " Do the Seminole people have a problem with the use of their imagery as the mascot for colleges, more specifically Florida State University?" The purpose of the article is to show that there are two sides to the argument and that some Seminoles find the depiction to be offensive, while others find it to be exciting and honorable. LaPointe partially answers the question when he states the NCAA has allowed Florida State to continue to use the imagery because the tribe gave their blessing. He then furthers his point when he interviews both students at the school that are of Seminole descent as well as members of the tribe. In showing that the Seminole people are a prosperous community (they bought the Hard Rock brand) it also takes away the idea that this is a weak tribe that the Florida State community felt bad for. The mascot and the statue that reads " unconquered" shows how proud the school is to be represented by such a powerful tribe, and it also shows that the tribe has some say in how they are represented by the school.