THREE CHEERS FOR A NEW MASCOT TO PROMOTE SEMO PRIDE

Southeast Missouri State University students want a new mascot to cheer the athletic teams.

Mascots are a colorful part of professional and college sports, just as much a staple as the cheerleaders at many colleges and universities. Students here feel they are missing something by not having a mascot, and they feel a mascot will help build team spirit.

There is no reason why Southeast students shouldn't join in the fun.

But while the concept is admirable, the implementation may be ticklish, especially if students want to return to Indian themes.

For years, Chief Sagamore and Princess Otahki were a fixture at both basketball and football games. A half-time memory for many is Chief Sagamore poised high on the rock bluff at Houck Stadium, arms outstretched, with a roaring fire below.

But these mascots were abandoned about 10 years ago, victims of political correctness. Since that time, the sensitivity-to-Indian-culture issue has become a growing debate at colleges nationwide. As such, the university would probably do well not to revive the long-esteemed Chief Sagamore and Princess Otahki.

Also tricky is choosing a mascot that will prove popular with both students and the community. The university has experimented with two mascots in the last decade, and neither really caught on with fans.

"Big Red" lasted only a year. This mascot was a student with an exaggerated head dressed in red. He was replaced by a thunderbird, a colorful bird taken from the mythology of some North American Indians. Its reign as mascot lasted a mere three years.

A committee will begin meeting next week to choose a new mascot, which should be in place by next fall. Three cheers for a new Southeast mascot.