Boosters considering new college nickname

Southeast Missouri State University's boosters are on a 90-day plan to consider a nickname change for the school.

Greg Brune, director of athletic development, said the group's executive board met Tuesday and received research from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which discourages schools from using American Indian nicknames. The men's teams at Southeast are called Indians, and the women's teams are called Otahkians after an Indian princess.

Brune said the 33-member at-large board plans to make its recommendation to the school's board of regents in November. He said discussion about the nickname only took up 10 minutes of the executive board meeting.

"We've got so much going on with booster drive," he said.

The discussion about nicknames began with a July vote by Southeast's National Alumni Council to rename the Indians and Otahkians. It was the first step in a process that will involve the boosters club, faculty senate, student government and, ultimately, the board of regents.