Southeast cuts mascot list to hawks, wolves

Southeast Missouri State University's future identity may take the shape of a bird or a beast.

A university committee narrowed its nickname list to two -- red hawks and red wolves -- from five Wednesday as it considers possible replacements for Southeast's longtime Indian and Otahkian nicknames.

Committee members said red hawks and red wolves garnered the most votes from 1,724 students, parents, prospective students, faculty and staff, alumni and the general public who cast ballots ranking five suggested nicknames. The other three were explorers, red birds and sentinels.

Red hawks received the most votes, followed by red wolves. But red wolves had the most first place votes, committee members said.

About half of the votes were cast on a university Web page set up by the committee to solicit public comment.

Committee members said most of the votes -- 1,194 -- came from students. Only 121 alumni registered their opinions in the balloting. More than 200 Southeast faculty and staff cast ballots.

Members of the 17-member committee, appointed by school president Dr. Ken Dobbins, said they were pleased with the balloting.

"We are definitely down to these two," said Ed Leoni, committee chairman and professor of health and recreation.

Committee members reviewed a written report outlining comments in support of red hawks or red wolves from those who participated in the balloting.

Student Krista Rule wrote, "The Southeast Red Hawks is a great name. A hawk is seen as a powerful bird of prey that can crush any of its enemies. It is majestic in the way it flies and brings forth a sense of awe to those watching it."

Student Neeley Bollinger wrote, "SEMO's colors are red and black, so it makes sense to have red or black in the name. And I don't know of any other universities with red wolves as the mascot. I just think that would be an appropriate mascot/nickname."

Committee members said use of the Indian and Otahkian nicknames are offensive to American Indians. The men's teams are known as the Indians and the women's teams are called the Otahkians, a reference to a Cherokee woman who died on the Trail of Tears forced march to the Oklahoma territory in the 1800s.

Leoni said the committee expects to decide between red hawks and red wolves at its meeting a week from today. The committee then plans to make a recommendation to the board of regents, which is scheduled to consider the issue at its June 25 meeting.

The committee said it will continue to solicit comments on the committee page set up on the university's Web site. The committee will hold its second and final public forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Academic Auditorium to solicit public opinion on the suggested nicknames as well as comments from those who want to keep the Indian nicknames.

Leoni said the university also plans to conduct a scientifically valid opinion poll on the issue as requested by the regents.

Southeast hasn't had a student dress up in an Indian mascot costume since 1985 and hasn't had any type of mascot for more than a decade.

Students don't identify with the Indian nickname, said Dane Huxel, the new president of student government.

"I don't see myself as an Indian," said Huxel, who sat in on Wednesday's committee meeting. .

James Ricks, marketing professor and committee member, said settling on a new nickname that can be represented by a mascot may help strengthen alumni ties to the school.

Ricks said school spirit also suffers from the lack of a university fight song.

Committee members said red hawks and red wolves both have geographical ties to Southeast Missouri.

The red-tailed hawk is the most common broad winged hawk in North America and can be found in Southeast Missouri. Red wolves used to roam Southeast Missouri. Red wolves are extinct in the wild but exist in captivity. The wolves have been reintroduced to a non-captive existence through a wildlife refuge in North Carolina, committee members said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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